The Brick Wall Falls: Dionne Warwick Reflects on the Ugly Legacy Slavery

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps Dionne Warwick discover her ancestors in the 1870 census in Jackson County, Florida, likely born into slavery. Researchers found a white farmer, Joseph Russ, who owned 31 enslaved people in the 1860s, potentially including Dionne's ancestors. She reflects on the impact of seeing her ancestor listed anonymously in the slave schedule and acknowledges the undeniable connection to slavery in his family history.
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[@johnwebb2442]

The institution of slavery took away our names, languages, religions and cultures from Africa, but the blood and DNA from the continent still runs through our veins and it's our homeland.

[@sevendegrees]

Absolutely! 💯 Also makes me wonder why the Christian religion is so deep in the community.

[@OhDatsJaVion]

The institution of colonialism in Africa took away culture/religion from African tribes as well

[@tula_tracey]

It also took away the knowledge, of knowing who our ancestors are, my father didn't know who his grandparents were or any information about them, that sadden me to the core

[@dadevi]

@@sevendegrees Look at the zealous modern day missionary, and you'll find your answer. They were even worse hundreds of years ago. Christian missionaries stripped the spiritual identity away from nearly the entire western hemisphere, Europe and Africa.

[@nillyk5671]

I wish there was a way to find out what your last names were. It would be so amazing if everyone could change their last names back to what they originally were. How much pride in that! 😢

[@LuzMaria95]

I love her reaction to Joseph Russ 🤣🤣🤣🤣💯💯💯

[@ChetLindsay]

I will love her forever for her reaction to the slaver, Joseph Russ. Brava !❤❤❤❤❤

[@checle4499]

It irks me to know that there are places and peoples where humans still "own" humans. It will not go well for them to continue in these ungodly ways.

[@patriciajrs46]

I think it's interesting how so many of the former slaves managed to have the determination enough to get mentioned in various historical documents. They should, of course, because they are human, but too many things helped prove that too many of them were not perceived as people. That's sad. I'm glad that they can, in many instances find their families.

[@ListenSpeakReadWrite]

It is interesting how the things some people rather not partake in are the very things that could keep a record of their existence. Your name in a newspaper, census, court papers, photos, etc.

[@mele9131]

I see more resemblance between Dionne and Whitney than W and Cece

[@zazabrown732]

Children usually look more like their aunts and uncles than they do their parents.

[@zazabrown732]

@@reedthis so?

[@ctruth6185]

I see no resemblence. Cece & Dionne look more related than Whitney & Dionne.

[@DavidMiller-kf1ss]

Wondered, too. Wish jimmy the great lived for your show. Kin? Thanks from oklahoma. Brasil!❤

[@melissaoconnell5648]

😌 💖

[@Brett.Crealy-kh1sk]

When Ms Warwick suggests emancipation day would've given her ancestor a sense of freedom, i don't think so! The question was, where to now? No money, no experience outside of picking, & the routine & consistency of life upended! Some folks chose to stay on for that reason..

[@abocas]

I am not American and I am white. I did not grow up with the history of slavery except from books, newspapers, radio, tv, my parents explaining, etc. And, of course, I could and can not understand the concept of someone owning another human being. It is mentioned here that slaves "slaves enjoyed ther new civil rights" in 1865. But weren't hey there already? In your Constitution?