Thank you for your response (which nudged me), as did other's, and K for getting us started.

This is going to be an exciting forum I think - and an important contribution to the Afrigeneas site.

We are going to address some rather touchy issues, but it's time a lot of them were aired.

My godmother's son Toby Coles, who died not too long ago in California, was an anthropologist and taught history. He touched off quite a storm among his students when he presented information about an AA ancestor who was a slaveholder.

Your point about AA's who were never slaves is also important - we have to move away from generalities, and begin to look more deeply at the complex history we are all a part of.

I wish you could see the stack of books on my bed - my poor husband is going to have to move downstairs (grin). This forum is really going to send me back to school :)

Denise