Finding Your Roots

(upbeat wavy strings) -

Henry

We followed Slater Samuel Stokes' family tree back to his own grandparents, Henry and Emily Stokes, both born into slavery, in the 1820s, in Georgia. (papers shuffling) To learn more about their lives, we needed to find the name of their owner. So, using their last name Stokes, we began our search. (calm classical music) Only one white Stokes was living in the area during that time. -

Angela

Well, that narrows it down. -

Henry

That narrows it down. There's no doubt. And that's this man here. -

Angela

Name of slave-owner, J. W. Stokes. -

Henry

That's right. J. W. Stokes owned almost three dozen slaves. -

Angela

Mm. That's a pretty big, rich number. Isn't it? -

Henry

Mm-hmm. Yep. -

Angela

Number of slave houses? Six. What does that mean? Cabins, or something? -

Henry

Yeah, cabins. -

Angela

(breaths in) Right. (clears throat) For 35 people? -

Henry

That's six per. -

Angela

Aww, it's terrible. I mean, I've been in... Been able to visit slave cabins, and to be able to go into those very tight quarters. That's why I said, "35 in 6 (mumbles),"? -

Henry

Oh, yeah. No running water. -

Angela

Yeah. Right. (sad strings) (wind blowing through grass) -

Henry

We found out that Henry and Emily lived on the Stokes Plantation in Georgia for most of their lives, including, through the Civil War, the crucial period that would determine their fate. (rain falling) (sad banjo) And if there were any doubt of their master's feelings about emancipation, we found out that he was the very first man in his county to volunteer for the Confederate Army. (sad guitar strings) But the Civil War would ultimately bring Henry and Emily their freedom. (sad guitar strings) And we uncovered a document that tells us what Henry Stokes did almost immediately after he was freed. (pages turning) -

Angela

I, Henry Stokes, colored, do solemnly swear, in the presence of Almighty God, that I am a citizen of the State of Georgia. -

Henry

Henry Stokes, who was born into slavery, made his mark, and he registered to vote in the State of Georgia, on June 25th, 1867. -

Angela

(breaths in) That's beautiful. That's... Oh, that feels so, so good. Yeah. -

Henry

Can you imagine what it must have felt like for a slave to be able to take this oath of citizenship and declare the right to vote? -

Angela

Very proud. -

Henry

And then to-- -

Angela

It must have felt so proud. -

Henry

And then to cast his... Put his x down. -

Angela

Yes. Yes, yeah. (light piano) It is astounding to see people who were considered 3/5ths of a human being, to find them, and know they're 5/5ths, one whole. -

Henry

(laughs) -

Angela

Human being. -

Henry

That's a beautiful way to put it.