I’m a black descendant of Robert E. Lee

[Anonymous]

I’ve always been nervous to do this before, but here goes. I’m cutting and pasting what I just shared in another thread. Not sure if this is an AMA because I’m a little hesitant to put myself out there, but here goes!

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I’m a black descendant of Robert E Lee. He was a racist that raped my ancestor, half of our family broke out and passed as white and live throughout the country.

I’m so sick of people erasing history. Dont cancel it. Put it in context.

Update the history books to tell the full story. We all have scars. Show what lynching is, explain why associations with certain behaviors are wrong.

We can’t white wash everything. And my story is actually one of the more favorable outcomes, we really did 40 acres where we still gather in Southern VA not far from where he was defeated.

Ironically, I have a connection to the roots here in an indescrivle way. While Lee Highway is a road that led him to attempt suppression of my ancestors, it is also the road that three of my relatives built businesses and thrived in. It intersects with names that have meaning for me - much like Kunta Kintes arrival in Old Town.

I don’t represent all voices certainly not all women or black people or descendants from slavery. Some black people have strong opinions and some white people have strong opinions. Me? I have truly understood both sides. I don’t want to forget the horror of the man that is a part of my bloodline, because the reminder in my story is also one of great triumph.

My general takeaway is rhis - celebrate what is good, honor what is right, and if we didn’t do that, don’t hide it in shame. I’d much prefer a new statue erected next to every other Lee statue than to pretend that once again, my ancestors are irrelevant as an AA and my past can so easily be deleted by masses of untamed emotion.

Dont delete it, just don’t repeat it. That’s all. I may just copy and paste this statement because I’ve sat quietly and watched without word for awhile on DCUM without any interest in truly engaging. For some reason today I am okay divulging it. We are all in this together.

To prevent insurrection attempts - people have to understand their history and have a hope for their future. Strengthen our unity, don’t divide. The answer on how to do that is likely somewhere in the middle. Tell the whole story of how blacks came from glory - and what we have to do for good change.

I always smirk to myself because all black people just assume I feel that all confederate history should be ignored, all white pelle apologize, ans i just sit there and think: you have no idea. Why don’t you ASK me what I think about MY literal personal investment and heritage here?

That is a stronger virtue than tearing apart communities with confusion. My approach like my story, is different.

Most people don’t want to hear it. One day, maybe everyone will.
[Report Post]
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[Anonymous]

Why did you end this with report post

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why did you end this with report post

I cut and pasted my original post that I wrote in response to the soccer discussion. Too much to rewrite and have a meeting to attend but thought I’d do it while I has the gumption to open the discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve always been nervous to do this before, but here goes. I’m cutting and pasting what I just shared in another thread. Not sure if this is an AMA because I’m a little hesitant to put myself out there, but here goes!

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I’m a black descendant of Robert E Lee. He was a racist that raped my ancestor, half of our family broke out and passed as white and live throughout the country.

I’m so sick of people erasing history. Dont cancel it. Put it in context.

Update the history books to tell the full story. We all have scars. Show what lynching is, explain why associations with certain behaviors are wrong.

We can’t white wash everything. And my story is actually one of the more favorable outcomes, we really did 40 acres where we still gather in Southern VA not far from where he was defeated.

Ironically, I have a connection to the roots here in an indescrivle way. While Lee Highway is a road that led him to attempt suppression of my ancestors, it is also the road that three of my relatives built businesses and thrived in. It intersects with names that have meaning for me - much like Kunta Kintes arrival in Old Town.

I don’t represent all voices certainly not all women or black people or descendants from slavery. Some black people have strong opinions and some white people have strong opinions. Me? I have truly understood both sides. I don’t want to forget the horror of the man that is a part of my bloodline, because the reminder in my story is also one of great triumph.

My general takeaway is rhis - celebrate what is good, honor what is right, and if we didn’t do that, don’t hide it in shame. I’d much prefer a new statue erected next to every other Lee statue than to pretend that once again, my ancestors are irrelevant as an AA and my past can so easily be deleted by masses of untamed emotion.

Dont delete it, just don’t repeat it. That’s all. I may just copy and paste this statement because I’ve sat quietly and watched without word for awhile on DCUM without any interest in truly engaging. For some reason today I am okay divulging it. We are all in this together.

To prevent insurrection attempts - people have to understand their history and have a hope for their future. Strengthen our unity, don’t divide. The answer on how to do that is likely somewhere in the middle. Tell the whole story of how blacks came from glory - and what we have to do for good change.

I always smirk to myself because all black people just assume I feel that all confederate history should be ignored, all white pelle apologize, ans i just sit there and think: you have no idea. Why don’t you ASK me what I think about MY literal personal investment and heritage here?

That is a stronger virtue than tearing apart communities with confusion. My approach like my story, is different.

Most people don’t want to hear it. One day, maybe everyone will.
[Report Post]
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So you don't want questions but people should ask you questions instead of having their own opinions. Got it.

BTW, you need to come to terms with Robert E Lee's legacy in a different way than other people do, but that doesn't mean that your interpretation is law. You can think he's awesome and the good outweighs the bad, but I'll still think that racist rapists should not be glorified with statues and public works being named after them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why did you end this with report post

I cut and pasted my original post that I wrote in response to the soccer discussion. Too much to rewrite and have a meeting to attend but thought I’d do it while I has the gumption to open the discussion.

What?

[Anonymous]

I’m clearly answering the questions.

I don’t think my interpretation is law and made that clear in my post. It is a different perspective that I haven’t heard all my life. I shouldn’t be attacked. I have mixed feelings. All things can be true.

[Anonymous]

How did you find out about your lineage? Or has everyone in your family always known? Do you think knowing your whole life versus finding out as an adult makes a difference in one’s feelings? Have you attended any events for descendants of Lee’s?

[Anonymous]

Sorry for typos, multitasking

[Anonymous]

If Robert E. Lee had black descendants it seems like that would have received a bit more publicity. It has been documented that some of Lee's descendants married into Black families, but that is rather different from what OP is claiming. It's not like Lee has gone unstudied over the past 150 years.

[Anonymous]

I’ll be back to address questions. Henry Louis Gates did a small bit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How did you find out about your lineage? Or has everyone in your family always known? Do you think knowing your whole life versus finding out as an adult makes a difference in one’s feelings? Have you attended any events for descendants of Lee’s?

+1 - not doubting your account, but I'm interested to hear how you found out and it you're in touch with any of the white descendants.

And because I went to Robert E. Lee HS in Texas I'd really like to hear your opinion on a school district picking that name for the high school in 1961. I believe it was absolutely a response to desegregation and 100% favored renaming the school, but so many alumni of my HS are so invested in the name.

[Anonymous]

No one wants the publicity about a painful history that remains unresolved

[Anonymous]

I have a question-what did you post in response to on the soccer thread? Do you think all those crazy soccer people are in fact crazy?

what club is your kid with?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a question-what did you post in response to on the soccer thread? Do you think all those crazy soccer people are in fact crazy?

what club is your kid with?

I guessing Robert.E.Lee clue. The one from southern Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Why would this be an AMA the majority of black Americans have the same or similar history.
.

Removing statues and renaming highways is not rewriting history. Those statues and highways were erected decades later to be a reminder of subjugation of black people and reinforce white supremacy.

Lee was a traitor to his country there's no need to build memorials to traitors.


Tell the truth in history books and history class and take down memorials to traitors.