Study Links Congressional Wealth to Ancestors' Slaveholding

Analysis reveals legislators with slaveholder ancestry have significantly higher net worth compared to peers without such lineage.

Legislators whose ancestors enslaved 16 or more people have a median net worth $3.93 million higher than those without slaveholder ancestry.
The study used genealogical data from Reuters and financial disclosures to establish the wealth disparity.
Researchers adjusted for age, race, sex, ethnicity, and education, yet the wealth gap persisted.
The findings highlight the enduring economic impact of slavery on descendants of slaveholders.
The study's results may bolster discussions on reparations and economic equity in the U.S.