southsider2k5 Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17326922/ New twist in Sharpton-Thurmond relation story Civil rights activist wants DNA test to confirm relationship to late senator The Rev. Al Sharpton, speaking at a news conference in New York on Sunday, said “it was probably the most shocking thing in my life” to learn of the reported link between him and the late Sen. Strom Thurmond. NEW YORK - The Rev. Al Sharpton said he wants a DNA test to determine whether he is related to former segregationist Sen. Strom Thurmond through his great-grandfather, a slave owned by an ancestor of the late senator. “I can’t find out anything more shocking than I’ve already learned,” Sharpton told the Daily News, which on Sunday reported the link based on genealogists’ findings. Sharpton’s spokesman, Rachel Noerdlinger, confirmed Monday for The Associated Press that Sharpton plans to pursue DNA testing, but had no further details. Sharpton and Thurmond didn’t appear to have much in common: Thurmond ran for president in 1948 as a segregationist. Sharpton ran for president in 2004 calling for racial equality. Last week, Sharpton learned about the connection. “It was probably the most shocking thing in my life,” Sharpton said at a news conference Sunday, the day the Daily News reported the link. Professional genealogists, who work for Ancestry.com, found that Sharpton’s great-grandfather Coleman Sharpton was a slave owned by Julia Thurmond, whose grandfather was Strom Thurmond’s great-great-grandfather. Coleman Sharpton was later freed. “Based on the paper trail, it seems pretty evident that the connection is there,” said Mike Ward, a genealogist with Ancestry.com, who called the link “amazing.” Ancestry.com’s chief family genealogist, Megan Smolenyak, said Sharpton would need to match his DNA with a present-day descendant to see if they are biologically related. “I think the odds are slim he would match,” Smolenyak told the News. “There is no particular evidence to suggest that there is a direct relationship between the two (black and white) Sharpton families to suggest they share a common ancestry. But, given the legacy of plantation society, you can’t rule it out.” The revelations surfaced after Ancestry.com contacted a Daily News reporter who agreed to have his own family tree done. The intrigued reporter then asked Sharpton if he wanted to participate. Sharpton said he told the paper, “Go for it.” Ancestral ties by document The genealogists, who were not paid by the newspaper, uncovered the ancestral ties using a variety of documents that included census, marriage and death records. Strom Thurmond, of South Carolina, was once considered an icon of racial segregation. During his 1948 bid for president he promised to preserve segregation, and in 1957 he filibustered for more than 24 hours against a civil rights bill. But Thurmond was seen as softening his stance later in his long life. He died in 2003, at 100. One of the longest-serving senators in history, he was originally a Democrat but became a Republican in 1964. His children have confirmed that he fathered a biracial daughter. Essie Mae Washington-Williams’ mother was a housekeeper in the home of Thurmond’s parents. Sharpton said he met Thurmond only once, in 1991, when he visited Washington, D.C., with the late James Brown, who knew Thurmond. Sharpton said the meeting was “awkward.” “I was not happy to meet him because what he had done all his life,” Sharpton said. Sharpton said he hadn’t attempted to contact the Thurmond family. As far as he knew, he said, the family hadn’t tried to call him, either. A surprise to Thurmond clan Some of Thurmond’s relatives said the nexus also came as a surprise to them. A niece, Ellen Senter, said she would speak with Sharpton if he were interested. “I doubt you can find many native South Carolinians today whose family, if you traced them back far enough, didn’t own slaves,” Senter, of Columbia, S.C., told the Daily News. She added: “And it is wonderful that (Sharpton) was able to become what he is in spite of what his forefather was.” Telephone messages left by The Associated Press for Strom Thurmond Jr. and for an attorney who once represented Thurmond’s biracial daughter were not immediately returned Sunday. © 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedoctor Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Feb 26, 2007 -> 01:30 PM) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17326922/ i wonder if the families will start spending the holidays together. that would be fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 QUOTE(thedoctor @ Feb 26, 2007 -> 05:33 AM) i wonder if the families will start spending the holidays together. that would be fun. The question is...who does the cooking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 Sobering. And can we pause and remember that is owned not pwned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedoctor Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Feb 26, 2007 -> 01:37 PM) The question is...who does the cooking? i'm leaving that one alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamTell Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 I remember hearing about that day long filibuster. I want to say it was 25 hours, no matter how wrong it is that's dedication to be up there for over a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedoctor Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 Sharpton said he met Thurmond only once, in 1991, when he visited Washington, D.C., with the late James Brown so, al sharpton, strom thurmond, and james brown walk into a bar... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juddling Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Feb 26, 2007 -> 01:30 PM) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17326922/ ..and if you go back just a bit more....i think you'll find "Nate" Griffin on the tree as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Middle Buffalo Posted February 27, 2007 Share Posted February 27, 2007 QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Feb 26, 2007 -> 06:30 AM) I'm getting March Madness just looking at that bracket. I'll take the 11-seeded Sharpton squad against the 5-seed Thurmond Filibusters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greasywheels121 Posted February 27, 2007 Share Posted February 27, 2007 Has anyone ever played 5 clicks to Jesus on Wikipedia? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buehrle>Wood Posted February 27, 2007 Share Posted February 27, 2007 QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Feb 27, 2007 -> 03:19 AM) Has anyone ever played 5 clicks to Jesus on Wikipedia? No, but I'm glad to see someone else has played that game. I thought I made it up, but I have spent many long hours playing "clicks". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted February 27, 2007 Share Posted February 27, 2007 Big Al is now asking for DNA testing to see if they are related Who's your daddy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Pratt Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 I can't believe no one cracked it first: We are family I got all my sisters with me We are family Get up ev'rybody and sing Ev'ryone can see we're together As we walk on by (FLY!) and we fly just like birds of a feather I won't tell no lie (ALL!) all of the people around us they say Can they be that close Just let me state for the record We're giving love in a family dose (CHORUS x2) Living life is fun and we've just begun To get our share of the world's delights (HIGH!) high hopes we have for the future And our goal's in sight (WE!) no we don't get depressed Here's what we call our golden rule Have faith in you and the things you do You won't go wrong This is our family Jewel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlaSoxxJim Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 QUOTE(Texsox @ Feb 27, 2007 -> 09:15 AM) Big Al is now asking for DNA testing to see if they are related Who's your daddy? Six Degrees of Separation?? I'm thinking it's looking more like Six Degrees of Reparations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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