New York Times report links Michelle Obama to slave ancestors
Michelle Obama
The New York Times has published a fascinating research into the family tree of Michelle Obama, who, the story says, “grew up with only a vague sense of her ancestry, aides and relatives said. During the presidential campaign, the family learned about one paternal great-great-grandfather, a former slave from South Carolina, but the rest of Mrs. Obama’s roots remained a mystery.”
Working with a genealogist, Times reporters have researched Mrs. Obama’s ancestry back five generations. The family tree they compiled includes Melvinia Shields, an enslaved and illiterate young girl in South Carolina who was impregnated by an unknown white man.
The newly discovered story of Mrs. Obama’s maternal ancestors — the slave mother, white father and their biracial son, Dolphus T. Shields — for the first time fully connects the first African-American first lady to the history of slavery, tracing their five-generation journey from bondage to a front-row seat to the presidency. The findings — uncovered by Megan Smolenyak, a genealogist, and The New York Times — substantiate what Mrs. Obama has called longstanding family rumors about a white forbear.
You can see some of the supporting paperwork that the Times published here as well.
I post this for no other reason than because it’s a fascinating story. We all have our family histories. They are all part of the story of America. And now we know a little bit more about Michelle Obama’s unique American story.
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Kurt is the director of social media for the Post-Dispatch, where he has worked since August 2002. He's been a journalist since 1982, covering municipal government, courts, education and two hurricanes as a reporter before becoming an editor. 
Well, this story pretty much sums up the ancestors of most ALL African Americans ancestry.
Yes, and not all that fascinating.
Michelle O. made a fascinating personal reference during a recent speech of hers:
http://www.tinyurl.com/IOC-Presentation
If you went back far enough in time, you would find that we all have ancestors that were slaves to someone (probably out of America). African Americans are just the latest and the only American slaves. History moves on.
Many Americans have a similar history such as the First Lady’s. Immigrants have been seperated from their families and country of orgin here in America since Jamestown. Many of the colonists were supposed criminals sent here in what was known as transportation to the colonies. Many Americans have gained despite their humble circumstances. The common history we share is often used to divide or oppress us by ill meaning instigators. These instigators seek to cause civil disorder and then use emergency powers to make themselves dictators. Much like the former head of state George Bush. His party brought about the 9-11 tragedy he used to oppress his opponents here in America. Divide and conqueor is the goal we need to stand together regardless of ancient anomosities.
Yawn! Isn’t there something more news worthy than this? This is totally boring and besides, who cares?
heres a thought.. lets write about real issues Post. my ancestors came from sweeden and denmark, where’s my story?
OK Kurt
You deleted my post twice because my response had nothing to do with the subject.
Here goes. why should I care where Obama’s wife came from? Our society has since Alex Halley’s Roots was on TV, IMHO most of it was (Made Up) has somehow made it OK to care where blacks come from, we know where they came from. when was the last time any president has had his or his wife’s genealogy made public or a fuss made over where they came from other then the state they live. All this nonsense is just and attempt to promote this guilt trip over slavery, by the media and left wingers and to foster upon the public ever chance they get.
Hey really unbelievable !The Times reported on Michelle Obama’s ancestry, tracing her maternal line back to her great-great-great-grandparents, a slave girl and a white man, and their son, Dolphus T. Shields, who was born in the 1850s.
While these findings tell of Michelle Obama’s roots, for many Americans her family’s story will also bring into focus a common narrative, which runs through the history of this nation. We asked some historians and writers, why has it taken so long for Americans to appreciate these deep multiethnic connections?
I would think that only white people would find this interesting because all black people would find that if they dug deep enough they to would get the same results…On the other hand white people if they were to shake their family tree they’ll see that they are not as PURE as they think…Just saying were all mixed in some form or fashion…The truth is in the blood…