Michelle Obama’s Family Tree Has A White Branch
Posted by: Ami Angelowicz
Filed in:
news
12:10PM, Tuesday November 10th 2009
Genealogists have been busy reconstructing the First Lady’s family tree and what they’ve discovered is shocking—but really only to Debbie Shields, who is apparently Michelle Obama’s cousin. And yes, she’s white as can be. But are we really surprised by this? As most of us know, there were many African and American couplings (both consensual and non-consensual) that took place during the times of slavery—and Michelle’s great, great grandmother Melvinia was no exception. As it turns out, Melvinia was impregnated at age 15 by plantation owner Charles Marion Shields who is also Debbie’s great, great grandfather. In case you got lost there in the twisted branches, that makes the two fourth cousins. While Debbie and her 17-year old son Brandon think it’s “awesome” to be related to the first lady, they couldn’t believe it at first. Believe it, folks! So what do you think? Awkward family reunion or positive step forward for race relations in this country? [Newser]
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ElleSays
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 12:12 pm: [report]
Really? This isn’t news, just like what she smells like isn’t news. Nor do I care that a dress she had on came from Talbots. Ugh.
BellR
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 12:32 pm: [report]
White people get excited over ANYTHING. MAJORITY of African-Americans have WHITE FAMILY MEMBERS. The white slave owners ALWAYS RAPED the slaves, so duh black people have 3rd generation white family members. I find it gunny that it is cool for white people to start claiming their 4th generation black family. The lady ONLY wants attention, I hope she does not get invited to the WH.
DancerNinja
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 01:20 pm: [report]
I love her, but I can’t help thinking, “whatever…” Following any lineage back and around and down again, wouldn’t most of us have a cross-race relation somewhere? I have a half-Korean second cousin. Whoopee.
secretstevie
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 02:27 pm: [report]
@ElleSays FYI theFrisky doesn’t claim to be a ‘news’ site.
indianagirl
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 02:41 pm: [report]
Im wondering why we are supposed to care? I couldn’t care less if she had a half jewish leporachaun dwarf korean uncle. That’s her business…. and it doesnt matter at all.
BlueVibe
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 03:40 pm: [report]
Um, if you could trace them, almost any African-American family has a white branch, unless maybe their families immigrated very recently.
A lot of white people would find out they had black and/or Native American branches, too. My family started coming over in 1680—I’m sure I’m related to all kinds of people I didn’t know about.
plasticrose
wrote on November 11 2009 @ 01:07 pm: [report]
... So?
CaleeKay
wrote on November 12 2009 @ 01:35 am: [report]
I would be excited if i was related to royalty. I think its fascinating to say yeah, i am related to the queen of England, Elton john, Abraham Lincoln or something. In fact, i think i am somehow connected to some European royalty, but i cant remember who.
But there is no reason to be stunned like (many have already said) if you have African-American heritage or any certain race.
And like many, probably hope they dont use this as some kind of weird ‘in’ to the WH.