Monday, February 26, 2007

My Great-Great Grandfather Owned Your Great Grandfather

Strom Thurmond and Al Sharpton, there's an odd couple for you.

The late senator Thurmond had been a segregationist when he ran for a presidential nomination in the 50's. Sharpton is, of course, a colourful and outspoken champion of black civil rights. So, what could these two possibly have in common?

Thurmond's ancestors owned Sharpton's ancestors, that's what. Geneaological searches reveal that a distant cousin of Thurmond's had owned Coleman Sharpton, the reverend's great-grandfather.

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