"Shocked" Sharpton Wants DNA Test

Potential Slave-Era Link Between Families Prompts Rev. Al Sharpton To Call For More Evidence

(CBS/AP)  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.

CBS News Radio correspondent Peter King reports that Sharpton said he will interview the researchers and the reporter on-air and take calls about the topic.

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. Sharpton learned about the connection last week.

"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."

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.

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.

al sharpton is bad for black america

[oleander8]

If everyone could go back into their ancestry - we'd all find some pretty amazing connections. This story is of no interest to anyone but the participants. I hope CBS doesn't deem it interesting enough to leave it on it's homepage all week long.

[extremophil]

What's so "shocking" about it? A surprise maybe, but I don't see any shock or irony. I think maybe Reverend Al not-so-Sharpton is looking for another excuse to get in front of the cameras.

[jonw1115]

extremophil,

I agree with you totally. I think that Sharpton and Jesse Jackson only get involved when they can further their public image. I don't see how anyone can take them serious?

[aboz146]

Both Sharpton and Thurmond are racists and bigots of the highest order! They deserve to be related!

Aboz

[jonw1115]

Another thing is that I find it hard to believe that Thurmond softened up over his lifetime. You can put a wolf in sheep's clothing, but you will hardly fool the flock! He just became less vocal of his hate as the tides turned against his views.

[bildooreilly]

Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson claim to be "Reverends" yet they're freemasons. Freemasons worship the eastern star, my grandmother god bless her was a member of their womens group Ladies Of The Eastern Star. If you look up Isaiah 14:12 in the Bible you'll see that the morning star also known as the eastern star, is lucifer. I even seen where Al Sharpton was giving a speech at the Church Of The Eastern Star a few weeks ago, do the members of that church have any idea what it represents?

Not only that but then they claim to fight for civil rights when the KKK was created by one of the most famous freemasons of all Albert Pike. They claim themselves to be christians when Albert Pike himself who was head of worldwide freemasonry in his time wrote in his book Morals & Dogma one of the most famous masonic books out there that the god of freemasonry is Lucifer. Then you go do some research into famous satanists like Aleister Crowley, and Eliphas Levi, and it turns out they were high level freemasons also. Then these frauds go out and pretend to be "Reverends" and "men of god" and a lot of people buy it... it's amazing...

[vancouverboo]

They all want some white blood, even tbhe professional victims.

[padams1010]

Sharpton, Jackson ... how quick they are to call everyone racist ... Especially if the n-word comes up. My Dad (who just passed away at the age of 83) was the least prejudice man I know. He had 100s of friends from every race, color, and creed. He generally loved people ... which made him a very successful car salesman (retiring at age 79). He was always vexed by the fact younger black people think the n-word has always had a bad connotation. Of course, he felt sure the movie industry and TV programming had done their part to reinforce the notion over the years. He said when he was growing up in the South ... that is what they were called ... just like today they are called 'blacks'. What's to say some future generation of black youngsters won't find 'blacks' offensive. He also felt our Black Americans should be thankful everyday for their forced home in America. If they look at their ancestral homeland today what future do they see for those citizens. But ... he did understand a little bit about their feelings of prejudice ... after all ... he was a car salesman. Pray for our troops!!

[mitywhity]

So what? I hope he finds out that he is as white as he claims Barack Obama is! He'll just want money and mo'money, mo'money, mo'money!

[gunnerv1]

He just wants to see if he has any standing in the Will.

Does anyone really care about this? I mean, this was a long time ago and times have changed. Quit dwelling in the past all the time.

[actornaught]

Al Sharpton is less extreme than the likes of Limbaugh, Coulter, OReilly, etc. Maybe not by much, but polarization runs the gamut.

I'm surprised so many people are being so negative about this story. There's a huge interest in basic human nature about our ancestry. But i guess there's a huge interest in dividing our country, too.

[musty2u]

He can just pony up the $$$$; then if he finds he is closer to pond scum, oh, well.

[draconisz]

Certain racist "White" folks always use that Sharpton is a racist ***. Why? Because he fights against racism? Get a dictionary. That isn't the definition of racism.

[klingon69]

Dang;
I knew somebody was responsible for him

[scottyusa]

I think it is a very ironic coincidence to the point it is almost funny. Please though lets not relive the whole slave thing. We settled it and many died. End of story.

[agnim]

Why would Sharpton even bother to take a DNA test.

How the hell is proving that he has some impurities in his blood going to help him or anyone?

Most likely his maternal ancestor(s) was RAPED if anything!

Leave it alone, Al!

[kailumego1]

Vancouverboo, I don't think they all want some "white" blood, they have no choice, in the matter, and it%u2019s luck of the draw.

I'm more proud of my Native American heritage, because although European Americans have made it their mission to debase and dehumanize them with their lies and propaganda. Particularly, labeling them as "bloodthirsty" savages, reactionary, hostile and promiscuous, for it was European Americans, and not Native Americans, that exhibited this behavior.

It%u2019s not surprising that Al Sharpton, or any other light-skinned African American would have some genetic link to an European ancestry, the only shock would be, of course, is with whom.

Being linked to a racist segregationist of course is a HUGE slap in the face, and although many white folks vehemently disagree with Sharpton, he is no racist.

I personally don%u2019t care for him, because he constantly jumps on the wrong bandwagon and I think he%u2019s an opportunist, but he%u2019s no racist.

Protesting against a system of degradation and dehumanization doesn%u2019t make you a racist, so get it right.

He is neo-revolutionary; he fights against oppression and disenfranchisement of blacks, which if the situation had been reverse whites would do identically.

[hissteps4u]

Just because the Thermond Family owned slaves does not mean Sharpton is related due to the practice of Slave owners having *** with their Slaves. Sharpton needs to get a grip. It is already known the Biggiest Raciest Thurman had a black Lover and child which was exposed several years ago.

In truth any of his Ancesters could have done the deed and the Match of DNA would be present.

News is News and what folks key on and hype is not neccesarly news worthy except for the Wow Factor.

No one cares except perhaps Sharpton and any one who says he is not a raceist does not know Sharpton very well.

[boilerhouse2]

The Revenund, I mean the Reverund, is playing, Whoz Yo Daddy!

I sayz, da reverund, is saying! Whoz yo daddy!

What a butterball twit this moron is. If he thinks that he can rewrite history, with the Opray Winfrey school revisionists then go ahead. But pal its too late, and all the ebonics can't change what your past members of your family did. Unfortunately, the black history cannot change the fact that certain land owners had *** with former chatels of the property he owned. Meaning Rev. Al, these slave owners had *** with your Great Great Grandmother. That's the way it was until Ab Lincoln freed your collective momma's. And better yet!
It was the ----Republicians---- who did this!!!!
And all your black backsides for some stupid reason keep voting for the DEMOCRATS who were against freeing the slaves.
So Rev. Al explain that, and explain why today, blacks vote on-mass for a political party that keeps voting or supportings segregation in its party past and present.

[kailumego1]

The problem with a lot of white folks is the hypocrisy when white folks rebel against tyranny or terrorism [ambiguous] they are within their right, however, when other ethnicities rebel against %u201Cwhite%u201D oppression and tyranny they are racist, or %u201Chate whites%u201D. The Iraqis are wrong because they didn%u2019t lie down and surrender as an insurgent [U.S] invaded their country, and if the reverse had happened the white folks here were going to actually capitulate. It%u2019s called institutionalized schizophrenia there is a conflicting moral and sociological belief, of which many white Americans rationalize, %u201Cwhat%u2019s mine is mine and what%u2019s yours is mine also%u201D.

This %u201Cschizophrenic%u201D rationalization, the %u201Cvoices%u201D has led white [Europeans] to invade practically every country in the hemisphere, and is the reason why we [insurgents] have assaulted Iraq and contemplating the same for Iran.

[kailumego1]

Hisssteps4u, obviously you don't know Sharpton that well, or the reasoning behind his comments about whites. So, if Native Americans bolstered they hate whites, I guess they would be racist too, considering they have every right to feel that way, because, after all, it was %u201Cwhite Europeans%u201D that encroached upon them stealing their land and forcing them to live on small enclaves, called reservations.

The French peasantry had been severely oppressed by the Royal Monarchy, at which point they became fed up filled with rage and rebelled as they viciously murdered Louis XIV beheading him, so I guess they were racist too.

Likewise, the English colonists who were fed up with King George and the parliament, looted, burned, pillaged and murdered the King%u2019s %u201Cpuppets%u201D protesting the unfair treatment, so I guess they too were racist.

[boilerhouse2]

White oppression! What freakin pile of bung did you dig that up from.
White oppression that you define, lead to civilization never before seen on any continent. White oppression has created more employment, better health, food products affordable to the masses of people everywhere, creation of every modern transportation device you own. But white folks are the greatest oppressers.
Maybe you should have read of the adventures of the Ottoman Empire. There was a rosy bunch. If you were Christian, or Jewish forbid you got the royal rump ride down a forteen foot sharpen steel blade. Normally it cut you in half before you reached the bottom.
And even now, non-white persons of your choice, today buy and sell, non-white people.
But, we white society stopped all that some 200 plus years ago. We got over that, funny your folk still have a problem with that, reminding us white folks of something we gave up along time ago and yet you haven't found time to stop it Muslim countries.

[zendigity]

Oh, this has Jerry Springer written ALL OVER IT!!!

[dumbwoman]

There sure are a lot of ridiculous opinions on this story. Hating white people who live in the present because of actions made by their ancestors in the past is RACIST. Being a 'minority' group, doesnt mean you 'cant' be racist. Also, whilst I mean no disrespect to american indians, to claim they werent brutal is stupid. They were a primitive society, they scalped, they hunted, they gathered. Not saying it makes them in anyway inferior to Europeans; as I said that was the past, but to take some moral highground as if american indians are better people than whites is just plain stupid.

[emhawks]

LORDY,LORDY!!!!

[emhawks]

Al's goin' to need CPR before all this is over!!!!!

[rbfain]

YOU ALL NEED TO GET A LIFE. Forget it, You, me no body can do any thing about the pasted.

[racam_us]

So Al Sharpton is Strom's illegitimate grandson?

[sshankin]

Dumbwoman,

after reading your post, I've come to the conclusion that that is exactly what you are, a dumbwoman! First of all, calling a society 'primitive' is EXTREMELY racist! READ!!! There were native nations that had extremely advanced cultures BEFORE the occupation, the Cahokian's in the Mississippian region had a kingdom that spanned from the gulf coast to southern Iowa! HARDLY primitive...

And furthermore, since you are a dumbwoman, I'm guessing you're not aware that WHITE PEOPLE started scalping (as a way for low income white farmers to get rich) that offered them money based on the Indian scalps they collected, with children being the lowest amount earned following women, and then men! LEARN YOUR HISTORY before you expose your ignorance all over the internet....

[kailumego1]

Yes there are those who have given their lives to help non-whites, however, these numbers are very few and not greatly mentioned by mainstream white society.

Because whenever those %u201CGREAT%u201D altruistic white folks come forward to condemn white hypocrisy the majority immediately castigates them. There are whites that died in the %u201CCivil Rights Movement%u201D fighting for equality for blacks, which I%u2019m quite sure none of your ancestors were among those who sacrifice their lives.


Likewise, there are those who protest now against racial inequality in the U.S, starvation in Africa, Southeast Asia, etc., the inhumane, illegal war in Iraq, and the exploitation of workers in developing countries by U.S. capitalists, which again, I%u2019m quite sure you%u2019re not one of them.

As long as, there is an atmosphere, which shields us for harmful ultra-violet rays, photosynthesis that allows us to breath oxygen, surface and ground water to quench our thirst, fertile soil to grow vegetation, medical technology to discover new ways of combating age old diseases, and the continuation of population growth there will always exist narrow-minded moronic imbeciles such as yourselves to remind us no matter how far we%u2019ve come we still got a long ways to go.

[kailumego1]

Another obvious truth, no Lincoln didn't free the slaves because of some moral consciousness, he freed the slaves to weaken the South. The problem with "bottom feeders" like yourselves while debasing other folks [blacks, Native Americans, Chinese, Hispanics, etc] you have forgotten about the hundreds of contributions and inventions made by Native Americans, African slaves, Chinese immigrants, Hispanics, etc. Those inventions by African slaves and freedmen, of which white slave holders and whites passed on as their own.

Europeans did not teach Africans, Native Americans, etc. how to be "civilized", you're certainly in a "delusion of grandeur", and however, they teach them how to be ruthless, cold-blooded and calculating. Let%u2019s examine what Europeans have taught the supposed feebleminded, to conquer and destroy by any means necessary, only to rationalize this anti-social behavior as an evolutionary psychological phenomenon.

Likewise, let%u2019s closely examine the ideological belief, to "divide-and-conquer", as European hegemony conquered and annihilated millions of Native Americans, as our government pitted Iraq against Iran, and as the Belgium government pitted the Hutus against the Tutsis in Rwanda so show me this so-called legitimate evidence where a majority European whites have bent over backwards to help anyone other than themselves.

[kailumego1]

Why do ignorant white folks such as yourselves assume because an individual voices an opinion about the "evils" of white oppression they are black, oh how narrow-minded.

And obvious truth, yes, I am quite aware of the Ottoman Empire and the Armenian genocide, although you didn't mention it, but what has that got to do with white hypocrisy, which you've obviously proven.

[bellal-2009]

Oh, please. If any of us can trace our lineage back to the 1600s we'd probably all be related in one way or another. And the whites would probably all have some link to owning slaves. There wasn't that many people here back then.

[kailumego1]

SShankin, you are 500% right, white settlers certainly did start the "scalping" brutality against Native Americans.

And DUMBWOMAN, if white Europeans were so smart then why did thousands of them [Virginians] starve to death in the mid-1600%u2019s, because they were too lazy to farm the land depending upon the Native Americans to do it for them, which they vehemently refused.

It was the Native Americans that taught Europeans how to farm the land and which crops were edible, because if it weren%u2019t for the Native Americans, [Indians is a term used by Columbus because he thought he had arrived in China] the vast European population would have never survived.

And I second that emotion read some history, because for the most part, before European settlers Native Americans were very %u201Cpeaceful%u201D, of which they had minor tribal disputes with one another.

More often they tried to settle their disputes peacefully, not like those %u201Cbloodthirsty%u201D Europeans, and unlike European settlers they had great respect for the environment, which accordingly they were very %u201Cwasteful%u201D.

The %u201CHopi%u201D Indians had created elaborate burial mounds, which shocked Europeans, because being as arrogant as they were assumed Native Americans were %u201Cprimitive%u201D.

Likewise the Aztec, Incas, and Mayan civilizations rivaled European architecture right down to the minute details.

[elgraz]

Humans will be humans..........ain't that the truth.

[elgraz]

I always thought that Sharpton and Thurman were related..................yeah right !!!!!!!!!!!

[klmetz_cbs]

Bla,bla, bla... who cares?
Now, if he can 'prove' he (or anyone else) was related to the Roswell aliens...now that would be news.

[kory2007]

When the phrase was uttered by the Virginia State Senator %u2018Blacks should just get over it%u2019 the revelation by Reverend Sharpton is a stark reminder to many people their material lineage is a result of a rape that happened long ago, but still conjures the pain and shame felt by their grandmother in the hearts of her descendents today. The inculcation and subsequent brutality of those forcibly brought to this country should also beckon the paternal descendents responsible for the atrocity to wonder if there is truly a heaven, and whether or not the sins of the father will one day be answered by their sons and daughters. Just as slavery had and still has a profound affect in the lives of Black People in this country, it must also haunt at least some of those with a conscience as well. The Slave Master relationship frequently overlooks the fact that the slavers were slaves themselves to the dominion they once held, and the wealth they enjoy even today is the result of wages never paid. Ironically, the bond between those believing God gave them the right to enslave another and those still searching for their roots, it is an indication of a lingering pathology. For those who look in the mirror everyday and see the ghosts of those who once whipped them into submission, seeing the features of a grandfather who saw their grandmother as little more than chattel, must make them wonder if the sound of the cracking lash will ever stop ringing in their ears. York Van Nixon III 2/26/07

[aznyron-2009]

I find this very funny it seem to upset some people that they might have a black relative I personaly have several niece's who are biracial my sister who is white married a black man and got divorced and married another black man it does not disturb me in fact I think it nice to be able to cross color lines and be loving towards each other we have to much hatred in this world especially towards color & religion choose your socks by there color choose your friends by there character AMEN

[kailumego1]

Most Africans have ambivalence towards so-called African Americans, because they [Africans] are so tribalistic, therefore, trying to create a magical bond with a vast territory of chaotic social ideological beliefs based on fractionalization is pointless.

Africans, as a whole have very little knowledge or awareness of the other countries, i.e. Rwanda vs. Mali, within Africa%u2019s sphere, so although the genocide in Rwanda touched the international community, other neighboring African countries were selectively mute.

However, that doesn%u2019t negate the hypocrisy here in America, Al Sharpton may be livid if he finds out he has a genetic link to Storm Thurman, but the real issue rest on individuals here embracing cultural differences and not polarizing those based on raw superficial analysis.

We are different and that%u2019s not a bad thing, the problem is those individuals desiring to create this homogenous society based on Eurocentric norms and values omitting the colorful distinctions, which make this world a beautiful place.

[kailumego1]

Ronin10, while I agree wholeheartedly, if blacks went to Africa, which is a continent, not a country, in search of their historical roots they would undoubtedly be in for a rude awakening. Africa being highly fractionalized and extremely diverse many would not be greeted with the warmth and congenial they were hoping for, but vehemence and hostility in many parts.

Considering Africa is so fractionalized, of which they have had some of the bloodiest feuds between tribal factions, and continue, it is highly unlikely, particularly, unknowing the region or location of many African slaves down to minute detail that they would be welcomed congenially.

[agnim]

"There is one thing I am pretty sure of. As long as we ditinguish betwween "African Americans" and "European Americans" we will continue to suffer with the racial divide that has plagued our country for far too long.

Posted by ronin10 at 06:38 AM : Feb 27, 2007"

Learn about AMERICAN HISTORY?

Have you never heard of SEGREGATION AND RACISM in America?

Have you ever thought about whom is responsible for the CENTURIES of "divide" in America?

If your parents and teachers have kept their dirty little secrets from you, we'll be glad to fill you in. LOL

Maybe people calling themselves African Americans divided America, right?

Anyway, I bet that the long used identities; GREEK AMERICAN OR ITALIAN AMERICAN have never never bothered you, just African American?

Maybe you need to check your racism and denial in the closet before you join these kinds of debates? LOL