Debbie Shields: Michelle Obama's White Fourth Cousin? (PHOTOS)

Following genealogist Megan Smolenyak findings on Michelle Obama's family tree, which revealed that the first lady's great-great-great-grandmother Melvinia Shields was a slave from South Carolina, "Inside Edition" is broadcasting an interview on Monday night with a woman who says she is Michelle Obama's fourth cousin.

From the press release:

INSIDE EDITION EXCLUSIVE: MEET FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA'S WHITE RELATIVES

To be broadcast Monday, November 9, 2009

New York, NY - November 9, 2009 - Professional genealogist Megan Smolenyak made headlines recently when the New York Times reported her findings that the First Lady's great, great, grandmother was a slave named Melvinia, but Inside Edition has now uncovered another part of the story that hasn't been reported - the white side of her family.

With her blonde hair and blue eyes, Debbie Shields looks nothing like First Lady Michelle Obama - but they actually share a common bond - they're related. Debbie's great, great grandfather is also Michelle Obama's great, great, great Grandfather. When Melvina was just 6-years-old, she was sent to a 200 acre farm in Rex, Georgia. At 15, she was impregnated by a white man, presumed to be Charles Marion Shields. Melvina's name from the 1870 census is listed as "Shields" as are her four children.

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Debbie Shields tells INSIDE EDITION's Les Trent that when she first learned of her relation to the first lady she said, "Awesome."

Les Trent: "Did you believe it?"

Debbie Shields: "Not at first. I thought it was a joke."

She tells Inside Edition that it fills her with "pride" to be related to the First Lady and she hopes her family gets to meet the First Family one day. So does her son, 17-year-old son Brandon who now finds himself absorbing the remarkable information that he is Michelle Obama's 4th cousin.

Brandon Shields: "I think it is incredible. The history of it. To go from slavery to the White House in a few generations."

INSIDE EDITION is produced daily at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City and produced and distributed by CBS Television Distribution, a unit of CBS Corp.

Debbie Shields with her son Brandon:

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Comments

[troasie1]

Slavery may have ended in 1865 (only on paper) but there was a new form of slavery in place called peonage. Whites would round up ex-slaves - men, women and children on trumped-up charges and make them work for free under the worst conditions. This also created what we know as the chain gang prisoners working off fake debts by their false white accusers.

[troasie1]

Michelle is Black and Proud of it.

[troasie1]

Why is it necessary to find white relatives of Michelle Obama or her husband? What is the purpose and what is it suppose to prove? Why not locate their Native American relatives? I also would be interested in the history of President Obama's paternal side. I understand that his paternal side were slave sellers, and he has no historical relationship with so-call African Americans. His ancestors could have sold some of us. Now that would be interesting!

If black people have white DNA in their veins I'm sure there are many whites who have black DNA in theirs. Why is there a need to prove we have white genes?

[Bacygirl]

After slavery, many african americans took the name of their last slave owner, took the name of whoever fathered them, or made up last names for themselves.

Each plantation was run differently. The white owner and his sons may have taken slave women as they desired. Some slave women were required to have their virginity taken by their master. Some white men, like Thomas Jefferson, likely loved their black mistresses.

I think it is great that Michelle Obama's roots have been traced. It is actually very satisfying to learn about your personal history. She has always known that she, like most all of us who are slave descendants, have white relatives.

I have been able to trace the history of my slave great grandparents on my mother and father's sides. It is immensely exciting each time I find a piece of the puzzle of my own personal history. I've meet hundreds of cousins from coast to coast.

I'm amazed at how little black people know about their history. For too many of our children, if they can't rap it, taste it, screw it, wear it or shoot it, they ain't interested in learning it. Martin Luther King is about all our kids know of Black History. Ignorance of the lessons of history can condemn us to repeat the mistakes of the past. Slavery is alive and well today in different forms and most people are too stupid to know it.

[nilotic]

I think it would really be news if Mrs. Obama's roots were traced back prior to the enslavement of her ancestors. I'd be interested in finding out which African tribe or tribes that her ancestors came from.

A lot of people don't know about modern day slavery due to ignorance - not stupidity. Unfortunately, it doesn't get enough publicity in the media.

[Bacygirl]

Ignorance is the absence of knowledge. Stupidity is the refusal to seek or denial of knowledge. Many people reject the information that they are modern slaves because they are vested in the lifestyles they live. People fear giving up the known for the unknown. Even after emancipation, many many slaves continued to live on the plantations or work for their formal masters. Without education, they didn't know where to go or how to make a living for themselves. They came out of working fields from sunup to sundown, can't read, have no money and don't own anything.

IN SPITE OF information, people continue to embrace the slavery of drugs, sex, materialism, and other irresponsible lifestyles. Black children think racism is ancient history. They live in white neighborhoods, have white friends, attend integrated schools and work in integrated offices so they don't believe racism exists.

Bad choices made in the face of knowledge and information is indeed stupidity.

[DnDCfromChi-town]

We love to romanticize about our history; most Americans are ignorant of the history of the Cherokee, Apache, Navajo, Omaha, or Pawnee or the effects of their colonization…. But, hey we love the story of Pocahontas……


Accept that Sally Hemmings (a slave) 14 years old would be in love with someone who was 30 years older (slave owner) than her…. Yeah she had a choice in that “relationship” right!!!!

Some of the posters arguments I’ve read must have agreed with George Bush when he stated that we would be greeted as “liberators”…….

USA, USA keep demonstrating your ignorance by sentimentalizing war, rape, slavery and especially how this country was founded

[katheyquilts]

What I , as a white women, 4 generations from my slave owning ancestors, find it exciting that we have come to the point where that blonde blue eyed woman is happy--no--excited to be related to that wonderful black woman. It is a sign of the changes in our society..YAHOOO!

[yuhaniz]

amen !!! we are off to a good start. no question the obamas have helped many people view blacks diffferently from the stereotypes.

[clsmithj]

Very interesting, and when I first clicked on this, I thought it was referring to Barry and not Michelle.

I'm sure you'll find a lot cross ethnicity genealogical history amongst numerous Black Americans.

[Mortifyd]

Our president's first name is Barack. Not Barry.

[glitterik]

Barack Obama was called "Barry" as a child by his family and classmates.

[OverIt]

Since many here STILL can't wrap their brain around why someone like Michelle Obama may not exactly be gung-ho about finding these "long-lost relatives" --- long lost often as a result of a perilous escape from bondage --- let's look at a parallel though NOT equivalent situation today for SOME context:

Fast forward a few decades


>>>>>>>>>>­>>>>>>>>>>­>>>>>>>>>>


Now, imagine the grandchildren or great-grandchildren of Jaycee Duggard seeing descendants of Phil Garrido on TV proclaiming their kinship and wishing for a Norman Rockwell-worthy "family reunion" with their "cousins".

Would there be ANY question about why they may NOT want to "reconnect" with their "relatives?"

[dct1999]

An excellent analogy.

[Aesthete]

I'm curious--nosy, if you will. As it is often said, "inquiring minds want to know." I'd at least want to know something about these people who are kin to me. The trials, tribulations, and triumphs of my ancesters that I do know about have inspired me as a writer. One can still snatch victory from the jaws of seeming defeat. No angry moping about for me--not when I have a fascinating, multi-shaded story to tell.

[OverIt]

Historical knowledge, cool. Kumbaya/Come over for Sunday dinner, probably not. No bitterness or anger but no "kinship" either.

[notthistime]

"When Melvina was just 6-years-old, she was sent to a 200 acre farm in Rex, Georgia. At 15, she was impregnated by a white man"

The descendants of slave owners and sharecroppers are claiming the offspring their parents raped, enslaved and brutalized. Oh no remember the loving relationship between Charles Marion Shields and the 15 year old black housekeeper?? Yeah, it was all so wonderfully romantic! It wasn't rape..it was virtually a disneyesqe type Cinderella story...without the magic slipper part....or the prince part....or the fairy godmother part......or the consent part......­......hmmm­m....maybe not as much like Cinderella as i was led to believe.

[Tim Mosley]

What is interesting to me after having read most of these comments is the fact that most of you overlook that MO is Married to BO. I am sure there is no shortage of racial discover there as President Obama's family is so racial diverse. It is interesting to note the fact that Our President is related to the former Vice President and that that fact was never mentioned until Barack Obama ran for the Presidency of these United States of America. It says to me that the race issue is still a sensitive issue in America whether we like it or not. I don't see it as Racism I see it simply as sensitivity.

Had they found another WHITE relative in President Obama's family we would chalk it up to his family's diversity and look at it with a sense of hope for racial harmony in America. But that this relative was found on The First Lady's side of the First Family, it has been seen here as a case of alarm. The facts of history being what they are we should look at the First Family as the Symbols of Hope and Change that they are. They are a picture of the Common Family in America; the Common values that we all share as American Citizens no matter the race or ethnic background. They are Joseph's coat of many colors and the American Public should be proud to find that they are related to such a wonderful family.

[Aesthete]

Thank you for your insight!

[SpankedMeGood]

The president has black and white family members because his black father and white mother CHOSE to have a relationship and marry.

Do you really think that's a parallel to a 15 year-old slave girl having children with her slaveowner who was probably 20-30 years her senior?

[Tim Mosley]

Our history as American's and American Citizens no matter the process to gain that reality, should be looked at as lessons to be learned and tools to help us move constructively into the future of our social existence. Our Ethnic history should not be used as a punishing factor to those that we have to live and work with. We should not use the atrocities in our past to inflict psychological damage on the public of the world. We should not use it to be seen as continuous victims of world injustice. We should not use the past to seek favor and gain over the publics of the world. The African American Soul is a soul of Healing. We know hurt and pain, but our future should not be produced by Identifying with the hurt and pains of our past. Let others do that.

[Aesthete]

The past is fixed in time and can't be undone or re-written. Perpetual anger over something that happened before you or anyone else living today was around only raises your blood pressure, hurting only you, turning you into a perpetual victim, and diminishing your personal power. Victim = loser. If you go far enough back in history, we are all descended from rapists and God-knows-what-else at some point in history. I don't know what your beliefs are, but mankind is sinful--no surprise here. We have to move forward.

[dct1999]

My mother is white, my father afro-cuban and african-american. They met, FELL IN LOVE, married and raised a family. Like the president, my siblings and I were born as the result of a consensual relationship between two free adults.

Mrs. Obama's ancestor was raped by her slave master. There is a vast difference bewteen the two experiences.

No one is "alarmed" by the existence of white people who are conneceted by DNA to Mrs. Obama. That is the common experience of all black folks who are the descendants of slaves. We are merely sharing our views on the media agenda and the ignorance and cluelessness of far too many americans.

[Tim Mosley]

Our history as American's and American Citizens no matter the process to gain that reality, should be looked at as lessons to be learned and tools to help us move constructively into the future of our social existence. Our Ethnic history should not be used as a punishing factor to those that we have to live and work with. We should not use the atrocities in our past to inflict psychological damage on the public of the world. We should not use it to be seen as continuous victims of world injustice. We should not use the past to seek favor and gain over the publics of the world. The African American Soul is a soul of Healing. We know hurt and pain, but our future should not be produced by Identifying with the hurt and pains of our past. Let others do that.

[ss193]

dct I recently hosted a party for a co-worker who got a big promotion. She is a good friend and our families have gotten together many times over the years. I am godmother to her son. She is quite dark, and I am white-bread white. Many in this group did not know her family, she and I got a good laugh watching their expressions when her blond haired, blue eyed cousins showed up. But when her nephew arrived, with his "twists", blazing blue eyes and distinctly African skin color, most of the women, of all ages, just about fell over each other, and in some cases, their husbands or boyfriends, for an introduction. Drop dead gorgeous..barely describes it. He is a bit shy, and was mostly embarrassed. But if this is the future, all those ladies sure want to be part of it ! Besides, he and my red haired granddaughter have been friends since middle school..My friend and I can only hope....! lol !

[mypov123]

Exactly, the issue is not that Michelle has white relatives. And Debbie Shields cannot help the fact that she is related to Michelle as the result of what was likely the rape of Michelle's great-great-great grandmother by their great great grandfather. The problem is that some people here are responding as if Melvina and her white slave owner had a romantic, CONSENSUAL relationship, but it's very likely that that wasn't the case given the common occurrence of the rape of black women by white slave owners.

[ccmd]

"from slavery to the white house"??? a national embarassing display of ignorance. but of course these opportunists don't see it this way. dont let them anywhere near the white house.

[shields family]

Opportunists? The true opportunists is the producers and the reporters of Inside Edition. We were hounded for two weeks to go on this program and tell "our family's American Story". The generation above Debbie declined. We do not know how her phone number was obtained or that of other family members, but Inside Edition was ruthless about getting this story out. Debbie was oblivious to the fact that people like you would call her names, try to say she was probably trying to get her son in to an Ivy league school, and the other nasty comments made on this blog. Get real, get a life, and realize not all people have other motives besides the innocence of finding out facts from a reporter. We do not claim to be kin to MO but recognize that Melvinia was willed to Henry Shields wife and went to live with Charles Marion and his first wife, their children and Melvinia's children after the Civil War. Charles Marion was 6 years older than Melvinia. There are more questions to this story than there are answers. More speculations than fact.
My point of this response is to point out that there are good people in this world who are not out for what they can get, but have guinuine honesty in their hearts. People who call names are most likely the ones who need to take the log out of their own eye before pointing out the splinter in someone elses.

[Beng]

your family should not be villified. what is most troublesome about the inside edition scoop is that their pov is flawed. the slave girl was not impregnated she was raped. I think that is what the legitimate anger for this story is responding too. it is apparent that this country cannot have an honest dialogue about slavery, war, corruption, medicine, media, etc. because at the end of the day the bottom line is money. inside edition hoped that by your family participation they could create enough controvery and buzz that before and after your segment on Monday they can help sell diet soda and Viagra to lots and lots of emotionally charged people.

Agreeing to talk to them only put you in the line of fire. media perpetuates public opinion to focus it's anger on those who cannot defend themselves. yourselves, immigrants, the people of Iraq/ Afghanistan. you are fuel for the fire that perpetuaties lies in order to sell products and ideas.

you are as responsible for your great great grandfathers actions as the great great grandchildren of Harry Truman. hopefully when they are interviewed by Inside edition america will be prepared to talk about the fact that he didn't "end the war." what he did was used nuclear weapons against civilians.

[julesbh]

Is it really that far fetched that these people are generally happy.

[SouthernWisdom]

It is interesting that MO is having such a hard time accepting this side of her family. Obviously she has some deep-seated issues that she needs to work through. For her kids sake I hope she learns to be more accepting.

[maiali]

Why don't you research all of the black relatives you have, SouthernWisdom?
I'm sure your grandfather and great-grandfather, etc. did their share of raping black women both during and after slavery. Start with some of the slaves your ancestors owned and work your way through the generations to those black women who I'm sure worked in your family's home as domestics, etc. I'm sure you have lots of black kin that you can acknowledge and accept.

[ss193]

Most Southerners, back in the day, were dirt poor, and had no part in slavery. I am a Yankee, but even I know that. Slavery was a great sin and a blot on all of America's history, but nonetheless, we are not all descended from racists. Some of us are descended from Holocaust victims, but I guess anyone can rewrite history, and we all think our story is the worst of the worst.

[ladydragon]

I hope the Obama's not only ignore this crap but I hope Mama Robinson shields the girls from this opportunism. If Michelle Obama wasn't the First Lady, this woman and her family wouldn't give a rats a## about her.

[ElsaIndy]

Mo wouldn't be around were it not for their mutual ancester so she should invite them to the WH for tea and have a nice visit.

[HypocriticalSpamazon]

Do you invite all of the far-removed relatives of your ancestors over for a nice visit?

You complain that Michelle's immediate family have access to the White House but think these distant people she has never met should get the royal treatment. Why? What's different about them?

[Aesthete]

If someone has a connection to me, especially DNA-related, I'd certainly be curious enough to want to know them better no matter what color they were. As it is, every time I look into a mirror, three races look back. Of course I'd want to know who all these people are, being some part of me.

[1088]

Brandon Shields: "I think it is incredible. The history of it. To go from slavery to the White House in a few generations."

For me, that statement says it all!!

[AfricanusI]

sHAME i SAY!