Public Record Of Ben Affleck’s Slave-Owning Ancestors Revealed


Last month, Ben Affleck testified before the United States Congress to advocate for continued foreign assistance for the Democratic Republic of Congo. This bold gesture shows that the actor is not just a superhero on screen. He also makes use of his star power to fight for good causes in real life. But just like every other superhero, he too, has a deep, dark secret which he tried to cover up.

Apparently, 19th century public records reveal that Affleck’s ancestors were slave owners. His great-great-great grandfather, Benjamin L. Cole, was found to own about two dozen slaves. Public records reveal that, after Cole’s mother-in-law died in 1858, he was given the legal custody of her slaves.

Chatham County’s handwritten estate records show a list of the 24 slaves and their corresponding prices. There was a slave named Cuffey whose value was estimated at $500. There were also Henry and James who were valued at $1,000 each. A couple, Robert and Becky, worth $600 both were also listed. The records also contains specific instructions that the 24 slaves willed to Cole should be turned over to his three sons once they reach adulthood.

This family secret was dug up by PBS host and Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, who wanted to feature it on his documentary series Finding Your Roots but, because of Affleck’s request, he decided to scrub it off his show.

The controversial cover-up would have never been revealed if Sony’s e-mails had not been hacked. Among the hacked messages, an exchanged between Gates and Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton was discovered exposing how the host went against PBS rules to accommodate a “request of a guest.”

In the leaked exchange, Lynton wrote to Gates saying, “I would take it out if no one knows, but if it gets out that you are editing the material based on this kind of sensitivity then it gets tricky.” Gates then acknowledges that to delete the revealing segment at the request of a guest “would be a violation of PBS rules.” But then, the host does it anyway. He covers up Affleck’s slave-owning family history.

Affleck’s request elicited some heat from the media. CNN found his action surprising and in an article, they wrote, “He should have shown the courage to stay in an uncomfortable place. What a teachable moment for the country.”

However, instead of facing the country, Affleck took to Facebook to explain his side.

“I didn’t want any television show about my family to include a guy who owned slaves. I was embarrassed. The very thought left a bad taste in my mouth.”

Although Affleck has expressed his embarrassment for Cole, back in the days, his ancestor was highly praised. After he died on November 16, 1871, the Savannah Morning News hailed him as a “universally respected citizen.” Being the sheriff of Chatham Country for nearly a decade, Cole had deep public ties. He also owned a modest farm with about 100 acres of cleared land.

At the present, Affleck still owns a house in Savannah, Georgia.

[Image by Mark Wilson, Getty Images]

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