CNN iReport

by Tom Livsey,

Here is a story about a Georgia family mending race relations. They are starting with themselves first, and recommend others to do the same. Stop complaining and hating for no reason. Rather you are black, white or Indian... we are all Americans. My black Livsey family descended from white, black and Indian.

The Livseys of Gwinnett are recognized by the Gwinnett County Historical Society as being one of only a handful of pioneering families to help settle our county. Since 1840, the Livsey families have been a backbone of Gwinnett.

There are black Livseys and there are white Livseys'. After over 170 years, with the help of both sides, the Livseys' are now one powerful family.

My father, Thomas and I, owners of the * Promised Land Plantation, (the oldest surviving plantation in Gwinnett County), were researching our family tree a few years past. Initially, we made great strides putting our genealogical puzzle together. However,  when we tried to go past the 1870's, we ran into a brick wall.

As I mentioned earlier , we are Melungeon(Tri-Racial) . Before 1870, the United States did not include freed blacks, slaves or Indians in the federal census, making the job of tracing the family more difficult.

Frustrated and dejected, I asked my father, "Why don't we call the white Livseys'  to see if they can help us?" For years the two families knew about the other, and even on occasions, when they crossed paths, would joke about being related. But they never openly acknowledged the fact.

My father called Jack Livsey of Snellville.  Jack told us to call their family historian, Mrs. Annette Livsey Merritt of Decatur. What happened after our call to her was amazing. My father called her, and she told him that the two of us should come over on a Sunday afternoon. Annette said," I have something to show you".

That Sunday we arrived at her house, like two orphans in search of our lost parents. Anxious and full of anticipation, Annette showed us this huge plat book. It consisted of not only treasured family photos and articles dating back to the early 1800's, but she had articles and information about our side of the family. That day Annette Livsey Merritt welcomed us back in the family fold, and invited our side to their family reunion.

Last year they voted me, Tom Livsey, a news editor and merchant banker, their family president. Last week for just the second time, in over 170 years, the two families became one family at our family reunion.

My father and I urge other minority and white families to do the same. "With an open mind, love and understanding, we can do great things about  America's race relations", says Tom and Thomas Livsey

Tom Livsey continues, " No one owed no one an explanation or excuse for the past. No animosity... No guilt. The Only thing each and everyone of us left with, was a whole new family tree.

How about that ? I hope this story can be used to bridge our country's rivers of racism somehow".

* (The Promised Land Plantation was built in 1820 by an Irish immigrant, Thomas Maguire. Today it is one of a few plantations that still stands in metro Atlanta, that was used as a union post during General Sherman's, "March To The Sea", after burning Atlanta.

It It is also the place where Margaret Mitchell visited on numerous occasions to read Maguire's daily journal that he kept during the Civil War.  Many historians suggest that she used a good bit from his journal in her famous novel, "Gone With The Wind" ).

A must see and read section....

Here is a photo remix of three races reuniting at their family reunion

http://s270.photobucket.com/albums/jj112/twomuchtom/June%2014%202009%20Livsey%20Reunion/?action=view&current=7f8e8bac.pbr

For more information about the Livsey family, please visit these links below and read carefully:

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-49119

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-32117

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-218690

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-131670

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-49119