Scipio Africanus Jones
If you haven't been living under a rock within the last few days, I'm sure you heard that genealogists using Ancestry.com discovered that Reverend Al Sharpton's great-grandfather Coleman Sharpton was a slave owned by Julia Thurmond, a distant relative of the notorious Dixiecrat and segregationist Strom Thurmond. This shocking revelation has led Sharpton to dig deeper to determine if there is a genetic link between himself and the Thurmond family. Isn't it ironic that both men who have gained notoriety from divisive racial politics (albeit on opposite sides of the political spectrum) might share not only a slave lineage but also a genetic one? Time, DNA testing and further research will tell. I have always had a curiosity, not unlike many African-Americans, as to what (or who) would fall out if my family tree was shaken.
Suffice it say, Reverend Al's experience has spurned yours truly to look into my own lineage. I just started asking a few questions (as well as perusing Ancestry.com) and discovered that I am a distant relative of the gentlemen above. It appears that Scipio Jones was a famed attorney from Arkansas, who was best known for his skillful defense of the Elaine 12-twelve African-American sharecroppers sentenced to death for participation in the Elaine Race Riot in 1919. He was also an astute businessman and republican (you know I really appreciated that bit of trivia). Of course, in all fairness, many Black folk belonged to the Republican party during this time period. I have a lot more research to do in this matter but do yourself a favor and shake your family tree....you might be surprised as to what you might discover. For more on Scipio Jones click on the link below:
Scipio Africanus Jones
No comments:
Post a Comment