Al Sharpton's family tree

This is pretty wild, it almost sounds like it should have been a skit on Chappelle's show

Al Sharpton's family tree: Opinion: The Seattle Times (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003590406_robinson27.html)

I've been waiting for this to be thread! I haven't read it yet, Matty.

So are he and Thurmon related or did he own Sharpton's family back in the day?

So are he and Thurmon related or did he own Sharpton's family back in the day?

Both, possibly.

He owned his family but they need to do a genetics test to determine if they are indeed related.

this is almost too good to be true

THAT'S humor

For those of you who aren't up on the "twice removed" bit - Thurmond's Grandfather had a female first cousin that married the son of a man who owned Sharpton's great-grandfather.

There. All clear.

The only way Sharpton is related to Thurmond is by the slave owner's son' marriage into Thurmond's extended family and by some evidence that either the slave owner or the slave owner's son did the nasty with Sharpton's great-great-grandmother and was the father of Sharpton's grandfather. In which case:

IF the slave owner was the father: Thurmond and Sharpton are third cousins-in-law, once removed.

IF the slave owner's son was the father: Thurmond and Sharpton are second cousins-in-law, twice removed.