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The family of First Lady Michelle Obama. (Courtesy of Barack Obama campaign)
Joan Tribble, a descendant of the slaveowner who owned Mrs. Obama’s great-great-great grandmother, Melvinia Shields. (Copyright Damon Wood)
Jewell Barclay, a descendant of Melvinia Shield’s biracial son, Dolphus Shields. He was born into slavery. (Courtesy of Rachel Swarns)
Pearl Lewis, the daughter of Dolphus Shields, who was a born into slavery. (Courtesy of Jewell Barclay)
Dolphus Shields, the great-great grandfather of Mrs. Obama, and his son, Willy. (Courtesy of Jewell Barclay)
Dolphus Shields, businessman, homeowner, church deacon and great-great grandfather of Mrs. Obama. (Courtesy of Bobbie Holt)
Dolphus Shields and his extended family. (Courtesy of Jewell Barclay)
Tombstone of Henry Wells Shields, who owned Dolphus and Melvinia Shields, Mrs. Obama’s ancestors. (Courtesy of Rachel Swarns)
Tombstone of Charles Marion Shields, the son of the slaveowner. (Courtesy of Rachel Swarns)
Francesca Gray, the paternal aunt of Mrs. Obama. (Courtesy of Rachel Swarns)
Phoebe Moten Johnson, the great-grandmother of Michelle Obama. (Courtesy of Francesca Gray)
James Preston Johnson, the great grandfather of Michelle Obama. (Courtesy of Francesca Gray)
Mary Moten, the great-great grandmother of Michelle Obama. (Courtesy of Francesca Gray)
Fraser Robinson II, the grandfather of Michelle Obama. (Courtesy of Francesca Gray)
Henry Wells Shields, the owner of Mrs. Obama’s great-great-great grandmother, Melvinia Shields, is the elderly man with the beard. DNA testing and research points to Henry’s son, Charles Marion Shields, as the father of Melvinia’s son, Dolphus. That would make Charles Mrs. Obama’s great-great-great grandfather. Charles is the third man standing from right. (Courtesy of Jarrod Shields, in honor of Melvin Shields)
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