Monument For Michelle Obama's Slave Ancestor Vandalized, Residents Do Not Believe It Was An Act Of Racism

A stone monument dedicated to U.S. first lady Michelle Obama's great-great-great-grandmother, Melvinia Shields, was pushed over in Rex, Georgia. Police are investigating the incident and will inspect the monument for damage. Residents of Rex do not believe the vandals acted on racism.

According to the Associated Press, Shields was born into slavery in the mid-1800s and later settled in Rex, about 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta. The Daily Mail reports that Shields was brought to Rex by slave owners in South Carolina to work on the farm of Henry Shields just outside of Rex. She and two other slaves helped grow cotton, corn, and other items. She later became a midwife.

Residents, who take pride in living in the town where Michelle Obama was raised, were upset about the incident.

"When I saw it, I shed a few tears," resident Vicki Smith told the television station WSBTV.

It is unclear who vandalized the statue or why someone would want to damage a monument to a slave whose great-great-great-grandmother became the first African-American first lady in U.S. history, The Daily Mail reports.

Residents hope the vandalism was not motivated by racism. However, in the Deep South it is an issue that cannot be ignored.

"We're gonna believe - just the way we showed that unity on that day here in Rex when we had the dedication of this memorial - we're gonna believe that there is not that kind of hatred or dissension that somebody would do this," Rex resident and Clayton County Commissioner Sonna Singleton said.

"It was our little source of pride because here we are in little old Rex, Georgia, and we had ties to the White House, so there's pride in us for that," Singleton continued, referring to the monument.

Michelle Obama lived in rural Rex, Georgia for much of her childhood and adult life, The Daily Mail reports.

Officials told The Associated Press that the monument was installed about a year ago. The county commission organized a celebration later this month to recognize Shields' connection to the White House.

"The sign will go back up - and we'll celebrate again," Smith told the television station.