For any true family historian, this week’s stories regarding Michelle Obama’s lineage must catch the eye. While you will likely never see political discourse on this site, Mr. Obama’s (and by their union, Mrs. Obama’s) ascension to the presidency was a water-shed moment for the United States. As seemingly has become the custom, genealogists from all over began the search to detail (and source) the ancestry of these two contemporary American figures.
The interesting item for me in the story of one of Mrs. Obama Caucasian ancestors. Her 3rd Great Grandmother, Melvinia Shields, was a teenage girl recently relocated from the only family and home she’d ever know in South Carolina and moved to Georgia.
It is difficult to say who might have impregnated Melvinia, who gave birth to Dolphus around 1859, when she was perhaps as young as 15. At the time, Henry Shields was in his late 40s and had four sons ages 19 to 24, but other men may have spent time on the farm.
“No one should be surprised anymore to hear about the number of rapes and the amount of sexual exploitation that took place under slavery; it was an everyday experience, “ said Jason A. Gillmer, a law professor at Texas Wesleyan University, who has researched liaisons between slave owners and slaves. “But we do find that some of these relationships can be very complex.”
One hundred and fifty years later, Melvinia’s sacrifices produced unique fruit; a strong African American First Lady of the United States. What would Melvinia think of that outcome? If she could know what might come of her descendants, would she feel that the ends, in any way, justify the means? Would my female ancestors think in a similar way given my life and the lives of my children (I’m not the president, but my life is reasonably comfortable)? Chris Rock tried to sum it up during one of his concerts a few years back.
“If you’re black, you gotta look at America a little bit different. You gotta look at America like the uncle who paid for you to go to college … but molested you.”
Filed under: Misc. | Tagged: Other Blogs, Slaveholders |
My family's journey through time... A work in progress. 
I really object to President Obama who just happens to be of African (Ghanian ancesty as well as of Caucasian ancestry through his mother) being frequently referred to as MR. Obama. His title is President and deserves respect. Mr. Obama, whether Mr. is considered common usage, shows lack of respect for his title. He was elected, not John McCain and if Senator McCain HAD been elected, would he be referred to as Mr. McCain or President McCain. I don’t know but the Mr. thing is beginning to sound rather racist. The t.v. screen shows President Obama but the person talking, whether reporter or on-air anchor, at least….some of them, frequently refer to President Obama as Mr. That’s an every-day honorific while President isn’t, unless you’re president of a corporation. He deserves the respect of the title of President and nothing else is good enough!
Carol-
First, thanks for visiting my site. While I meant no dis-respect to you or the president, (and as I mentioned in the post) I have no intent to post or describe any political views here. After reading your post, I’d only draw your attention to the fact that I was speaking of the Obamas in the past during their ascension to the presidency; not the present.
Best
Wonderful post. Did you have a relative that attended Bradley Academy? I did!
Ok, now you must be pulling my leg! Yes, I had three generations of Bradley Academy grads in Murfreesboro on my mother’s side. Did any one in your family live on or near Castle Street in town?