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| Barack Obama may be descendant of first African slave in colonial America | Barack Obama may be descendant of first African slave in colonial America |
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| A study of Barack Obama's family history has revealed that he is likely to be a descendant of the first African enslaved in the American colonies. | A study of Barack Obama's family history has revealed that he is likely to be a descendant of the first African enslaved in the American colonies. |
| Perhaps surprisingly, the line to the president's 11th great-grandfather was traced through the president's white mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, whose ancestors were some of the first African American settlers of colonial America. | Perhaps surprisingly, the line to the president's 11th great-grandfather was traced through the president's white mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, whose ancestors were some of the first African American settlers of colonial America. |
| According to the genealogy website Ancestry.com Dunham is a descendant of John Punch, who was an indentured servant in colonial Virginia and became enslaved for life in 1640 as punishment for an attempted escape. His case is the first documented proof of someone being enslaved for life in the colonies and happened before Virginia enacted slavery laws. | According to the genealogy website Ancestry.com Dunham is a descendant of John Punch, who was an indentured servant in colonial Virginia and became enslaved for life in 1640 as punishment for an attempted escape. His case is the first documented proof of someone being enslaved for life in the colonies and happened before Virginia enacted slavery laws. |
| "Two of the most historically significant African Americans in the history of our country are, amazingly, directly related," said Ancestry.com genealogist Joseph Shumway in a statement. "John Punch was more than likely the genesis of legalized slavery in America. But after centuries of suffering, the civil war, and decades of civil rights efforts, his 11th great-grandson became the leader of the free world and the ultimate realization of the American dream." | "Two of the most historically significant African Americans in the history of our country are, amazingly, directly related," said Ancestry.com genealogist Joseph Shumway in a statement. "John Punch was more than likely the genesis of legalized slavery in America. But after centuries of suffering, the civil war, and decades of civil rights efforts, his 11th great-grandson became the leader of the free world and the ultimate realization of the American dream." |
| The genealogy website said that after discovering Obama's mother's African heritage, they decided to delve deeper into the president's African roots. Their findings assert that Dunham's Virginia land-owner ancestors were the progeny of Punch and a white woman whose free status passed on to their children. | The genealogy website said that after discovering Obama's mother's African heritage, they decided to delve deeper into the president's African roots. Their findings assert that Dunham's Virginia land-owner ancestors were the progeny of Punch and a white woman whose free status passed on to their children. |
| To make the connection, the genealogists analyzed historical documents and conducted DNA analysis. Due to the destruction of certain historical documents, their analysis relies on some impossible-to-prove conclusions, but the team is confident with their results. | To make the connection, the genealogists analyzed historical documents and conducted DNA analysis. Due to the destruction of certain historical documents, their analysis relies on some impossible-to-prove conclusions, but the team is confident with their results. |
| The New York Times reached out to genealogist Elizabeth Shown Mills and another genealogist not affiliated with Ancestry.com to confirm that the study was sound. | The New York Times reached out to genealogist Elizabeth Shown Mills and another genealogist not affiliated with Ancestry.com to confirm that the study was sound. |
| Mills, who specializes in southern genealogy, said in a statement: "Genealogical research on individuals who lived hundreds of years ago can never definitively prove that one man fathered another, but this research meets the highest standards and can be offered with confidence." | Mills, who specializes in southern genealogy, said in a statement: "Genealogical research on individuals who lived hundreds of years ago can never definitively prove that one man fathered another, but this research meets the highest standards and can be offered with confidence." |
| Johni Cerny, a specialist in black ancestry, told the New York Times: "I'm sure people will be tantalized and try to prove or disprove it, but what they're saying is very safe and appropriate. I would be tempted myself to try to make that connection." | Johni Cerny, a specialist in black ancestry, told the New York Times: "I'm sure people will be tantalized and try to prove or disprove it, but what they're saying is very safe and appropriate. I would be tempted myself to try to make that connection." |
| Previous Ancestry.com findings on Obama's family tree show that the president has Irish and German roots and is distantly related to Warren Buffet, Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh. | Previous Ancestry.com findings on Obama's family tree show that the president has Irish and German roots and is distantly related to Warren Buffet, Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh. |
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