Family Ties

African Americans use scientific advances to trace their roots

  • By Whitney Dangerfield
  • Smithsonian.com, February 01, 2007, Subscribe
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The African American DNA Roots Project
The African American DNA Roots Project is a molecular anthropology study designed to match African American lineages with those in West Africa, a region from which many slaves were taken. (Photo courtesy of M. Zokoswki)

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Where do you come from? It's a simple question for many Americans. They rattle off a county in Ireland or a swath of Russia and claim the place as their ancestral home. But for many African Americans, a sense of identity doesn't come that easily.

"African Americans are the only ones who cannot point to a country of origin," says Gina Paige, president of African Ancestry, Inc., a company in Washington, D.C. that offers DNA lineage tests. "Italian Americans don’t refer to themselves as European Americans. We are the only group that have to claim an entire continent."

Over the last 20 some years, in part fueled by Alex Haley's book Roots and the subsequent miniseries, more African Americans have tried to uncover clues about their past. A growing number of books and articles outline the fundamentals of genealogical research. State and national African American genealogical societies, many of which offer classes and host conferences for novice and advanced researchers, have aided the search. Electronic access to records has also helped.

Last month, on Martin Luther King Day, the state of Virginia began the process of indexing and digitizing the records of the Freedmen's Bureau, a group started in 1865 during the Civil War to help provide economic and social relief to freedmen and refugees. The bureau's records, which date from 1865 to 1872, include documents such as marriage certificates, labor contracts and healthcare and clothing receipts. The National Archives made the digitizing effort possible when they put the entire paper collection on microfilm, a job that took nearly five years and resulted in more than 1,000 rolls of film.

People searching for family clues can also comb through slave narratives, plantation and military records, census information and other government documents; but these collections only look back so far. The U.S. Census started counting slaves as late as 1870, and many documents around this time list people not by name but by gender and description. "For decades, perhaps centuries, African Americans were completely disregarded. We were no more than property,” says Betty Kearse of Dover, Massachusetts, who has been researching her own family heritage. "It's up to us to find the names in spite of the fact that many records of our ancestors don’t even include names."

In addition to sifting through microfilm and books, people can now look within themselves—at their DNA—to understand more about their heritage dating back before the 1800s. By locating variations in genetic markers and matching them with indigenous populations throughout the world, scientists can group people into different haplotypes, which can shed light on their ancestors' geographic locations and migration patterns. The tests focus on the Y chromosome, which men share with their father, grandfather, and so on, going back for generations, and also on mitochondrial DNA, which is an exact link to the maternal line.

"Genes tell the true story," says Bruce Jackson, a professor of biotechnology at the University of Massachusetts. Jackson, along with Bert Ely of the University of South Carolina, founded the African American DNA Roots Project, a molecular anthropology study designed to match African American lineages with those in West Africa, a region from which many slaves were taken.

Jackson's interest in genetics began as a child listening to stories about his father's family in Connecticut and his mother's in Virginia. His father's stories all started with "an African kid in 1768,” says Jackson. No one knew the boy's name or where he came from.

Jackson's mother’s heritage culminated in a rumor. "The story was that the matriarch was a white woman, which meant she would have had to have a child with a black man," he says, an occurrence that is historically known to be more rare than children between women slaves and their white owners.

With a master's degree in genetics and a doctorate in biochemistry, Jackson began combining what he knew from the lab with his own family's history. He tested the mitochondrial DNA from his mother's line and found that the rumor was actually true. The sample was of Irish descent, which led him to suspect that his matriarch was an indentured servant in the United States. Going back even further, the DNA matched a haplotype originating from modern-day Russia. After doing some research, he learned that Russian Vikings were prevalent in both Ireland and Scotland.


Where do you come from? It's a simple question for many Americans. They rattle off a county in Ireland or a swath of Russia and claim the place as their ancestral home. But for many African Americans, a sense of identity doesn't come that easily.

"African Americans are the only ones who cannot point to a country of origin," says Gina Paige, president of African Ancestry, Inc., a company in Washington, D.C. that offers DNA lineage tests. "Italian Americans don’t refer to themselves as European Americans. We are the only group that have to claim an entire continent."

Over the last 20 some years, in part fueled by Alex Haley's book Roots and the subsequent miniseries, more African Americans have tried to uncover clues about their past. A growing number of books and articles outline the fundamentals of genealogical research. State and national African American genealogical societies, many of which offer classes and host conferences for novice and advanced researchers, have aided the search. Electronic access to records has also helped.

Last month, on Martin Luther King Day, the state of Virginia began the process of indexing and digitizing the records of the Freedmen's Bureau, a group started in 1865 during the Civil War to help provide economic and social relief to freedmen and refugees. The bureau's records, which date from 1865 to 1872, include documents such as marriage certificates, labor contracts and healthcare and clothing receipts. The National Archives made the digitizing effort possible when they put the entire paper collection on microfilm, a job that took nearly five years and resulted in more than 1,000 rolls of film.

People searching for family clues can also comb through slave narratives, plantation and military records, census information and other government documents; but these collections only look back so far. The U.S. Census started counting slaves as late as 1870, and many documents around this time list people not by name but by gender and description. "For decades, perhaps centuries, African Americans were completely disregarded. We were no more than property,” says Betty Kearse of Dover, Massachusetts, who has been researching her own family heritage. "It's up to us to find the names in spite of the fact that many records of our ancestors don’t even include names."

In addition to sifting through microfilm and books, people can now look within themselves—at their DNA—to understand more about their heritage dating back before the 1800s. By locating variations in genetic markers and matching them with indigenous populations throughout the world, scientists can group people into different haplotypes, which can shed light on their ancestors' geographic locations and migration patterns. The tests focus on the Y chromosome, which men share with their father, grandfather, and so on, going back for generations, and also on mitochondrial DNA, which is an exact link to the maternal line.

"Genes tell the true story," says Bruce Jackson, a professor of biotechnology at the University of Massachusetts. Jackson, along with Bert Ely of the University of South Carolina, founded the African American DNA Roots Project, a molecular anthropology study designed to match African American lineages with those in West Africa, a region from which many slaves were taken.

Jackson's interest in genetics began as a child listening to stories about his father's family in Connecticut and his mother's in Virginia. His father's stories all started with "an African kid in 1768,” says Jackson. No one knew the boy's name or where he came from.

Jackson's mother’s heritage culminated in a rumor. "The story was that the matriarch was a white woman, which meant she would have had to have a child with a black man," he says, an occurrence that is historically known to be more rare than children between women slaves and their white owners.

With a master's degree in genetics and a doctorate in biochemistry, Jackson began combining what he knew from the lab with his own family's history. He tested the mitochondrial DNA from his mother's line and found that the rumor was actually true. The sample was of Irish descent, which led him to suspect that his matriarch was an indentured servant in the United States. Going back even further, the DNA matched a haplotype originating from modern-day Russia. After doing some research, he learned that Russian Vikings were prevalent in both Ireland and Scotland.

After he tested his own family's DNA, another family asked Jackson to test their DNA, then another family asked, and the project snowballed from there. Now, with some 10,000 DNA samples to test, the international project is near capacity. "We’re just overwhelmed," he says. "We get responses from all over the world."

Requests from African Americans also inundated fellow geneticist Rick Kittles, who appeared in "African American Lives," a PBS miniseries that tested the DNA of some well-known participants, including Oprah Winfrey. Kittles decided to meet the community demand by collaborating with businesswoman Gina Paige to commercialize his efforts. Since 2003, when they opened African Ancestry in Washington, D.C., they have tested over 8,000 lineages.

"This is a transformative experience for people who trace their ancestry," says Paige. "It causes them to look at their lives and define themselves in different ways. Some do it just because they are curious, some to leave a legacy for their children. Some are reconnecting with Africans in the continent, building schools and buying real estate. Others are connecting with Africans here in the States."

Although African Ancestry claims to have the largest collection of African lineages in the world with some 25,000 samples from Africa, they do not guarantee they will find ancestry from the continent. In general, 30 percent of African Americans who have their DNA tested find they come from European lineages—a statistic that corroborates the well-known stories of white plantation owners impregnating their female slaves. Although the company also does not promise to match the person with one specific ethnic group, they do hope to connect people with the present-day country in which their lineage originated.

Jackson is skeptical of results that are too specific. "You have to be careful," he says, stressing that there is a lot more to learn about different ethnic groups in Africa. "What you can do now, at best, is to assign people to a part of West Africa," Jackson says.

But science is making some breakthroughs. In 2005, Jackson and his colleagues made important progress when they were able to genetically distinguish different ethnic groups living in Sierra Leone. And, although he thinks the database of indigenous African DNA samples is not nearly big enough to make an accurate match with an African American, he feels the work of his postdoctoral students and other students in the field of genetics will certainly help the research on its way. "In about 50 years," he says, "things will be clear."

Tony Burroughs, a genealogist who wrote Black Roots: A Beginners Guide to Tracing the African American Family, cautions people to avoid jumping straight into DNA testing. "If a geneticist is honest, they would say that someone shouldn't do a DNA test before they do research," he says. Burroughs advises a more practical approach to ancestry research: Talk to relatives, and write down as much as possible about the family.

"After collecting oral stories, go to relatives' basements, attics, shoe boxes, dresser drawers to see what they have that has been passed down," he says. "Those pieces will add little pieces to their oral stories. Then leave the house, and do further research." Go to places like cemeteries and funeral homes; search vital records offices, death certificates, birth certificates, marriage records. "No one should do any genetic work until they have gotten to the 1800s and 1700s," he says. "Otherwise that DNA research doesn’t help."

Kearse has been researching her family's roots for more than 15 years. According to her family's oral history, her mother descended from a woman named Mandy, who was taken from Ghana and enslaved at Montpelier—President James Madison's plantation in Virginia. According to the story, Mandy's daughter, Corrinne, had a relationship with the president that produced a child, a claim Kearse is now working with Jackson to try to verify through DNA. When the child, Jim Madison, was a teenager, he was sent away from Montpelier, eventually settling on a plantation in Texas.

"The story has been passed down from generation to generation," says Kearse. "One of the important themes was that when [Jim] was sold away for the first time, Corrine [his mother] said to Jim as he was put on the wagon, 'Always remember you’re a Madison.' " For Corinne, it would be a tool, an instrumental way for her to meet her son again. They never did see each other, but the words never left Jim.

"I hadn’t thought of trying to connect the family through DNA to Madison. I hadn't planned on doing it because the Jefferson and Hemmings story had gotten so controversial and ugly," says Kearse of the recent verification that Thomas Jefferson had children with his slave, Sally Hemmings. She reconsidered after inviting Jackson to a commemoration of former Montpelier slaves set to take place this year.

Kearse and Jackson are still trying to locate a white male descendant of the Madisons who has a clear Y chromosome line to the family. Jackson is going to England in the spring to look for living descendants. However, even if the DNA is a match, it may never concretely link her family to the president because he had brothers who shared the same Y chromosome.

Nevertheless, the match would give weight to a story her family has lived with for generations. "Always remember you’re a Madison" became a source of inspiration for Kearse's early ancestors. Her family, she says, "realized this name came from a president, and it means we are supposed to do something with our lives."

Over the years, the saying came to mean something more. "When the slaves were freed after emancipation, the family added on to the saying,” says Kearse. "'Always remember you’re a Madison. You descended from slaves and a president.' "

But now Kearse has a new understanding of her heritage. "For me, it’s more important to have descended from Mandy, a woman who was captured from the coast of Ghana, survived the Middle Passage, survived the dehumanization of slavery," says Kearse, who is writing a book about her family. "For me, she is the source of pride."

 


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Comments (113)

I am a Chicano, born in Salinas, CA and have been in Race Relations since 1972 when appointed an Equal Opportunity Officer; in 25th Division; while a CH-47 Chinook Instructor Pilot and Maintenance Officer. After Graduation from the Department of Defense Race Relations Institute it became my vocation. William Haley; Alex Haley's son was my advisor at the Race Relations Institute and Alex was a guest speaker; fortunately. I was also fortunate to meet Cesar Chavez while he was rallying in Hawaii. I was looking for William on facebook; or Cynthia Haley at the Smithsonion. jmtt@att.net

Posted by Diego de Martin on March 6,2012 | 06:28 PM

My family is African american and we traced our roots back to Cameroon. It was in the early stages in 2006 I only remember that they needed a male's DNA for the testing. It is common for our geniology to trace back to a European, which I consider to be a dead end. So I hope DNA research has advanced and that no one feels disappointed. I love science and this is just one of the things that keeps me interested and hopeful in our future.

Posted by Alicia on October 25,2011 | 09:01 PM

This is such a wonderful article. I am a student at Axia College and I was reading the great piece of information for my class. I am enlighten to know that one day I will be able to claim an ancestral country from which I am from.

Posted by Jonathan A Turner on September 20,2011 | 12:38 AM

very interesting introduction. the author went with the question technique

Posted by dhurr on September 20,2011 | 10:33 AM

Wonderful Information! Thanks for the Education!

Posted by Ravon Parish on September 13,2011 | 03:50 PM

I am not African American and I can not point to my country of origin. They are not the only ones.

Posted by K on August 22,2011 | 04:21 PM

Hello Whatever, regardless of what color we are on the inside some people of color would like to know their country of origin. I do not believe that is too much to ask for considering we are the only ethnic group that must claim a continent as to a country. I would like to say this article is very interesting and I hope after finishing my school I will be able to afford to find out where I came from. Good luck to all

Posted by Block on July 13,2011 | 01:47 PM

For the past year or two l have put much time into researching my family roots. Some say! indian and others say! african but one thing is for sure l am not certain about either. A huge thanks to the publisher of this artical and my professor at the Unversity of Phoenix were l currently attend for exposing and sharing this pathway in attempt to discovering my ancestry through this advancement, technology and information.

Posted by Patra Y. Olu'Ajayi on February 9,2011 | 12:02 AM

I'm just tired of the back and forth between races. When will we all come to place where outside we might look different. and from different walks of life. But we all have the same blood color, the same kidney's heart eye balls and more. I know we all are trying to exist. But let's just all get along!

Posted by Whatever on January 13,2011 | 11:22 PM

I too would be proud to be a desendent of her, for SHE was the true hero for just being her: so strong and determined to NOT be held back, to perservere, and push thru all the gossip & denial & rummors and still stay strong! We are all one people, red, white, brown, pink, green, orange "what ever" we should STOP pulling apart at our differences and embrace our simalarities. If we, the world could do that...then we can start to be a united world. :-)

Posted by Shirl on November 11,2010 | 09:36 PM

Dear Bro. Whitney:
I found you article very interesting and encouraging. I am an African born in Amerikkka in 1942 in the town of Hampton, South Carolina. I was raised in the segregated South (Savannah, Ga.) up to the age of 15, then my mother moved us to Philadelphia, Pa. I'm an Air Force Veteran, Penn State and Rutgers Law School Alum (with grad work at U of Penn, Temple U. & Harvard), formerly involved in Government, Politics, the State Legislature, and elected member of a Board of Education. I currently serve as National President of The Kearse Family, USA, and we have been having Annual Kearse Family Reunions, usually on Labor Day Weekend, for more than 30 years. 3 weeks ago we were in Groton, Connecticut for 4 Great Days. I, along with cousin Daphne Powell and other family members have been doing family research for all those years as well. We have a data base of approximately 4,000 family members. We hold reunions in the North on even years, and in the South on uneven years. I'm headed to Austin, Texas soon to work with the Committee there preparing for next year's reunion. I also will be headed back to Africa again in December (Senegal this time). I feel my BEST, when I'm at home in Africa!!! We intend to get DNA testing to locate the particular area of our descendants' birth and departures, and eventually have a Family Reunion in that location. I can write forever, but I don't know just how much Smithsonian will print (I'm a member there too)!!

Posted by Bro. Zawdie Obatala Abdul-Malik on September 26,2010 | 06:20 AM

I am an African American woman. I am in my early sixty, and also a student of Axia College on-line. I also have been in search of my family's roots. Most of my roots are American Indian, I would like know if there anyway to proof that I have indian roots through DNA or how to trace my roots. A lot on Black American have indian roots and don't know it. This could help them in many way.

This article was a eye opening for me. It also had a lot of imformation . Thank you for writing the article.

Posted by harriet Johnson on August 10,2010 | 12:16 PM

I came to this site for a class assignment, yet I left this site fulfulled. I thought I would just do the assignment and be done. The article, I felt was quite informative from the introduction to the conclusion, which is what the assignment was about. I appreciated this opportunity.

Posted by Lisa Johnson on August 10,2010 | 07:23 AM

I am a student at AXIA College and doing an assignment for a communications class. I chose this site as a topic of discussion. I have also been doing research into my family's background on and off over the past couple of years, trying to gather info from the matriarch of my paternal side. DNA is really fascinating research and if I had the opportunity and the money, I would definitely look into tracing my family's roots. I have been able to get back to the late 1700's in my research so far.

Posted by Linda Dickerson on June 22,2010 | 05:26 PM

I am an African American woman. I am middle aged and still full of curiousity about my past history. I do not think aperson is complete unless they can understand their past lives. I was imppressed by the article I read as it revealed the history and investigation of African American linage. I am a student at Axia College, University of Phoenix. Our instructor included this internet link as a part of an assignment. I initially chose another topic, but my interest was peaked by an couple of responses I read in class forum. I am glad I decided to check it out. I need this process to be included in my life as I continue my own personal research of my African roots. I have also chosen the Republic of Ghana as an area of research to discover my ancestry. I was enlightened and helped by the article.
Thank You!

Posted by Jacqueline Gaines on June 17,2010 | 04:54 PM

WOW!!I too am a student of The University Of Phoenix, and i must say that this article is very upsetting, But; at the same time very knowledgeable also. We have gone through so much in life, and our ancestors has paid the ultimate price for our freedom. At the very least we should become more knowing about who we are, where we come from,and why? I am an African American with ties to the Cherokee Indians, My Great Grand Mother was a Full Blooded Cherokee, And I have a lot of Cherokee in me also, Good hair, fair complexion,. and I would really love to find out more about my heritage and the African Roots. Great Job, and keep up the good work.

Posted by Robbie Green on June 14,2010 | 06:42 PM

Very good article and deals

Posted by Mark Lennon Vaughn on May 6,2010 | 03:04 AM

I feel that this is a very important and interesting article about our black heritage and i am proud to be a part of it.I have grandmothers and granfathers who are African American and Cherokee Indians. We are tracing our family roots also we have been told we have a churched started by our past an- cestors we are just learning about.

Posted by Philishun Hope on May 3,2010 | 12:04 AM

What is the easiest was I can began tracing my African ancestry?

Posted by Jackie Tucker-Adeyemo on April 25,2010 | 03:13 PM

I felt that this was an interesting article. I am really hurt by the fact that we as african americans can't put all our family ties together. I would like to know where my roots begain.

Posted by Deborah on April 13,2010 | 01:21 PM

I really think this a great article, but am offended by the mind state of some of the responses. One young lady wrote are you kidding me, Italian’s don't refer to themselves as Italian American, and that Caucasians have more trouble linking their heritage. This is a completely false statement, in the sense that Europeans came to America looking for freedom on their own will, whereas a lot of blacks came to America against their will. Either being captured by whites, or being sold by another tribe. Many families were broken up through slavery; this is why this is very important to our culture (the new research). At a certain store I worked at, I repaired pc's. Well, a customer that I was helping told me that he was Italian, and that his ancestors were from Sicily; well I stated that my GG Grandparents were from there. He looked at me and stated that his father would have rolled over in his grave. Wow!!! I pray that this discovery can help a lot of people find their ancestry through this wonderful advancement, and pull us together, not apart!! :0)

Posted by Jamal on March 23,2010 | 09:01 PM

I am thankful for reading this article for class (University of Phoenix) I have leaarned alot and would like to know more about my heritage.

Posted by Andrea Sulton on January 28,2010 | 09:49 PM

I to was required to read this essay as a class project but after I started reading I was captivated and intriged by the things I didn"t know about the heritage of the African American people. Being African Americaan myself, I was devistated by the things I didn't know. Thank You.

Posted by Leroy Johnson on January 13,2010 | 01:14 PM

This article was very great Hi Mr. Jackson, I am Anita Jackson McGee, We never know who we are kin too. I could be kin to you. I am from Texas, I have been doing a little researching for my mother's relatives and history. I know some but not a whole lot and now most of my elders are deceased now. I will continue to frequent your sight now that I have come upon it. Good Luck in all your endeavors.

Posted by Anita McGee on November 23,2009 | 12:21 AM

This is a great article. Obvious this is an area of interest for most African-American. The question "Where did we actually come from?" is asked at some point in our lives. I am aware that there has been a lot of interest in research into the past due to Alex Haley's works on Roots but this article makes clear that this looking into the past continues to this present day. However, I am aware that this present line of investigation, the genetic research, has a number of problems which has not been resolved as of yet. In helping to provide specific answers as to where Africans in America are really from on the continent is to be greatly appreciated. This area shows a lot of promise in the midst of working out some problems.

Posted by Charlotte McNeil on October 31,2009 | 01:46 AM

This is very interesting. I am african-american women but lightskinned with hazel eyes and tough kinky hair. My physical build is more of a caucasion build. I know just by looking at myself that I have european blood in my veins. I also have cherokee indian. My grandma showed me her grandmother's picture. I am curious about my ancestrial background but I know that my roots may not trace back any futher than a plantation here in the U.S.

Posted by pam smith on September 29,2009 | 03:50 PM

I to "am a Phoenix". This article was part of an discussion question, that I have come to appreciate. I found this article to bevery interesting, moving and informative. I would like to say Thank You! for your intrest and research on African American lineage, it can, will and hs helped sooo many of us find out jus who we are and where we come from.

Thanks so very muc again!
Lisa Brown

Posted by Lisa Brown on September 29,2009 | 10:54 AM

I truly enjoyed this article, I ran across it by means of an assignment we were given to do. I just wanted you to know that it helped me out alot on my assignment.

Thanks,

Posted by Brenda Clow on September 21,2009 | 12:05 AM

I wonder why They dont bring up the Hairston, which werw the largest documents on slavery and there roots,, Henry Weinck wrote The Hairston in Black and White, They have a large group go to hairstonclan.com ,hairston.org

Posted by Eric Hairston on September 12,2009 | 01:25 AM

Mr. Whitney, thank you so very much for your hard work and the writing of this article it has taken all the stories that I have heard as a child and given me something that I now know to be true stories. I am from everywhere that's what my family use to tell us, now I completly get it. Sir your work has opened the eyes of many, please continue doing what your doing. May god continue to bless you.

Thank you
Eleanor Stewart
Posted September 8, 2009

Posted by Eleanor Stewart on September 8,2009 | 11:48 PM

Reading this article has put everything I always thought about in perspective. Thank you Whitney D. People often ask me where my name comes from and always say, it is a slave name. The reaction I get from people is utter amazement,they usually take pause. Then I go on and say I think my family worked in the Kitchen and that was probaly the only way the slave masters could keep track of the slaves by what jobs they had and where they were performed. You should see the reaction I get after that statement. Moreover, I am proud of Barack Obmama Because he represents all of us.

Posted by Angela Kitchens on September 7,2009 | 10:11 PM

I just want to find out how much indain blood I have in me because, my dad had chorkee indain in him ,because his grandpa was full blooded and his grandma was too.

Posted by Ruby Carpenter on August 13,2009 | 11:35 AM

This is very interesting, concerning my heritage,roots, I have found family as far back as 14 generations, and they were caucasian, this is where I drew a blank,Where do I go from here? I believe we all should know our roots, origin, genesis,please for the sake of breaking curses that has plagued our race, and to bring restoration, honor, forgiveness, and love back to a people once forgotten. I thank you, keep up the good work!!!

Posted by cynthia Simms on June 30,2009 | 11:55 PM

I was surely enthused by the article, most definitely I have always wanted to do research on my background, but don't know where to begin. On my fathers side his mom was part Indian and Irish and both her parents were Irish, and her grandparents were Irish and Indian. His father parents were decendents from Africa from what I understand. My mom parents were Indian, and African decendents as well, both my grandmothers were able to pass for another race light eyes and all. In this case I don't even know where to begin, but I am so interested to find out more. If anyone can respond to let me know how, I would surely appreciate it. Thanks, Ms. Hawkins and GOD BLESS

Posted by virginia on June 22,2009 | 02:06 PM

I really liked ready the article it gave me something to really think about. So I called my aunt who is 86 years old and she gave me some very intresting infomation. I found out that my family on my father's side of the family some of them came from Germany and some of them are indians. Now I know about the part of my family that I didn't know.This article helped me out alot.I am going to continue doing research to find out even more about my family includeing my mother's side.I think the author made a great chose when they picked the topic to write about. Thank you for putting this one online for people like me to read.

Posted by Bettie Yancey on June 11,2009 | 09:13 PM

Having grown up in Virgina has been more than interesting. I am classified as an African-American, but my blood is composed of Native American and white as well. My sister is of darker hue and has experienced more prejudice than I have. Caucasions here in the south cherish their heritage and it is seen everywhere! After reading this article We, my sister and I, will continue to research our roots.

Posted by jacqueline Fountain on June 10,2009 | 09:45 AM

Absolutely wonderful!!! Thank you Smithonian for posting this article. I have always believed that as more breakthroughs come with the knowledge of DNA, the unraveling of its mysteries would connect millions of people with their heritage. Assisting in the healing of the nation and human race tentions. It is the next step in the 'progressive reversing of the tower of Babel'.

Posted by Gayla Haufe on June 9,2009 | 07:34 PM

I found this article interesting. I too had this same lineage DNA test done, and it was very interesting... sure did fill in the gaps.

Posted by Maria on June 9,2009 | 02:41 PM

I found this article truly interesting and never thought about what specific area from which I am descended, but as Gina Paige, president of African Ancestry, Inc. said early in this article, just knowing my ancestors are from Africa. There is an abundance of heritage from Africa to the very time and place we are at this moment. I am told my family line consists of Caucasian and Indian and who knows what else, so I would definitely like to research and track my ancestry.

Posted by Tammye on June 4,2009 | 08:34 PM

As a result of research I am conducting relative to Amer*Afrikan Genealogy and antebellem urban chattel slavery systems, I fortunately came upon YOUR site!

I am concentrating my research efforts around slavery practices in the MEMPHIS~Mississippi Delta areas...

Like most descendants of captive Afrikans & Indian people, I am unable to locate relatives who were victims of the plantation rules of enslavement...Many now deceased family elders did not / COULD not share with other family members the painful facts of their bondage...

I AM INCREASINGLY GRATEFUL TO ELDER*GRIOT ALEX HALEY FOR GIVING MANY OF US A COMMON AFRIKAN*CAPTIVE ANCESTOR IN KUNTA KINTE!

Posted by Roby*Ellis*Zollicoffer Descendant on May 24,2009 | 02:45 PM

Like so many who have posted response. I would like to find out my background. Would you be able to put me in touch with a reputable group that is truly researching information? My background is so vague the only thing I am sure of is that my skin is brown "therefore I am" Now I am in search of "who I am" thank you for any help you can offer.

Posted by Paula Williams on May 19,2009 | 10:55 PM

In the 5th paragraph the author wrote "The U.S. Census started counting slaves as late as 1870, and many documents around this time list people not by name but by gender and description." This is an inaccurate statement. The US Census could not "count slaves" in 1870, since slavery was abolished in the US in 1865. From the 1st through the 8th censuses (1790-1860) the number of slaves were counted and the count was divided by sex and age depending on the census year. Some of these counts can still be found on the "Non-population schedules of the US federal census" also known as the slave schedules. Most of the surviving slave schedules are available on microfilm at many libraries across the country, the are also available at the National Archives in DC. Free people of color have been listed on every US federal census (1790 onwards)and some of these were former slaves. The 1870 census is the first census to list those that were slaves that were freed because of the Civil War and the passage of the 13th amendment to the Constitution in 1865.

Posted by Irene Walters on May 16,2009 | 11:10 AM

I want to know what the proceedure is to find out my background. Most sites that deal with this have a hefty price tag which makes it impossible to persue. Any info would help. Thanks

Posted by Arturo Castro on May 12,2009 | 07:54 PM

This was such a wonderful article. My classification, here in the U.S., is African Americdan. My lineage is African, Native American, Irish, and Japanese that I know of. This came from my maternal and paternal grandmothers. My great, grandfather on my paternal side was a slave. On the maternal side of my family, I don't have too many details. But, to me this does not even matter. Who I am is a human being. Truth be told, we are all related. We are all decendants of Adam and Eve.

Posted by Kathleen Scarbrough on May 12,2009 | 07:22 PM

This helps so much I'm really going to look into this too. I would love to know where my ancestors came from.

Posted by on April 27,2009 | 07:29 PM

I find the DNA research very interesting, but I have to say it is hard to say that anyone knows their true background, other than we are all connected in some way. Human population did not start like it is now, it started at a very low number comparitively. And all through out history many races suffered slavery and torture. In general, people are cruel to people, and sometimes it seems like we as people cannot seem to learn from those mistakes. As long as there is greed and power hungry people, there will be mistreatment. I am sure I cannot find my roots much past 1800's. My great aunt did alot of research to find where we all came from, but our family tree is so scattered from many different parts of the world and ethnic backgrounds. I think I can just be happy with saying a am a human being trying to make it a better environment for other human beings around me for future generations, rather than focusing so much on myself and the history behind me. I have to learn by what human history as a whole has done to effect society today that I live in and try and make it better so history's mistakes are not repeated for any race.

Posted by Danielle on April 10,2009 | 03:32 AM

Much of this information is amazing, profound in its way. Native American's have also suffered tremendously, as the African American slaves did. Much of that information is not even in any history books. Growing up in my world, the African American and the Native American were close, mingled and helped each other through times of pain and hardships as our ancestors faced, Natives would adopt an African slave that ran from their white captures, and take them into their world,to let them live and be free. There are many African Americans whom have Native American in their lineage as well, many. Maybe people don't talk much about the Native Americans troubles as much, but they went through the same fate and pain as did our African Brothers and Sisters.Just because some of our Native American people receive some money from the Government, that's suppose to tidy everything up and remove the tears of blood that they suffered, no, it does not work like that. Not for any Race or Gender. Many people who are receiving money from the Government anymore are our caucasian brothers. For example, I have a friend that has very little Native American blood, she looks white, Blonde hair, blue eyes, does not know any of the Native American traditions, and she receives money, food, and free covered health care. I am Native American,full blood, from both sides of my family,I look like your stereo typical Indian, and I am unregistered and can not find a lineage, and I receive nothing because I can not prove my Nativeness if you will, shoot, I even know my Native ways.

Posted by Elia on March 24,2009 | 02:45 PM

Please keep in mind that the DNA tracing can only be used to trace two lines of descent - your paternal line (for males only -- your father's father's father, etc.) or your maternal line (your mother's mother's mother, etc.) Each of us has many more lines of descent. For example, each of us has eight different great-grandparents and the DNA testing would only look at two of those eight lines, or two of sixteen lines if you are looking at great-great-grandparents.

Posted by Martha Lasser on February 27,2009 | 12:25 AM

What would I need to know to see what I could find out on my family. How much does it cost?

Posted by Brenda Biondo on February 20,2009 | 11:34 PM

I have been wanting to get find my ancestors roots for some time myself. I have even more so been wanting to do this since most of the elders in my family has passed. I have always known that we each have diffrent races in our family . You can see it in almost everyone you see. I am an african american woman. I have twins kids who are part indian. One of my kids looks just just like their father the both of them look more asian than indian or african. I tell my kids father that he may have asian in family also maybe even spanish in the family. So yes I know what it means when we have diffrent races in our bllod.

Posted by Ieshier on February 19,2009 | 03:16 PM

I have been doing reseach for 17 years now and while I have found informatoidn dating back to the early 1800's, there's still alot of gaps. My great great grandfather like many AA, was a slave. He was born in 1837 and died 1925. I found his mother listed on his death certificate which was a bonus. I was also able to locate his grave and discovered his founded a Baptist Church in North Carolina (still open) his name appears on the corner stone. He and his wife were the parents of 15 children, I have the names of 13. These people, my family became my hero's...... I continue to run into brick walls but the search continues. My daughter has agreed to purchase the DNA as a gift, I'm too excited.

Posted by Maze on February 6,2009 | 05:14 AM

This is exactly how I have felt all of my life (who am I and where am I from). I recently moved to Georgia and I decided to look up my last name (I have always wanted to know where my people were from)to my surprise; there was an uncountable amout of people with my last name. The sad part is I had and still do not have enough information about my heritage and family backgroud to know where to start. This has truly left me feeling a deep hurt and a feeling of aloneness. This information has provided a start for me to find my roots. Thank You!! Eboney

Posted by Eboney on January 27,2009 | 09:02 PM

The posting have been so interesting for me to read. It is so many multi-cultural races in the world, that it would be nice to know where we are from. I am considered black, but I am mixed my father is white and indian and he married my mom who is white,indian, and black. This is what I know from my understanding. Which the traits of all the races are present, but I would love to know more about my familys' roots!

Posted by Cabatina on January 26,2009 | 11:09 PM

For those looking for their African ancestors do look at the plantations that were owned by black owners. They also had slaves. Many former slaves took the name of their former owners. Especially if the former owner treated them with dignity. Also, many of the owners freed their slaves years before the Civil War. A place to look would be around the western edge of the then states. They just recently found Norse artifacts along the Irish coast. Has anyone ever noticed how similar the Scots and Norwegians roll their R's? I wonder how many Norse genes would be found along the Atlantic Coast? This is where my ancestors came from?

Posted by Barbara on January 8,2009 | 05:48 PM

I found this artical very intresting because I myself have mixed children and grandchildren. It gives a place to look and be able to get the answers for them to know where they come from is not as easy just to say a state they want to know where and why. I feel I now can go and find some answers for them, so all of us can find out about out past and be proud of who we are and where we came from.

Posted by Bobbie on January 6,2009 | 05:16 PM

I just want to said that is a great article, I am from the Island of Puerto Rico and all of us puertorican have also african in our blood line. And it is very interesting because my great grandmother was white with blue eyes and nobody in our family have does blue eyes. what iam saying is we are proud for who we are. I am proud to call my self Puertorriquena.

Posted by Michelle on January 5,2009 | 10:40 PM

I find this facinating as well. I have been told that I have some Native Cherokee American Indian in my blood-lines and it stemmed from a female Indian already here in the USA that married an American soldier. In other words, Cherokee Maturnal DNA. It would be enlightening for me to have proof of this in my bloodlines too. The Cherokee were not known to round up their own and sell them off into slavery, and they were living on this land when the immigrants arrived here. Slavery wasn't even started here to begin with. From what I researched, It started in Africa. If we all feel the need to see where we came from, I'm in as well! I'm game for this too because American Indians get ignored and brushed off the most due to this being origionally their lands that were taken by force.

Posted by James W L Tasker on November 25,2008 | 11:58 PM

It been know that some Russians can trace their ancestry all way back to when the Vikings settle in Russia and when the Mongols/Tatars invaded and conquered Russia to find they have Swedish, Danish, Mongolian and Tatar ancestry. Russia was the first multi-ethnic country. It really hard to asked what does a Russian look like?

Posted by Nicholas on November 20,2008 | 12:51 AM

Thia article was a very informative article and it really lets you know just how far we have come. Being able to trace your family history is a wonderful thing, just to think about the fact that DNA alone can provide you with so many answers to questions about one's geneology is just incredible. This is also a very education subject and could also can assist with putting a handle on racial issues, imagine growing up being a racist and just happen to do a DNA check on yourself, only to find out that the very race you are attacking is a part of your bloodline and geneology. This article is very valuable to everyone in learning about who they really are and where their existence began at. I thank the scientist who are responsible for providing such valuable info, Whitney for such a spectacular article andall your research, and also my teacher(Mr. Leviski) from AXIA(University of Phoenix Online) for chosing this article as one to pick from dealing with intruductions and conclusions. This was my introduction to finding out who I am as well as part of my conclusion to alot of questions about my family history. Thanks, Lakida Allen University of Phoenix Online Class of 2010

Posted by Lakida Allen on November 18,2008 | 11:12 PM

Rather than "Russian Vikings" active in Ireland, you had Vikings (from Scandinavia) active in both Ireland and Russia (incl. the lands in between). It makes perfect sense that a number of Russians and Irish today have Viking genes.

Posted by Thomas Reimer on October 24,2008 | 05:16 PM

This article was academically constructed very well. Proper Grammar was used, audience recognition,tone,purpose and structure was also presented very well. Knowing where your family originated is always good to know. Eveyone should know about their ancestry. It's good to leave a legacy to your children so that they will have an identity,a family to associate themselves with. The academic structure of this paper i believe will aid me in submitting a good "Final Project Paper" in this course. Thanks Ms. Dara t'Sas for allowing me to review such a piece to help me in my final presentation.

Posted by Derrick Williams on October 16,2008 | 12:30 AM

This was a very good article! I have been researchig my family for years. My great aunt die and I don't have anyone to get information from now. My great great grandfather name is Elijah Pollard born 1855. He was a slave birth place Newton, King and Queen Virginia. This is as far as I have been able to research. I would love to know who my grandmother's information. He was married but her name or race is not given. I also have Smith's in my family. According, to the census James W. Smith was tried to my great great grandfather. My mother's/ mother name is Jeannette Pollard. I would love to know more about the DNA testing and were I can have it done. Thanks, so much! and thanks to my instructor for giving this reading lesson. Axia College University of Phoenix student

Posted by Verndetta Williams on October 13,2008 | 11:10 PM

I enjoyed this article because my aunt use this web-site to find a lost aunt of the family for a death in the family. They found her in our family town. ak. I have never met her until the funeral. She look like a picture of my mother.

Posted by SANDRA GORDON on October 13,2008 | 08:36 PM

I love this article. My paternal ancestry has been traced back to the Pitt Family of North Carolina. The Pitt family migrated to the Virginia and North Carolina areas in the 17th Century. They were Merchants of English descent, that traveled throughout the world trading"goods". Pitt County also known as (Farmville,North Carolina) is named after them. Located in Edgecombe County, my father Jessie was born and raised the youngest boy of several children to Helen Barrett and David Pitt. I am proud. I'd like to know how my roots began in Africa. DNA is the answer.

Posted by Tamara Thompson on October 7,2008 | 08:32 PM

This article was very interesting. I learned much about DNA testing and how family trees have different traits. I really enjoyed the article.

Posted by Barbara A. Hubbard-Frazier on October 3,2008 | 10:26 PM

I was very moved by this article, first I am adopted and caucasian. I do not have a clue to my heritage, this is a very lost feeling to hold. I look at the way technology is working in the lives of others and my hope is for answers to where we originate from. As one of the comments read we are a "melting pot " Thank you for this awesome insight to how technology is helping people to learn about there personal history.

Posted by Dakota on September 23,2008 | 09:53 AM

Thanks Smithsonian, for printing this article. I have always wanted to trace my roots, but I did not know how. You haven given me much needed insight to achieve this goal. I chose this article for my English class. I am attending the University of Phoenix. After reading the first paragraph I knew that I had to continue.Keep of the good work.

Posted by Margaret Spain on September 7,2008 | 11:41 AM

What a great article! And what astounding comments! As a old, gray-haired, white lady who worked with African American college students for over 10 years, I was thrilled to see so many young people comment on the story. We all want to know our "roots" as part of the whole network of personal and national history that brought us to this place in our lives. To have scientific tools as well as historical, and, yes, even anecdotal help in our search is very special. And, to Kari, this is one neck of red (I'm from Mississippi) who has gotten back to England for her ancestors. And it is good to reflect on who you are, and where you have come from. Thanks, Smithsonian. I'm proud I'm a member, once again!

Posted by msmahm on August 22,2008 | 12:04 PM

I really enjoyed reading this article. I guess I never realized that African Americans had it harder than any other group trying to find out where they came from. Thank you for opening my eyes.

Posted by Leah Peters on August 12,2008 | 07:58 PM

Karie Gibb was partially correct when she stated, "why do you create the illusion of difference?" I am upset that one race always seems to depict negative influence towards others, when in fact, this is not the same era. (Yes, the past has a lot of terrible incidences). Back on the subject, no, African Americans are indeed not the only race or culture that cannot find their lineage or line of ancestry. When you catagorize between AA's, and others, it is not just between black and white. For all I know, I am a mutt. I could possibly be Egyptian, Ukranian, German, Brazilian...So how do you consider that AA's are the only ones? Kind of an assumptuous claim with the lack of evidence. I would like to find my ancient line of DNA too. And by the way, I was not raised to look at all colors as if they should be separated. I do not raise my children that way either. I am offended that all seems to still be separate. Why must it continue to be that way?

Posted by Jane Smith on August 11,2008 | 10:02 PM

I enjoyed reading this article. I found it to be very informative. It also has given me a different perspective on the importance of knowing your heritage.

Posted by Dessandra Hannah on August 4,2008 | 04:13 PM

This is an excellent article, and very informative. Thank you for this.

Posted by Sharon on August 3,2008 | 04:04 PM

I truly like this article. It makes me wonder where I come from and who my ancestors are. It's knid of hard for me to say I am an African American when I my great- great- grandfather on father's side is a white. That right there has made want to more about who I really am. I know a lot of people would like to know these things.

Posted by Daron Cofield on July 8,2008 | 01:01 AM

I believe that this article explains the reasons of why there is so much complexity when addressing the black heritage. There is little that I know of my own background, all expect that my mother is British and my father, African American. Neither of my parents ever go into details concerning my relatives. According to my birth certificate, it has Malattoe as my race. I would like to go explore into my gene pool and find out just who I really am.

Posted by Saundra on July 1,2008 | 12:37 AM

just trying to find out if the family with the lastname has any indain blood in them my son lives in oklahome and he was told years ago that there was indain blood ion the shores side but he can not find out if that is so or if so how much blood linddoes he have so he can apply for help

Posted by brenda spangler on June 22,2008 | 08:30 PM

I love reading about history and digging for the truth and clarity. I myself would love to find out where my roots are. My husband is from Senegal, and surprisingly enough there are plenty of Africans that do not know what tribe they come from too. If there is anyone out there, send me an email and let's link up and see what we can find. Thanks, tito.

Posted by Bayyinah on June 11,2008 | 07:15 PM

I have to agree with Rita who posted on June 9,2008. I was only going to read the introduction and the conclusion, which I did, however I could not figure the conclusion out in the first reading. So of course, I went back and read the entire essay. I am so glad I did. This essay is very informative.

Posted by Matara on June 10,2008 | 01:00 AM

wow this article was awesome I was only going to read the intro for an assignment and ended up getting interested. I would just like to say good luck so many people these days do not have how do I say true bloodlines people have been mixed together since the beginning of time. It is hard for a lot of people to say that I am 100% white, black, indian, irish etc. I think it is wonderful what you are doing keep up the good work. God bless

Posted by Rita on June 9,2008 | 04:09 PM

I found this information extremely valuable. I am also looking to find some of my ancestors as well. My mother is Black/Indian, my father Polish. Both deceased. I've been told I have a number of family members whom I know nothing about. I would love to know more about the DNA testing as well. Thank you for the article and God Bless everyone who is continuing in the research to help get the answers so many of us are desperately searching for. I look forward to communicating with someone about this in the future. God bless. Tracy

Posted by Tracy L. Solomon on June 8,2008 | 03:38 AM

This article was very interesting, however, tracing genetics, is it a real fact that any african american could be related to a very well known source or a famous person. I feel that nobody is truly their color, whether their black, white, asian, indian from the east, west, north or south. We are all mixed. What good is it going to be now, the damage is done. Go on with our lives and struggle to make a name for ones self.

Posted by Gayle Jones on May 24,2008 | 11:55 PM

This passahe has been a huge eye opener! I thank you :0)

Posted by crystal on May 15,2008 | 02:12 AM

This article was awesome. It made me think about my own heritage and where and who I came from. It would be an honor for me to know about my ancester.

Posted by Charlotte HILL on May 13,2008 | 05:08 PM

I recently was able to clean out a mansion owned by my Grandparents when I was a child. It is a 1800's Mansion that was part of the Underground Railroad. I found 4 family history record sheets, one listed a birth in 1795. I am retyping up those pages, if I am able to buy the Mansion, I will frame the pages & have a "Museum" within the Mansion of some of the artifacts that I found. I wanted to mention, that some postcards were marked 1908 to 1910 had a message from a 'Warren Taylor" to my Step-Grandmother, I initially thought Mr. Taylor was white, now I question, was he Black??? Maybe, who knows???? Have a Good Day!!!! Lori Bowles

Posted by Lori Bowles on May 6,2008 | 06:22 PM

This story was ver interesting. I will try to do some research on my own to find about my own family tree.

Posted by Maurice S. Vanison Jr. on April 29,2008 | 08:59 PM

This article was amazing! Myself and my grandmother were on the phone together when I was reading the article. I had to include her in on the article and what it said. The article gave a new meaning to life it's self. I have been asking my family about my ancestors and where they originated from and can't always get a clear respone. I always knew that my great grandmother( whom I have never met) told me about her and how she had strawberry blonde red hair and was caucasion and that my great grandfather was very dark with straght black hair. With this article in mind, I shall continue to search for all my roots. Ericka Coleman-Moore Axia college student

Posted by Ericka Coleman-Moore on April 24,2008 | 10:34 AM

I think this process is amazing. I want to personally that the inventors. However, my sister Crystale and my cousin Dutches just to name a few have been doing research for the past 5 years, and they seem to discover new information daily. How ironic, that I didn't give it much thought that they were attempting to trace our roots. Then while studying I come across this story on how more and more African- Americans are tracing there history. This goes to prove we really don't know were we are going until we discover were we come from... Thanking you in advance for your dedication to all of us.

Posted by Michael Wrice on April 21,2008 | 12:37 PM

You're kidding me, right? "Italian Americans don’t refer to themselves as European Americans. We are the only group that have to claim an entire continent." I understand the point of finding ones own roots, but why create the illusion of difference? At what point in your life have you seen "Italian American" on a government form? When have you ever seen Italian History Month and Day as federally recognized? When have you EVER heard anyone refer to themselves as Italian American? Its either one or the other. The biggest irony is that its NOT African Americans that dont know their roots,its most of the Caucasians. AA's only came from one region/continent. C's came from everywhere else in the world. See if you can find yourself a single neck-of-red that can trace their lineage.

Posted by Kari Gibb on April 19,2008 | 12:14 AM

This is a very interesting articile. I read it as part of a school assignment. My father is very interested in keep us informed about who my family are, especially since he has 7 children in different states. Him and my mother come from the same small town in the south.(Lauringburg, NC) If you speak to some from this town there is 4 last name and I am desendent from all 4, some of my cousin can attend a family reunions on both my mother's and my father's family. This is a real WOW!! in itself. I would like to trace our roots back to see where we really come from.

Posted by Zina Williams Johnson on April 15,2008 | 09:27 PM

This article makes you want to seek about your family history and appreciate more. The struggles of it very existence makes you want to dig more into the family history and tell it's story if you have not found the family history already. This story continues to reach me in ways one could not reach me on emotional roller coaster. I am changed forever togrow as an invividual. I do not know my father or his parents are. I only heard stories about him. I only have other father figures my mom's side to guide me how a man treats a lady. A lot infidetity and misguided deceitfulness arose when growing up. These were my role models men who live their lives to suit them. This article brought me closure in my life to prove my father whomever he maybe that I am prime example what he never had the opportunity to see me flourish in all God's glory. I have children who never feel they are neglected or abandoned. thank you for writing this article to open america to this epidemic which is swepting America.

Posted by Verneatha Britt on April 14,2008 | 11:20 PM

I am a consultant with a local genealogy center. The Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints has volumes of help and information for the community at no charge, no hassle. Their goal is the same as yours. To locate their ancestors and find a sense of family. The church is in the process of launching a world-wide information system which will help all of us research and locate our ancestors. As the article indicated, check on line. Visit a local Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saint - they will be happy to help you locate the nearest Stake building location that has a Family Search (Geneology Center). I do not know much about my past either. But I have been able to locate family through on-line records from Court houses, marriage certificates, death certificates. I have search old news papers, gone through old cemetery records, on-line. It is not easy but it is interesting and amazing. The American Indian families were scattered and in a sense, we too were lost. But with this geneology search I have been able to locate my grandmoter at least. When I searched the 1800 United States Census, I found where she and her sister and two brothers had been adopted into a Scottish family. Where there is determination, that can be results. Do not give up. Ali The University of Phoenix, Axia.

Posted by Alice Steiner on April 14,2008 | 11:59 AM

MY family history goes back as for as 1817 from my great,great grandmother grandad.We origanated from England around the late 1700's when my great,great grandmother grandaddy got sold into slavery from there.I did a little more research and that i also and Cheerokee Indain decendant from my grandfather mother.But i dont know what Tribe i'm fro,m i don't is i'm from the indains up north or south. My grandfather came from a place called Calhun, la but i don't how he came to be in downsouth Louisiana.So i never found out anymore information from my grandfather about my indian hertiage , because in 2004 he died after my grandmama before valentines day.So there where my heritage stops at for me, so if anyone could help with anymore information about the last names Hines and Littles.

Posted by CHRISTOPHER HINES on April 8,2008 | 09:40 PM

This is a wonderful article.I have learn so much from this article.I thank you for this article.

Posted by Shequilla Russell on April 8,2008 | 04:33 PM

I find this article to be very fascinating. I have asked my grandmother on several occassions if she was a slave or if her family were. My grandmother was born in 1915 and states that she nor her family were slaves. I believe that my family would trace back to slaves. Our family last name "Sinclair" is not a common name, and truely believe that it was a slave name given to someone in the family a long time ago. I have ran into several people who share the last name from both races. I would love to find out where exactly my family originated from. Great job on the article.

Posted by Autumn on April 5,2008 | 12:01 PM

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32). Thank you for revealing some much needed truth to a people that has been lied to for such a long, long, long time.

Posted by Renard "Ras I Ray" Shy on April 2,2008 | 11:28 AM

This is an amazing story. I was very impressed and moved. I am glad that someone is finally doing something positive for the african american heritage. I am caucasion, my children are bi-raical. My 7 yr old grandson looks caucasion but he knows he is not I try to give him as much knowledge as I can on the history. And he has a terrible time with his teachers because he points things out that they don't mention.Like who really invented things and why they didnt get the credit for it. He is glad that you are doing something good.

Posted by Charlene Woods on April 1,2008 | 12:15 AM

Thanks for leting me take the time to read this it was very good to read My tacher at PHOENIX COLLAGE picked this for one of are topics It toke me a lot to read and were im from stil to this day I am me not knowing much about my family.I will get to do thisafter reading this articale thanks for sharing the information with us.

Posted by Terry Leoard on March 29,2008 | 11:11 AM

I was drawn to the title of this article. I and another family member are members of ancestory.com. We are from New Orleans, La. Our blood line goes a very long way. Both sides of my family are decendants of various races. The search of my family tree has been on going for some years now. The history that we have learned about our ancestors give me chills. I found this article to be very informative. The information in this article will help me and my family continue our research of finding out about our ancestors. Thank you.

Posted by Ashonka Barnes, Bolden on March 6,2008 | 08:49 PM

This science is an important part of our history and culture and is something that the U.S. should put resources into. Because of this work people who don't know about the book and movie Roots can see and research their history and family ties. It is imperative that we know our lineage, and background because it was stripped from us as a race, and though this is a substanstial move for us more needs to be done to research and study our history in the classroom and life.

Posted by Keith Porter on February 27,2008 | 06:08 PM

This is a very good essay, I was just going to read a little and end up read all. the comment was great. fining my family that way and seeing where we came from will make my family happy some of them will not be.

Posted by Patty on February 19,2008 | 10:00 PM

I got very interested in this article. It was a school assignment but when i saw the author of the article had the last name Dangerfield i really was curious! My maiden name is Dangerfield and I don't think there are a large group with that name. Please give the author this information.

Posted by Sadie D. Robinson on February 12,2008 | 11:30 PM

Wow! As I read a few comments, I was so happy to come across so many individuals that wanted to find out their heritage. I also am a part of those that are insearch of wanting to find out my family roots. To know how far the 40 acres and a mule goes back (smile) will be a great milestone to have conquered. I am wiling to research ancestory starting in and from Egypt to now. Each and every one of you that gets a step closer to knowing I thank you, my family thanks you, for defeating those that thought the day would not come that we the African American race would remain ignorant to who, what and where we come from. I thank you and I thank the scientist who started it all! God Bless You All!

Posted by Sheneka Brassfield on February 11,2008 | 06:43 PM

GO AXIA STUDENTS!!! :) Loved this article. Although I am Caucasian this still interests me. Just think, in another hundred years, American's will all be just as confused. We are a giant mixing pot (not that it is bad).I am just proud to say I am an American. That's all I need to know for sure. :)

Posted by Jen on February 5,2008 | 11:40 PM

my name is John Gak, I came from Sudan in 1995 to Kansas City Missouri as refugess now I am U.S.A Citizen I am tired, for like of know my age,in African we always gusing our age, and need to know if the DNA help me to what Day I was born and what year I was born, and also i am members of Deinka, Dienka is bigs tribte in Sudan, about we no I daes wrere we coming from, I will like to know that also Thank you John Gak

Posted by John Gak on January 29,2008 | 11:28 PM

This is a wonderful article. It moved me and sadden me at the same time. I am glad to see that it is information out there for us. I have told my children so many times that every other race know their history but our race. Thanks for this article. I hope that I could learn so much more information and this gives me alot of hope. Debra Chatman

Posted by Debra Chatman on January 22,2008 | 05:36 PM

What an incredible article. It is amazing how far technology has taken us in the last century. Reading this article was an eye opening experience regarding lineage. Tracing back the DNA lineage for all cultures is an important historical event that all families of all origin can accomplish together.

Posted by M.Wallace on January 22,2008 | 10:23 AM

I have tried on sevral occassions to get information about my Afrikan heritage from my mother. For some reason she seems reluctant to give me anything past my great-grand-mother Jane Green. I would like to know more about my heritage. I am a member of the Afrikan Village Cultural Center here in St. Louis Mo. with Dr. Ray Hagins as my spirtual advisor, the web site is wblr.com Black Liberation Radio.

Posted by Michael K. Mingo Sr. on January 15,2008 | 09:51 AM

I am so very pleased to have read this article. I had actually chose this article as part of an class assignment. (I am a full time student in Axia College at University of Phoenix.)Just reading the introduction paragraph blew me away because I have always wondered where my family and I really came from. I am sad to say that most of my elders have since passed away. Now that I have read this article, my hope have faded even more because there really is no one left that I can gather information from. If you have any tips of any kind, I pray that I hear from you with it. My children and my grandchildren need to know who their people are and where we came from. I also pray that you all keep making breakthrough discoveries about African Amercian lineages. We have a right to know who we are and where we come from.

Posted by Arna S. Gray on January 14,2008 | 02:04 PM

Alaafia, I am too looking forward to finding out more about were my family come from in Africa, I went there in May of 2005 and was able to sit with an Spiritual priest too learn more about I am and I found out alot more then I knew before I went. I am going back soon to live there for about a month so I can spend time learning more about my family.

Posted by Oyafunke on January 8,2008 | 02:16 PM

I was fasinated with this information. I was just discussing with my sister today on how I want to find out where my heretiage is from. We had confusing stories from all members of the family. I would like to do the DNA testing. I was told that my great, great grandfather was from africa brought to Puerto Rico as a slave. Please let me know how I can further persue this. Thanks again to Pearlie Bush, Instructor of Phoenix University for providing this information and Whitney Dangerfield for submitting such interesting information.

Posted by Myrna Sanchez on January 6,2008 | 06:30 PM

This is a very interesting piece about DNA testings and searching for your past history. I have always been curious about how to get started. Thanks for the information and helping me with my studies.

Posted by Deborah Ragans on January 5,2008 | 11:53 AM

I have not yet finished this story yet but it has caught my eye and made me wonder. I came across your story because of a class I am taking at The University of Phoenix. I am going to look into the tracing of DNA also. But as a few have said we should not be two surprised with the information we find. So again I thank you for your story and I thank my teacher Nicole for placing this story as one to pick from.

Posted by Lisa Rose on December 18,2007 | 11:43 PM

I enjoyed the story and it was a great discusion question for my class. I never thought about tracing my DNA, but I can imagine it's a great finding.

Posted by Jeni James on December 12,2007 | 07:00 PM

I would like to one day trace my heritage, I am a Trinidad born African who come from that unfortunate group of humans that do not know their true lineage. It is a lost feeling to not know exactly who your people are. We have accepted a broad concept that we are Africans, however knowing where we come from on the continent will allow us some closure, pace of mind and add some heritage to our family lives. I wand my family to have the adventure to link our family tree to one tribe in Africa. I have travelled to Ghana twice and love it. My. I would like the opportunity to do the research, is this possible. Valerie O’neal-Browne.

Posted by Valerie M. O'neal-Browne on December 11,2007 | 12:59 AM

This to is subject that touches me. As my cousin whom live in nashville Tenn. has tryed to trace back only to be stopped becausethe owner of the family was the type of slave owner that didn't let the family'sstay togeter. He alwayssold slaves he would breakup the family we were told by grandfather. His name was v.J.Hall, but he was sold to a hristain man by the nme of Taylor. So he canged his name to V.J.Taylor nd our family started from there. V.J. was my great great grandfather who son was named Uriah,my father was uriah jr. I'm the third,my son s the fourth from Nashville, Tenn.

Posted by Uriah Taylor III on December 4,2007 | 12:36 PM

This is article is very interesting, I have learned alot from it.

Posted by Patty on December 3,2007 | 06:53 PM

My brother and I have had our DNA done through the Family Tree, Ancestry, and are always getting exact matches, but so far no direct lineage. I have on my own traced ancestors back to Lewis Barge, and found Robert Barge (African American) that is a descendant through Jeff Barge. Apparently Jeff Barge had relations with his female slave, and he loved her so together they raised their child (perhaps children,I am not sure). I would like to know if you can do a DNA test for me (caucasin female) to see if my family traces back to Africa. I do believe that everyone will eventually trace back to the Africa area (from Adam & Eve). Is that naive of me? I watched the National Geographic study, and it makes perfect sense to me. Thank you Carlene

Posted by Carlene A. (Barge) Briggs on November 29,2007 | 02:05 PM

This article truely moved me. It is a constance thorn in my mind where do we really come from. This piece of art helps me alittle more. Love to see and hear more. Thanks, LaMerle

Posted by La Merle Davis on November 27,2007 | 12:23 AM

Worked wonderful for some homework I had to do.

Posted by Amy on November 20,2007 | 06:16 PM

helped good withh some of my reaserch thank you .

Posted by zach donahue on November 19,2007 | 11:36 PM



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