To Members of the list:  I agree with Linda; the list discussion has become 
increasingly polemical and disconnected from at least my own interests in 
Virgina history.  I've been sorry to watch its deterioration, and I have 
ended up pushing the delete button many times so as not to read some of the 
diatribes that have been appearing.

If such submissions continue, I too will unsubscribe from the list 
permanently.

Nevin Brown


>From: Linda Threadgill <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history         
>      <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: This forum
>Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2007 09:58:42 -0700
>
>Hi,
>I have been a member of this mailing list off and on since 1996. There was 
>a time when many of us enjoyed the discussions about Virginia history, 
>especially those of us not from VA, but whose family have roots in this 
>state.
>
>Lately the forum seems to have become one used to argue and push certain 
>people's agendas. There are still great people on this list who are not 
>heard from. I think this is due to the nature of the most recent posts. I 
>am getting very tired of the on going racist arguments. I have to say, some 
>of our members are a very creative bunch. It seems that any topic can be 
>turned into something that has to do with slavery or the War Between the 
>States.
>
>I am going on vacation next week and will be unsubbing. I am seriously 
>considering leaving this list permanently. I ask the list members to please 
>consider those of us who enjoy reading the messages, but comment very 
>little. All posts don't need or require a response. That is what your 
>delete key is for. There have been many times over the last several weeks 
>that I could have contributed to the discussion. I am a mixed race person. 
>Yes, I have done DNA testing so I know this is a fact. I belong to one of 
>America's First Families, the Charitys. My maiden name is Stith. I 
>descended from the African American Stiths who were slaves, but had 
>connections to the Jeffersons, Washingtons, Lees, Bollings, Randolphs, 
>Masons, Goodwyns, etc as well as to the Hairstons. Thru my Charity and 
>Jones families I have connections to former Gov. Wilder. One of my distant 
>Charity cousins was Arthur Ashe's tennis coach when he was growing up in 
>Richmond. I also have family ties to England and Scotland thru my maternal 
>family line which is also out of VA and TN. My paternal lines are from 
>Charles City, Surry, Sussex, Southampton and Greensville Counties. I am a 
>very distant relative to Nat Turner and have cousins who have connections 
>to the families that were killed by Nat Turner. My  greatgreatgrandfather 
>was Henry Grizzard who was from the Ambrose Grizard (Grisard) line of 
>Southampton County and who were relatives to Judge Powell. And last but not 
>least, my aunt was an English teacher at Maggie Walker High School. So you 
>see you were talking about my families and I was not pleased. BUT, I also 
>did not comment.
>
>I have communicated with Henry and Paul in the past and respect their work. 
>Most of the others who commented, I have no issue with, but "J South" 
>................
>
>
>Linda Stith Threadgill whose family names also include  Massenburg, Ruffin, 
>Green, Adkins, Bradby, Miles, Ford, McKenzie, McCaleb, Thomas, Glenn, 
>Liggins surnames to name only a few.