How many slaves did they own i read several articles and tax records ,showing that the Hairston owned approx.10,000 slaves, Samuel had 1700 and another 1000 from his mother in law his wife wasElizabeth, she was JEB Stuarts sister ,When is The Smithsonian going to talk about the HAIRSTON s

Man has done terrible things to each other throughout the ages. People of the same race have sold each other into slavery for many centuries. Many races were able to emigrate to the United States, black people or African-Americans are the only race that did not have a choice to be here. But to find out that the North was more involved in the slave trade, a shocking and interesting at the same time. The one thing we must all understand, is that there is no pure race on the planet we are related in one way or another. I consider myself to be a black American, not an African-American because I have no ties to Africa and have no idea where my ancestors came from. We almost try to make the world better place for all races and end slavery of any kind although the world.

i think its incredible nice job!:)

Reparations for the descendants of slaves. How do you accountant for the black slave HOLDERS. There were many black slave owners who owned black slaves. More than likely most black people today have ancestors from both sides. The history of black slave holders is there if you really want to know the whole history of slavery. What is all to often ignored is it was one tribe of blacks who would help the white slave traders trap another tribe of blacks. What better way to get ride of the competition or a personal enemy? The money did not hurt either. Do I receive reparations since my maternal grandmother's family is from Canada and likely aided the blacks? Sadly man kind, through the eons has a long trail of slavery. Even more repulsive is that slavery is on going today. Yet we do not hear of the current situations. Why are we so hung up about what happened in the past? If we truly are horrified about slavery why don't we do something about what is going on today? We can not change the past. It is done. We can however, try and do something about what is happening today.

The Smithsonian Institute is one of our major 'griots' on African American history. For those who talk about a "political ploy for raparations",are ridiculous. We have people including myself, who went through high school and never learned about their history. But, I was required to learn US history. HELLO! All Americans,need to learn about the African American past because it is a fascinating history. However immoral and gruesome it may seem,we need to know the truth,especially,our children. This is all a part of the development of a human being. We already have a generation of children lost to drugs, prison,etc. because of not having who they are.(lost souls) The knowledge of knowing your past, makes for a better human person. We have to stop this cycle of ignorance and insecurities, and move on to being wiser and confident adults, for the sake of future generations.

my familly came to america in the first run around 1840. they escaped an indentured lifestyle. worked thier asses off. built farms without slaves. I have no others guilt or burden, and I live with no shame. leave me alone, and take responsility for you're own life. reperations are welfare for leetches and parisites

If you are going to make reparations to the descendants of African slaves, you must also make reparations to every other group that has suffered misfortune at the hands of another in America--Native Americans, Asians, Irish, Polish, Mormon, Catholic, Jewish. The list is unending. Then you must decide which ancestors were involved in the oppression and which descendants are culpable for those acts. Should I, from a Southern family that did not hold slaves, pay reparations to the descendants of someone else's slaves? Do I get a credit for the suffering of my Cherokee forbears and Mormon pioneers? Perhaps it would be simpler--not to mention rational--to realize that every group has experienced oppression in some way from someone and to turn our energies to guarding against it in our own modern society.

"They could not have put the Cuban flag in the ships,Cuba did not have one until after it became independent in 1902. Posted by Margaret Duran on June 25,2008 | 12:22PM" Give her a break; she probably meant the Spanish flag; although now--I'm not sure what the maritime law was then--an insular dependancy or colony or protectorate can have a separate flag and maritime registry from the mother country.

Great Job Katrina! This story hits close to home, where my family in Ireland was involved with the eviction and transport of poor fellow Irish countrymen from county Roscommon during the Famine Years of the 1840s and 50's. It's amazing how you can inherit guilt. It's also Ironic that RI was also the landing place for many of these displaced Irish immigrants. Good luck in considering reparations considering the time past, the current need, and funds available.

I was reading a post from Patrick Buck and I could not help but respond to his comments quoted below. " I cannot apologize for what my slave-owning ancestors did; I wasn't there and didn't do it, and their victims likewise are long dead". You sir for better or worse have received the benefits of a slave society. During slavery, it was very rare for a slave to own property or a business. Your forefathers were able to come into this country up until the late 1960's. Earn a good living, vote, own property, education,etc. and to hand down legacy. The victims of your ancestors continue to harbor self hate. Still they are not fully intergrated in this society whether it be through choice and/or imposed rules and regulations like that of Country Clubs, "Private Communities" and the like. Saying "I wasn't there and didn't do it". Is how we continue to propagate the wrongs of the past. To some extent you must be able to admit that you, as well as your immediate ancestors (fathers,mothers) benefited from a JimCrow society that allowed for your education and wealth.

I am very sorry that slavery ever occurred. I am the descendant of both abolitionists and slave-owners, and according to my cousin Sharron's research, very possibly from a few slaves as well. However, I cannot apologize for what my slave-owning ancestors did; I wasn't there and didn't do it, and their victims likewise are long dead. In fact, for that same reason I cannot and will not apologize for anything any of my ancestors ever did, at any time and for any reason. To use our past as a political ploy to obtain "affirmative action" or even "reparations" for some of the slaves' descendants is trying to use one wrong to right another. As black and white families continue to intermarry (a process my own family is actively involved in), America will become within a few generations a nation of brown people with mixed descent from Europeans, Africans, Native Americans, and folks from every other spot on the planet. It won't be possible in most cases to say someone is one thing only ethnically. Maybe that will finally lay the nonsense of "race" into a long-overdue grave.

Wow! What a story and a brave woman (Katrina Browne). As a High School teacher for over 35 years, I still have a difficult time accepting the fact that human beings could have conceived and actually put into practice such a horrendous system as African slavery. I also find it interesting that after reading this story, the only comment one reader made was in reference to the date of the Cuban flag.

They could not have put the Cuban flag in the ships,Cuba did not have one until after it became independent in 1902.

What an improtant topic to talk about. It is easy to talk about the slave trade in abstract terms but for this family they found out how close to them it was. A few years back I was voulunteering at a medical clinic in rural Ghana, before I flew out, along with some other volunteers I met, we spent a few days in Cape Coast during Panafest and visited Elmina and Cape Coast Castle. Being a young white female I never could truly grasp what the slave trade meant. It was movies, books, and stories, but standing in those rooms and seeing where they kept the slaves, it was such a sobering experience. It makes the hair on your arms stand up and your heart feel things it has never imagined. Looking into the eyes of the African American travelers there, I could only begin to imagine what they felt. I will will never forget this, and us as americans should never forget our past.