Melvinia Shields~ 1844-1938~

[Cha]

@mariashriver: My brother @BobbyShriver shared this with me. We all stand on someone’s shoulder

http://theobamadiary.com/2015/10/05/chat-away-683/

Beautiful~

[Cali_Democrat]

1. K&R

[Cha]

3. Mahalo, Cali!

[SleeplessinSoCal]

2. So cool it sent chills down my spine. N/T

[Cha]

6. Me too, SleeplessinSoCal, me too.

So emotionally awesome.

[brer cat]

4. Awesome, Cha.

Thanks for sharing.

[Cha]

7. You're Welcome, brer cat~

Thank you~

[sheshe2]

5. Melvinia Shields.

Slave.

Michelle Obama, a decedent of slaves. She was a decedent of slaves. She became our First Lady, our Flotus, beloved by many.

Our first couple.

They honor this White House with Dignity and Grace.



Thank you Cha!~

[Cha]

8. Melvinia Shields to Michelle Obama, she~

The Vid is 3:45 minutes and worth it if you have the time. Sweet cousins of Melvinia and Michelle..

snip//

Back in 2009, I traced the then-new First Lady's family tree back four or five generations on all branches, but of all the ancestors I uncovered, it was a great-great-great-grandmother named Melvina Shields McGruder who captured my attention. Sadly, this remarkable woman who was born into slavery and lived until 1938 had no tombstone.

Fast forward to 2014. Descendants -- mostly still living in the vicinity of Kingston, Georgia where Melvina spent the last half of her life -- raised funds for and installed an impressive memorial. This video includes not only scenes from this moving ceremony, but also brief interviews with more than a dozen of Melvina's descendants, who also happen to be cousins of Michelle Obama's. While holding a board with their relationship to both Melvina and the First Lady stated, each one shares their thoughts about their notable relatives.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/megan-smolenyak-smolenyak/melvinas-descendants-mich_b_6014356.html

Thank you, she

[SleeplessinSoCal]

13. I love that kid Emmanuel. Michelle would give him a big hug I'm sure.

He was fun, respectful and thoughtful.

(and I'm equally sure should won't mind me calling her Michelle).

[Cha]

14. What's up cuz!? I know he was my favorite cousin.. lol And, thanking Michelle for all she's

done for kids. Healthy eating/exercise!

And, the woman thanking her for being such a good role model.

Only the best, she~

[passiveporcupine]

10. Isn't that an amazing picture

Michelle is so beautiful in that dress. And they make a gorgeous couple.

[valerief]

9. I learned from this that 'descendent' is an alternate spelling! nt

[eppur_se_muova]

11. Like much of our language, legitimized by sufficiently widespread misuse, apparently:

http://grammarist.com/usage/descendant-descendent/

[WIProgressive88]

12. That's so awesome. Thanks for posting!

[Kath1]

15. Thank you!

Recommended!

[Cha]

17. Mahalo, Kath!

Thank you so much!

Peace~

[calimary]

16. It IS a story of hope. And of taking the long view.

We Americans are all dreamers. Even the Pope recently said so! Thanks for posting this, Cha. It's so inspiring, reassuring, encouraging. Ointment for the soul.