Sharpton urges families to trace roots

NEW YORK, March 4 (UPI) -- Moved by revelations about his family history in slavery, the Rev. Al Sharpton is urging families to trace their roots, the New York Daily News reported.

Genealogists have determined that the civil rights activist's great-great grandfather -- Coleman Sharpton Sr. -- was sold as a slave to a relative of the late Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C. Thurmond, who died in 2003, was a staunch segregationist for much of his life.

"There are thousands listening and hundreds here and I want all of them to chase their pasts," Sharpton told about 100 people gathered at his National Action Network headquarters in Harlem. "Look into your roots, trace your tree and give it to your family."

When Sharpton saw the yellowed sheets of paper spelling out the price of his forebear's life -- "One Negro Boy Coleman - $276" -- he told the newspaper he "thought it couldn't get any worse."

"It's unthinkable people could think of other people like that," he said.