Being that this month is Black History Month, I've decided to do something really major- Something that I've always wanted to do: trace my roots with the help of African Ancestry. According to their website (africanancestry.com), AA is "the world leader in tracing maternal and paternal lineages of African descent. With the industry's largest and most comprehensive database of over 25,000 indigenous African samples, African Ancestry determines specific countries, and more often than not, specific ethnic groups of origin with the highest level of detail, accuracy and confidence."Ever since I've known that African Ancestry existed, I've wanted to do it. After watching the PBS special, "African American Lives", I was even more so determined. As a person who does not blatantly "look black" (as I've often been told), this may help give me closure and an INTELLIGENT response to those who inquire ("What's your ethnicity?", "are you mixed with anything?", "you can't be all black!")... I'm tired of shrugging my shoulders and saying "Yes, I'm black... As far as I know."
I'm excited and I'm inviting you guys to join me on this journey. I'll be chronicling everything here, every step of the way. Starting with today- I'm ordering my test kit.
If you're interested, AA is offering 20% off all test kits (both maternal and paternal lineage test kits), regularly $349 but just $275 for the month of February, visit www.africanancestry.com for more details.
UPDATE 9:35AM: Just placed the order, should be receiving kit by end of week.
15 comments:
Hey Wes,
That is so exciting!! My mom did the test a couple of years back. And when you receive the envelope in the mail it's the best feeling in the world. It turned out my mom's maternal line led back to the Hausa people of Northern Nigeria with a crazy genetic match of 97.9%. You get a map of the country and a certificate as well. We were just all moved to tears because it was as if we came full circle somehow.I am wondering if there are other tests that can pick up other lineages(like Native American). Anyway, I am so excited for you!! Yay!! I cant wait to hear the results.
Much love.
very cool!
The Black Race (African-American) is a mixture of many different races. You can't "look" black because within the race there are many different shades, textures of hair, and body types. Tracing your roots back will not make you the ethnicity that ends up on the sheet of paper. Africans do not consider Black Americans who trace their roots back any more apart of their race than they do white people. I wish black people could be happy and content knowing that their black american and that we have a culture and a community right here in America.
I knew there was a reason I liked you so much! I've been dying to do this! And that price seems reasonable!
I really want to do this, I can't afford it right now but definitely will in the future.
@ Anon. 2:58pm; I understand your point but for me it goes so much more deeper than that.
Hi Wes,
I think it's great that you want to trace your roots, there is so much to gain from the insight of what you will learn. To those people that question your ethnicity & can't imagine you being Black is just pure ignorance. As one of your commentators mentioned, the Black race is composed of so many nationalities, shades, features, etc which is what makes the beauty of it. And let's just say that you are mixed or not it doesn't negate the fact that you are a beautiful person. Keep us posted on your journey and though you may not know your full 'roots' it hasn't stopped us from getting to know you as a person. Good Luck!
Good luck! I saw that Special also, I want to do mine too,so I look forward to your posts!
Hey Wes,
congrats!!! It seems that this is an importatt step for you and I can understand this so good. For the most of my life i did not know who my ancestors are. born as a black/mixed raced child in germany i am adopted by white adoptive parents which i love to death, but they cannot provide this part of identitiy to me. so i started searching and finally, finally after 30 years i found my birthparents and my african roots. this was one of the most important steps in my life. and when i visited the democratic republic of congo (my birthcountry) first with my bff i was welcomed by her family as a daughter of the country. I still could cry when i think about this. So tracing one`s roots is always worth the time imho. Though it is true that in some country you will not be seen as a citizen of this, which is completely normal in my eyes because you may share the roots but you are not constatly living there. In the african countrys i visited i have met a big awareness of the connection between black ppl worldwide (North america, south, america, europe, etc..), especially after Mrs. Obamas visit of cape coast castle, Ghana. I think you will meet ppl in the US and in Africa who share and appreciate your journey and some who will not for various reasons. But it is your journey from the moment you entered mother earth. May your paths be blessed :-)and may you find what you are looking for.
BTW @anon 2: 58 pm, what do you exactly mean with "Africans"? May I remind you that Africa is a continent and not a country so that it is impossible to speak about "Africans" because that means simplifying a more than complex continent with its various ppl, countrys, languages and cultures. Therefore and from my own experience I have to doubt your statement. Each its own, though.If you are comfortable with this, fine but , please let other ppl have their way.
Love, Monika
Hey Wes,
I've always been interested in doing this..thanks for the update! I'm going to find out who I am. I know my father's side of the family have Irish but if this can help out more - this would be a great breakthrough for me. I want to know if my mom side is really all black?? I've been told that I look mixed too.
This is pretty neat! I am interested in this, I will have to look more into this.
Its wonderful to trace your roots Wes. Thank you for sharing this with us as well :) Have a wonderful day & keep warm everyone!
you go girl!!!
i am african and i think
its an absolute neccessity that african-american people should be familiarized with their
African heritage as much as they are their American heritage
:)
good luck honey!
YOUR BEAUTIFUL BY THE WAY
I did this test on my mom's lineage and the results came back Middle eastern. Both my parents and two sets of grandparents are Jamaican so it was quite a surprise
I really can't wait. For people who don't understand and want to claim to be just American, can I please ask if my future kids were to have kids and so on and so on in China would that make them Chinese, I am just wondering idk call me crazy, but I don't think it does.
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