Johanna Riddle,
New Smyrna Beach, FL.
I’ve always known that I was descended from slave owning families. This is something I shared with my students as we began to explore the history of slavery in the United States. I’ve always believed that we must be willing to take an honest look at history, and at ourselves. But a whole new level of introspection–and sense of responsibility–manifested on the day that I received the first message from Kenneth on my Ancestry message board. Like me, he was searching for his family roots. His research revealed that my great-great-great grandfather owned his great-great-great grandfather. Could I possibly help him trace his ancestry?
