Slavery Separated Them. Generations Later, They're Reuniting. | PBS Short Docs

[@shirleyashanti3031]

My maternal grandfather, who died 20 years ago at age 92, often said, "The way they were selling us off every which way, we're all related on one end or the other." I miss him so much.

[@shereecamel]

I am currently at this point in my genealogy research ... and, it is a heartbreaking, soul-shaking intersection I have never thought I would ever experience...

[@lf1496]

I met my family from Nigeria. I found them on my ancestry test typed in region of Nigeria and people came up. I contacted a female cousin and went to Nigeria to meet my family where my female line began. They looked like me and my family. Amazing healing. ❤🌍

[@Kwabenata.Etu0hene]

Which company did you go through? I’ve done African-Ancestry and LivingDNA.

[@buppieonabudget]

That is amazing

[@lf1496]

​​@@Kwabenata.Etu0heneI used ancestry DNA . You type in DNA match by region. I typed in Nigeria and got a few matches, Yoruba, Ibo and Hausa cousins. Most people don't know you can do that. Goodluck 💪🏿💪🏾💪🏽🌍❤

[@AlishaDixonTV]

Amazing!!!! I’ve connected with a cousin in Anambra State. I plan to make the trip!

[@AlishaDixonTV]

@@lf1496 Have you used this search function recently? I thought they removed it. I had to save those matches before they raised the minimum centimorgan.

[@batya7]

Genetic genealogy is such a powerful tool for exploring our personal histories. I wish them continued luck.

[@Humbirdhippo5475]

I’m happy to see them reconnecting family lines that were lost to horrific acts. May their love and connections continue to grow.

[@NellieKAdaba]

I feel the same.

[@Sooopa_Doopa]

Not to minimize the trauma from this story and/or play Opression Olympics but this has been the Black experience in the entire Americas: from the top of Canada to the bottom of Agentina and ever last country in between including the Caribbean. A friend of mine from Colombia told me about her older relatives (folks who have already started dying off fro old age), whose parents and grandparents had siblings who were sold off to Peru, Ecuador & Brazil. Some were tracked down and reunited but some disappeared forever. Same thing happened in the Caribbean: families were not just broken up but sold to entirely different islands, never to be heard from again The horror of slavery and the long term effects on us can *NEVER* be overstated

[@MISNM0]

Excellent point to keep at the front of mind

[@Toph526]

I don't think your statement necessarily minimizes their pain, but just shows the extent of how extreme it was that it wasn't just one small group of people that were affected but a whole continent, millions upon millions and the generations that came after them. This story of individuals trying to reconnect with their ancestors and the pain that was inflicted on them is a small picture of what many Black Americans (continental, both North and South) are going through and what many more wish they had the chance to do but probably and sadly won't be able to.

[@myonlinepresence7833]

"Goodnight cousins." "Much love to you all." ❤

[@kirkwardy3481]

Goodnight cousin

[@rosemarieroberts9168]

Excellent, I hope this type of research is possible in the Caribbean.

[@TaharkahX]

Yes, it is.

[@znayJ]

Salutations to the Ancestors. I'll never forget, Ase

[@4theluvofacurl]

I am so glad that you all found each other & that the puzzle pieces are reintegrating to bring a beautiful family portrait into existence.❤

[@paulacribb56]

My great grandmother was Hawkins from North Carolina. This kind of narrative is so important to putting all the puzzles pieces together. Thank you for doing this!

[@matthew-jy5jp]

I love PBS. Thank you for all you do. 😊

[@galejohnson5696]

This was just wonderful! I know your ancestors are smiling! I am crying tears of joy. Thank you for sharing your story!

[@Lifelearner5555]

Praise The Most High... For Reconnecting The Bloodlines❗

[@talitali7597]

This Is Beautiful That They Were Able To Do This, Its Also Hurtful That Your Ancestors Had To Go Thru This ... Prayers For More Great Things To Come And Thank You So Much For Sharing, Thank You...

[@tinacooper4596]

When I see stuff like this I want to cry😢 because a lot of the problems we as a people have is feeling like we don't matter. I don't understand how USA can understand the PTSD of a dog who has been treated less than , but don't understand or want to understand why things in my family are so jacked up. You can't burn the boot straps of a shoe and wonder way the person wearing the boot can't keep it on when their running..😢

[@72vince27]

Goodnight cousins, much love to you all. What a powerful statement.

[@donaldwarriner1640]

Beautiful, healing program. Long may it and you live.

[@kemyattacromer2515]

It just feels like healing and the hug you need.

[@chiomai5173]

I'm Nigerian and did a DNA test and all my cousins were scattered across the Americas

[@joanhamilton2651]

I don't understand your statement. I'm white American and my DNA, too, is scattered around the world.

[@PHlophe]

Joannie, Hunnie pie, you need to activate those brain cells real quick. she is telling you that connects and it is her specific heritage that binds her to these people. Its not always you , sweety . You are not the center of the world.

[@lolakepi]

Greetings from Paris and from global black family.

[@TheVuduYuDu]

Greetings cousin! Yrs. from the American state of Florida. Wishing you well!

[@nicholalewis8698]

Greetings to you cousin from New Orleans Louisiana.

[@kathysowers]

Oh my gosh! May they find all their precious puzzle pieces💖🙏

[@ermaek2145]

What a wonderful video on a painful subject I need to know more about! I'm going to research this, thank you!

[@BurritoMassacre]

I love these stories of love, human connections, healing , history. Very touching. ❤❤

[@adaezeokafor4331]

WHICH HEALING!

[@optimisticgirl8555]

Beautiful seeing them together

[@Cnichal]

Makes me want to try again. I wish these DNA sites were more scrupulous though… 😞

[@kahlil3034]

Wonderful job Karran and Family...Lyndelle

[@MISNM0]

"I am from this part of the country because she (Ms. Louise) escaped into the woods and that's not lost on me. " -Negest THIS. There is a wealth of history in this single sentence. 💔

[@tonibarber336]

This has me thinking…I’m a Hawkins descendant from PG County, MD. Looks like I need to do some research.

[@DonnaMull]

thank you for sharing such a painful experience. when i first heard the expression white privilege, i truly didn't know what it encompassed. but years later after listening and paying attention, I've found it is an ever-growing list of simple basic human experiences that were stolen or denied to so many people. just as i did with the holocaust, ever since i was a kid, I've read about slavery, looking for the answer to a simple question, why? why did people think it was not the vile thing it was? i have to conclude i'll never understand, my mind just doesn't work that way. but i will still seek out information, always saying a prayer for the many souls affected, past, present, and future.

[@thewordsmith5440]

To even have an immigration story.

[@h2opower]

The truly hard part to uncover is the part of our past that was in Africa, our true names, customs, and belief systems. That to me is the past worth uncovering as it leads all the way back to us being the creator's chosen people as that's our true roots, but like I said it's very hard to find anything on our deep past.

[@marcinagilliam5007]

Jesus right now I forgive my family. Amen

[@VK-iq6qv]

Please quit hiding the pictures of your family cuz it could be my family as well or someone else's family

[@CYThornton1]

So incredibly powerful ❤

[@Ritmundi]

Historical narratives are healing

[@andrewsimms70]

those people who enslave dso many out of hate and greed have a lot to answer for

[@mixdmsages2001]

I am in tears😢 It is a shame that we must go this route to find our kinfolk… I love that they continue with the meetings❤

[@nefertinaabrams1853]

#reparationsfordestroyingblackfamilies 😪 #reparationsforslaveryandjimcrow #ReparationsIsADebtOwed 🔥

[@AmieDibba]

I've built my digital family tree with the support of others and research. I'm at almost 2k people. I want to take an ancestry test in hopes of learning more but also in hopes of providing a connection and information for others. I just don't know which test to take....

[@pariscoleman2693]

This is🌟Beautiful!🌟 Please keep up the work!🙏❤

[@alfairefountaine4150]

Peace and Blessings to you all 🙌🏾

[@Legendsofrain]

This is incredible!

[@shockceemartin4793]

This is beautiful!

[@celesteballard1405]

Beautiful!

[@EzzyDT]

Thanks so much for the video. Was a book written about this incident? I think I read about it somewhere.

[@Karran63]

a portion of this history is included in the book "The 272" by Rachel Swarns. Prof. Adam Rothman also covers this history in "Facing Georgetown's Past."

[@EzzyDT]

@@Karran63 Thanks for the info. Yes, I saw the story in the news, and years later, Michael Harriot recommended “The 272” in his book. I am so sorry this happened to your ancestors. I am happy the truth is known by a few. Thanks again.

[@christinesteckel3390]

S. Epatha Merkerson was on Finding Your Roots and she's a descendant of the Georgetown slaves. I had never heard of that before that episode. She went to a reunion.

[@EzzyDT]

@@christinesteckel3390 Yes

[@donaldstreeter5740]

Wonderful 🙏🏿

[@mandyb6414]

Beautiful and amazing to able to go back into his to expose a people who called themselves godly, White , Religious, Male.

[@Beetwate305]

My problem with this whole FBA movement is that the leader Tariq Nasheed, wants to cut the African piece of the history out of the puzzle , as if FBA’s story just magically started in America, I know I know I know! Tariq says there was black native Indians, then modern day Indians should share some DNA with modern day black Americans! Why not start a project with Native Americans get DNA test? Just like people on the continent of Africa should all get DNA test to be compared to black Americans and see how they’re related!

[@bre9328]

I literally just left a Tariq debate where he acknowledges African ancestry and points to the fact that there were black tribes in America. The reason all of us can't do DNA comparisons with present-day Native Americans is because some of the Black Native tribes were wiped out, so there's no DNA to compare it to.

[@timasuna1756]

​@@bre9328You have to exist to be wiped out, it's impossible for a large group to exist and leave no genetic traces. 😅 Just impossible, it's pretendian fantasy LOL

[@Blkbeautee]

Thank you this is why I did my DNA to find lost family.

[@virtualcreativecollaborations]

♥️ Beautiful Blessings

[@kristiejanel]

Thankyou

[@MoniqueWilson-z7j]

Wow

[@shawnjackson6242]

Excellent can someone recommend a dna test for those interested in learning more about themselves

[@Lifelearner5555]

Determination , Unstoppable , Consistency Strength...✝️🙏🏿🫂

[@duliye]

Reparations Now !!!

[@DiamondMarie-q5d]

Beautiful 🫶🏾

[@mariarod6998]

The lord said let there be light

[@callofthewintermoon91]

😢❤

[@lovethyself744]

All the things whyte people did to these Africans smh

[@beatpirate8]

thank you. this is NOT that long ago. i think about homeless now. we never gave people paying jobs or housing . they were slaves then they became houseless. what did we do to help people for generations succeed. buy homes. get education and training. get jobs?

[@debbiemarquis3231]

Not to worry..soon we will look up and see the 🔥🔥🔥

[@justtrust426]

Deuteronomy 28 KJV

[@rebeccalara4982]

❤❤❤❤🙏🏽⚡⚡⚡👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽❤❤❤

[@daniel23554]

1838!

[@GhyuRtyu]

In the name of Jesus they enslaved them

[@BestFitSquareChannel]

🌞🫶🏼🖖🏾

[@ORISONTV]

OK, BYE!

[@joanhamilton2651]

Blacks were not the only slaves. Many were white, Chinese, Irish, Scots and more. This country was built on the backs of all people's. Blame your black ancestors for them selling you to begin with, no one else. If they hadn't been selling there would have been no buying. P.S. I do have African ancestry but believe in looking at history with my eyes wide open.

[@Nancybee1000]

Open your eyes eyes wider...white, Chinese, Irish, Scots and more may have been indentured servants but they weren't chattel slaves or in other words property of the enslaver, subhuman, and no better than the china cabinet or the mare also included in the bill of sale or a will. Slavery in Africa was not the same slavery as it came to be in North America thru the Middle Passage.

[@itsmoic320]

100% Truly important to look at history thru an accurate point of view

[@jenniferharned6484]

I think that every family that can connect with those enslaved by Georgetown University, and its Jesuit founders should be given full ride academic scholarships.

[@TheVuduYuDu]

THIS!!!!!

[@andreadaniel8792]

What a wonderful and necessary story. Thank you.

[@lashunnalove8336]

I know a few of us that found their ancestors in Cameroon. They went and met their cousins!

[@PHlophe]

stevie wonder and Blair underwood did. look them up. the literally found their very own families

[@patriciastaton6182]

🎉❤🎉 truth will come out

[@michaelmishaw]

This is absolutely beautiful. I wish you all the utmost success.

[@leotajackson5602]

This is so awesome! I have been researching my family and am in awe at the number of people I have in my lineage.

[@PHlophe]

Leoda, you've located extended blood family ?

[@davidconnelly6206]

It sounds like some if not all of you, are possibly of Piscataway heritage being from there in Maryland. The surnames Butler and Queen, are a couple of the core surnames of the Piscataway people. Peace All

[@paintingtracey]

Amazing! Thanks for this.

[@kenhunt5153]

Well done.

[@andreyarborough]

Thanks for this. VA-LA links

[@bos-G-state7359]

Man i love this i did Ancestry DNA test and 23andme I've found my father's family and five siblings but ive also been reaching out to all of my matches and most are not interested in talking

[@AishaLaDon]

I am so proud that we have each other to share the voice of our ancestors #gu272

[@s.rosesmith6525]

No one speaks much about how we became slaves. One African tribe conquered another tribe, took them into captivity and sold them to the 'White' man. The very reason we have difficulty uniting today.

[@itsmoic320]

Exactly … it happened all over the americas. I’m South American and the South American tribes enslaved other tribes also. White Europeans did the same, a stronger group of white people enslaved their own white people

[@sussieasempapa6787]

This is why they want true history taught. Too many atrocities, but they cant hide the truth.

[@mmane257]

very interesting.

[@ennismcgee1305]

❤

[@ReneeSan85]

My family recently held its annual family reunion. I was able to share an abundance of information about our ancestry. I'm sure that DNA information would help us tremendously though. Right now, we're searching the family trees on Ancestry and other websites.

[@traceybradshaw]

I wish you every blessing as you continue to piece together the history of your families and as genetic genealogy continues to develop, that you unlock more information about the origins of your ancestors. ❤️

[@taseetasamuel2985]

Wow, I am currently doing the same thing on both sides of my family. I just did The Quinn family who are decent from Weems and then we did the Jamison Family. So much to learn. I love it.

[@debbiemarquis3231]

The energy of our ancestors is real..and it's time to stop living in denial..it's time to rise and take revenge ..

[@ninakowalska992]

4:09 lol how did she know?

[@lauraferrara6495]

ooh I love this so much!!

[@roxyroxieroxann]

No such thing as feeling and seeing ancestors. The dead has nothing to do with the living

[@irenesteele3913]

Genesis 4:10

[@itsmoic320]

100% agree

[@13579hee]

I'm sorry but this is foolishness (I mean the idea that Black American need to go black to Africa)

[@trea492]

How so? I wouldn’t exist if Slavery happened but i need to honour my ancestors resilience to which i exist (i am 50% Nigerian) 82% West African and even if i was 2% black and who i am characteristically, i need to find my blood. My whole identity.

[@andreadaniel8792]

Please explain what is foolish about it. Just trying to understand your perspective, if that's possible.

[@ke83984]

​@andreadaniel8792 They lied. Black people were already on this land in the millions. Only 300,000 african slaves were sent to America. Black people are the real original people of AMERICA. The people they say are Native americans are from asia. They picked them up on their way to america

[@Tcherno9521]

​@andreadaniel8792 I think what he's trying to say is even though we may have African decent we are American by culture. We are a mixed race people believe it or not. We dont fit in with European culture neither do we fit in with African culture. We became a Creole culture due to slavery. It's not our fault. Some people would rather except that fact. We can all learn from the past but we cant change it. May the ancestors continue to walk with us and guide us. Peace and blessings to you sister.

[@13579hee]

@@Tcherno9521 exactly!!!!!!!!!!