Son of an American slave shares lessons from his father that inspired his success 

Unrelated but this gentleman is 89 years old; he looks Amazing. Great story.

In a case like this, language should not be beeped out. The words should be heard.

This man is a national treasure.

What an incredible person to be able to interview.

Mr. Dan is a neighbor. He was so kind to speak to a group at my daughter's school. I can't wait to read his book!

_"I wasn't scared. I was angry."_ Wow! Mr. Smith didn't merely survive, he overcame.

"We survived the ships." ♥️

This is why Black History Month is important! Everyone needs to hear this.

I would absolutely love to see the unedited version of this interview. His story deserves to be heard with no bleeps and no edits.

Respect your elders and listen to their stories and ask them for their stories. They have an amazing perspective to share you won’t hear in school AND it keeps history alive!

you and your father are proof that goodness wins. Mr. Smith.

He looks really good to be 90

Mr. Smith looks incredible at 90. He's an inspiration to us all.

Also as a descendant of enslaved Africans in the Caribbean, and a first generation (Black) American, I can attest to my parents' raising us with the "immigrant mentality" - that drive for education and achievement that the author mentions. So interesting to hear that Black Americans just after the Civil War had that same mindset, only to see their hopes often dashed.

Every American needs to hear this man's story! But with so many it would go in one ear and out of the other.

what an amazing story. This makes me so proud.

An incredible story! I can't wait for the book!!! Continued blessings to this amazing man!

I’m glad they’re covering this considering there are still people who handwave and make excuses saying “slavery was 400 years ago”

Amazing how strong he's been.

It’s so wonderful to hear his perspective that was instilled in him by his father!! What a rich life that he has lived this far!! Looking forward to his book 📕

An amazing account of the generation of survivors who have stood the test and id willing to share their succcess. Look forward to the book.

It would be amazing to have a conversation with Mr. Smith! Wow!

God keep this noble man to 120 years strong. He is right, kindness and love conquers hate. His father taught him the "truth" of life. The black slaves from Africa never wanted to come to America. They were forced, beaten, maltreated. But above all that pain suffered from those who inflicted pain on them. They saw "Sunrise" and believed in a better tomorrow. For this, I salute them for the immense strength that their soul carries. And the love that they have to share to those who hurt them. All of these that happened was for a greater purpose. God knew about this and Has blessings for the American people. Love heals, let the native Americans learn to love the African Americans, then all will blossom more in the country. God bless you all 🙏🙏

Those two books are now on my list to read. Such a beautiful story from that man. I wish that every African-American kid who is considering to drop out of high school or college would watch this story.

He couldn’t be more right and this is the message today’s generation needs to always remember. If you do bad things this is how you will be perceived and if you work hard to make a better world, not only will we all have one, but every year it will improve for us. We don’t want to hate one another deep down and together we can do great things!

Awww he looks like his father 🥺

My grandfather, who died in 1969, was the son of a formerly enslaved man born in 1850. He named his second son born in 1892, my father's father, FREEMAN. I too am descended from the strongest of the strong.

This is a good example of how close we are to slavery. And why not start with people like him to give reparations too??

What a remarkable man. Long may he live.

What an incredible story! Its so crazy to think that the son of a man born into slavery is still alive today! Honestly so many ppl think slavery is so far gone but the truth is that its not. I think about my own family with my maternal grandfather being born in 1909 (he was 59 when my mom was born). His father could have been born into slavery. Unfortunately I don’t know my family’s history past my grandpa but to think that my ancestors could have been enslaved just 3 generations before me. Thats such a wild thought but very real. Much respect to that strong, beautiful, black man. Thank you for sharing your story. #HappyBlackHistoryMonth #Pride ✊🏾👏🏾💙😊

530 years of dealing with a narcissist race but we are told to forget and forgive a people who are still killing us today! 😡

He’s 90 and still not equal. But he loves this America 🇺🇸. 🤦🏾‍♂️ it’s high time for black people to awaken from this slumber.

There are more stories out there I missed hearing my dads stories they suffered being sharecroppers my grandmother said they couldn’t eat the crop they grew she would hide a few things to feed 17 children my mom it hurts her to talk about what they went thru her father saw things I dare not write about he died at the age 98 Our elders are our history books

Incredible story -- thank you so much for sharing! 💗💗

Why is that beeping sound? You can't censor history. Stop it.

It’s not bondage, it’s slavery. call it what it is “SLAVERY”

Thank you for this excellent reporting!

Wow how awesome and inspiring! Thank you elder for all you all have done for us and you don’t look a day past 70. You look absolutely fabulous with your sharp mind

Very inspiring. I wish the younger generation of Black people could hear this message from living history. We, as Black people, have everything to be proud of

I'm 43 yrs. old and my father was born and raised in Miss. he picked cotton on the side of his mom as growing up many sad stories.

No words can do this story justice. Ty for covering it and sharing it. (Keep it coming)... Much love to all ❤🙌🏾🌌

Almost ninety years old were re at he looks💖 absolutely stunning God bless his soul 🙏

It's hard to imagine this that he's in his nineties he looks so much younger.

What an inspiration! I could not be more proud of my culture! My great grandmother lived to be 101 years old, I recall once while conversing with her daughter (my aunt), she informed me that her parents actually were slaves. It still floors me to this very day.

you cant stop people from hating. let's stop asking for that. what you CAN do is structure things in a way so everyone has a fair shot at achieving whatever their definition of success is. let people be mad. but you keep a system that has hoops for one and not the other. either have everyone struggling lol or make things level so the dopest rise up and the wack fall back

This man and his ascendants are a great legacy to black people 👏.

Thank you, Mr. Smith. Looking forward to your book. ❤

What a Powerful story. And he do not look 90. Wow

As a African American man, I loved the stories my grandmother told me about her mother and grandmother and this man is 100% correct the descendants of those who survived the passage were the strongest. Where I differ from this elder is, how he frames the USA as nothing to critique, the issue as I see it, is this. Those who fought in the 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, forgot about those who were to come after them, (talking about you Clearance Thomas), its as if they got theirs and got theirs through the struggle but some how forgot to reach back and bring the young generation with them. But because he is a elder, I will gladly listen to his story, but ABC don't sugar coat it.

I THANK MR.SMITH FOR SHARING HIS STORY!!!!! LORD we come so far and still got some ways to go!!!! WE SHALL OVERCOME!!!! Happy Black History Month🎉

My grandfather gave the land to the slaves when lincoln signed the deed and moved. Their name was king. Ours was not. We're friends still today.

Wonderful testimony and message!

Can we just acknowledge his dad had him at 70! What a man.

Great video!

Beautiful story, beautiful man. I wish I could be as strong.

What incredible man

These stories should be documented while they are still alive.

He is BEAUTIFUL!

Great segment 😃

He is so positive about America and the future. He was taught well to have gratitude and to forge ahead instead getting stuck in quicksand behind.

What a great interview. “Move beyond and move forward”.

We have to get all of the histories from people like this before they take it all away.

RIP Daniel Smith. A Kind Warrior.

He deserves a reparations check. If not for slavery for red summer, Jim Crow and all the turmoil America has put these people through.

He's a great looking older man, but he was a hot stud in his younger years. Model status.

I hope young people get inspired by this and know no matter how harsh the past, u can still be great because you came from great.

RIP Mr.Smith! May you rest in peace❤️❤️

Beautiful story.

WE SHALL OVERCOME ✝️🙏🇺🇸

Bless his heart. "We are descendants of those that chose to survive". - Daughters of the Dust - Julie Dash (filmmaker).

Amen, thank you for sharing your story 🙏🏽

We need more testamony like this. Thanks for your reporting.

We have to make sure that we ALL, (brown, black, and white) tell the truth about our history so that our children and grandchildren don’t repeat the mistakes of the past. We can prevent and make right the suffering and sadness that make people resent one another.

“More kindness. Do good things.”

This needs to be played in history classes. Period.

His father was 70yo when he was born. Dang! An incredible life well lived.

Bless his heart ❤.

May Mr. Smith have a blessed transition. May he have received his flowers in this life time. ♡

What an amazing story, amazing man. I will look for the book. We need more love and stand united.

I don't mean to offend anybody by mentioning this comparison but its something that I never understood. The Jews in Europe suffered genocide at the hands of the Nazi's for 12 years resulting in World War 2. After WW2 when the world caught wind of the inhumane actions took against the Jews during the Holocaust. The world came together and pathed a road towards the existence of Israel. So basically what I'm saying is, for the 12 years of suffering that the Jews endured they received a WHOLE COUNTRY. Africans were sold into slavery to American colonists around 1492 and this lasted until around 1865. So close to 400 years total and 89 of them years were under the Established United States of America. When the world found out about the evil treatment to slaves and the fact that they were not even considered as human beings, the world did nothing. When looking at these two evil historical events side by side, (The Jews killed during the Holocaust which last 12 years & a estimated 6 million Jews murdered) & then ( Africans sold into slavery, losing all human rights which lasted 400 years & a estimated 60 million + Africans Murdered) How can anybody say that the world's reaction & outcomes to the two separate evil travesties is fair or even in the same ballpark as fair! *___(((___The Jews suffered 12 years, lost 6 million people and the outcome was that the world basically gave them a country (Israel)___)))___* - *___(((___Africans were sold into slavery & suffered for 400 years, lost an estimated 60 million + people and the world ignored this and from the USA they received the thirteenth amendment and was released into a society that was mainly prejudice & hated them.___)))___ How is this justice, How come nobody ever talks about this comparison ? (American Intermediary)

That one's great journalism... thank you .

This is beautiful. Thank you

Thank you for this interview and video

What a wonderful man!! My take away from this didn't have anything to do with anger. Yes he said he was angry at the moment and the memory stayed with him, but he said what he wanted was for people to "Be Kind" & "Don't hate"

Wow.. this was on time. May he R.I.P what a true man of grit, integrity and legacy.

Thank You

Thank You!!

Is there a long form version of this interview out there we can watch? I feel like this man has a lot more wisdom to impart than what the editing is allowing.

Yup! We are survivors!!! We don’t die…we multiply!!

So many people need to reflect on this.

Rest in peace Sir.

Thank you for sharing Mr Smiths story!

Amen and God bless him

What a story! What Mr. Daniel Smith has seen. Wow

How special is this man 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🙌🏽❤️😇

Incredible story .

RIP sir. God bless you in your next journey.

God bless🙏

Thank you

People can't own other people....pray Gods healing in Jesus Name....