Study finds US Congress members with 16+ slave-owning ancestors have 5x higher median net worth.

A study in PLOS ONE reveals US Congress members with slave-owning ancestors, specifically those with 16 or more enslaved people, have a median net worth five times higher than those with no such ancestry. The research, conducted by the University of Pennsylvania and Case Western Reserve University, used genealogy data from influential political leaders and linked it with financial disclosure reports. The study highlights the potential intergenerational effects of slavery on socioeconomic disparities and suggests a need for further research on the relationship between slaveholder ancestry and current wealth.

August 21, 2024
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