WDTYA Spike Lee - Tues 22 Feb BBC1

[Grothenwell]

Yes Woodall was the slave owners name, at some point (pre 1880?) Mars and wife and children became Jacksons. I enjoyed the topic but I'm afraid Mr Lee, like the couple of his films I've watched, left me cold and not interested in his reaction to the discoveries. The reason I watch them is almost purely for the genealogical work, but having an affable person as the main protaganist always makes it more of a pleasure. I found the scene at the end, with his "possible" distant relative, a bit uncomfortable. 

[LizzieW]

There was a lot of speculation in that film, but from looking at American trees on Ancestry and other places that seems to be how they do their research.  No real proof, but what the heck it seems to fit so it must be true.  No wonder that so-called distant relative looked so uncomfortable.

They never said why the family had changed their name from Woodall to Jackson.  It seemed to me that as Mars Woodall had so much land, his slave owner must have been very good to him, so I'm surprised they didn't keep that name. 

Lizzie

[davidft]

They never said why the family had changed their name from Woodall to Jackson.  It seemed to me that as Mars Woodall had so much land, his slave owner must have been very good to him, so I'm surprised they didn't keep that name. 

They did say in passing that they later lost their land. Was it sold or forfeited, and if the latter did the Woodall's have a hand in the forfeiture? If that was the case that would be a good reason to change your name

[jc26red]

Regarding the amount of land 80 acres,  I took it that Mars got his 40 acre share and his wife got hers.... they didn't say when they married.  Perhaps that was one of the reasons to marry to boost the acreage.

I liked the program even though proof was a little sparce, I think the meeting reaction was real enough and a bit of a shock and embaressment on both side. Learning how to cross check the landowner/slave records was good to know, the fact that Lee already already knew where his grandma came from helps to confirm they were on the right track.