When I have DNA matches who are African American, I always know which branch of my family they are related on. I'm always uncertain whether to share this information, because it almost certainly means they have a white slave owner in their family tree. I often doubt this is a branch of their tree they are wanting to trace. Any thoughts, wisdom? #Genealogy
I received a reply to my genealogy message, so I'm happy about that. I hope they still are.
@poemblaze My ancestry report is so one sided I'm shocked I don't sweat olive oil.
@MidnightRider Does that mean Greek or Italian?
@MidnightRider I had the general neighborhood.
@poemblaze I like it but I wish I had some black Cadillacs and wise guys to have my back in high school, that would have been sweeeet.
We found out my white hus has Black ancestry via DNA testing. Not a huge amount, but recent enough to fall into slavery times, & the DNA is from the part of Africa most commonly involved in the slave trade. We know what the odds are. No one *wants* to find out one ancestor abused & violated another, but that certainly happens with or without slavery. We'd like to know about that Black ancestral line.
But we know his is a different situation than someone who is Black in America...
Black Americans absolutely know this happened. They won't be surprised. My gentle suggestion would be to put the ball in their court and let THEM decide. It's uncomfortable for you, sure, but not just as Black people, but as *relatives*, they should have an informed choice in whether or not they want the information.
@Agatha Thank you. Makes sense.
@poemblaze
I can only imagine how I would feel if I was the descendant of enslaved people and could speak with the descendant of slave owners.
You probably wouldn't shock them with this news. Personally, I would want to know you. I would think that you claiming our relationship would signify a certain honesty that others have shied away from, and I'd at least respect that. And, in almost any case, I like making connections with people. Finally, I would be just too curious not to want to know!
@janallmac Thanks for your viewpoint.
@poemblaze Don't offer it but tell them if they ask. Let them make the decision to dig deeper or not.
@poemblaze Watching FInding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr. reveals for most, it's a mixture. They like knowing where their surname came from or which state their people were in (from the slave owner records). They don't like seeing the person. Sometimes it opens big doors, allowing them to see history they didn't know.
@TheresaVermont I watch Finding Your Roots.
@poemblaze I have to laugh on this one. My grandfather was a minister in Louisiana. He was very strict with his children. I have more than 6
DNA matches with illegitimate grandchildren from him. I told the first couple of adopted people, but stopped when I realized the news was no comfort to those who didn't know they were adopted.
@Netherbury I can understand. Fortunately the adoptee I've worked with knew she was adopted. I did have a DNA match who discovered his father wasn't his father, but that was because he had all his siblings take DNA tests.
I decided to word my message this way:
"Your test appeared in my DNA matches today. We have a number of shared matches on [shared surnames and locations]. I don't know exactly how we are related on these lines but I have some guesses. Hoping you have success in your family tree search. If you're interested I can provide further information."
#Genealogy