General Discussion

Cassidy

(223 posts)

42. Could you please explain more about your perspective on this?

Wed Dec 8, 2021, 01:19 PM

Dec 2021

It is through my DNA analysis that I realized one of my ancestors was a rapist. That made something horrifically personal to me that had previously been historical.

My parents were divorced when I was very young and I grew up with my mothers family. They were all Volga Germans who had come to America in the early 1900's. So I naturally identified with them.
Only through genetic analysis did I learn that, on my father's side, in addition to my distant European American cousins, I have distant cousins who are African American.
That made me feel good, as I am part of a larger picture, and also horrified, because we know that came about because of the rape of a fellow human who was likely enslaved.

Why do you see this increased awareness as a bad thing?

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White Americans Fail to Address Their Family Histories [View all] BeckyDem Dec 2021 OP

While in the Navy, I encountered an AA fellow with the same surname as me EYESORE 9001 Dec 2021 #1

"my infinite cousin" Mopar151 Dec 2021 #2

Do you remember in Forest Gump DENVERPOPS Dec 2021 #31

I've known most of my life that my ancestors owned slaves csziggy Dec 2021 #3

Thanking you so much for talking about it. BeckyDem Dec 2021 #6

Same here, and I've switched to using the phrase "held people in slavery" DeeNice Dec 2021 #51

That is a much better phrase! csziggy Dec 2021 #103

I come from a deep south family genxlib Dec 2021 #4

Exactly, most don't want to know, thus the fear of CRT. BeckyDem Dec 2021 #7

DNA testing shanti Dec 2021 #68

Yep, you are so right. BeckyDem Dec 2021 #70

Here's some of family race history vlyons Dec 2021 #5

Thank you for sharing your past and that was typical what you experienced at home and BeckyDem Dec 2021 #8

I have no knowledge of my family history past my great-grandparents. Dial H For Hero Dec 2021 #9

African Americans must mostly know their family history to the slave ships. Alexander Of Assyria Dec 2021 #18

My family were potato people Sympthsical Dec 2021 #10

zomg Act_of_Reparation Dec 2021 #12

It's a statistical certainty that everyone has ancestors that did horrific shit. meadowlander Dec 2021 #33

That's why the exercises are so pointless Sympthsical Dec 2021 #35

You're a healthy minded person, many in America are not. BeckyDem Dec 2021 #52

One died in Andersonville, which was a Southern prison camp which was simply a huge Scrivener7 Dec 2021 #11

+1. Not everyone can say that. BeckyDem Dec 2021 #14

I know. I am really proud to have received some of their genes. Scrivener7 Dec 2021 #15

+1 BeckyDem Dec 2021 #39

Interesting. My Mothers side in Virginia literally were divided...brother against brother... Demsrule86 Dec 2021 #32

Reading some of the post below was quite interesting. Dan Dec 2021 #13

Those who fear CRT don't want to know, don't want any reminders either...imho. BeckyDem Dec 2021 #16

I doubt it is possible for me to do much research on my Dad's side...he left when my Demsrule86 Dec 2021 #27

I fear CRT because it could cost us multiple elections...I do not think we need to deal with this Demsrule86 Dec 2021 #30

Remember we didn't choose this fight... scrabblequeen40 Dec 2021 #37

Republicans want to ban all sorts of education AZProgressive Dec 2021 #67

And thats why racial issues have been, well, issues for so damn long. Lancero Dec 2021 #77

Maybe they just don't care...I wouldn't. I have not done the genetic thing but my brother has Demsrule86 Dec 2021 #28

You sound like a good person. Dan Dec 2021 #43

I only knew one great-grandparent and she talked about living in Finland as a young girl Kaleva Dec 2021 #17

He was granted freedom after working enough years..not an unusual story. BeckyDem Dec 2021 #45

It's the name of a restaurant my family would go to when I was young. Kaleva Dec 2021 #49

All great grandparents came to the US sarisataka Dec 2021 #19

Not sure what anyone wants "addressed". My ancestors came from Italy and Poland Wingus Dingus Dec 2021 #20

I agree...none of us had any say in what are ancestors did...but we can work for a better Demsrule86 Dec 2021 #25

I struggle with your last statement. plimsoll Dec 2021 #41

Trying to rope everyone's dead white European relatives into a shared lasso of Wingus Dingus Dec 2021 #44

Whether you agree or not, Dan Dec 2021 #50

Thank you, some may never understand. BeckyDem Dec 2021 #53

I believe white privilege existed, and still exists. Wingus Dingus Dec 2021 #60

I do not believe that any of my comments laid blame. Dan Dec 2021 #61

"At least you're not Black" AncientAndy Dec 2021 #62

I can grasp how America's history, laws, culture, institutions have created injustice that Wingus Dingus Dec 2021 #63

Empathy Dan Dec 2021 #96

Well, I do have empathy, for the past Wingus Dingus Dec 2021 #102

I understand your point JustAnotherGen Dec 2021 #69

Well, conversely, it's also not MY fault that your family had their rights as citizens and Wingus Dingus Dec 2021 #78

Except JustAnotherGen Dec 2021 #90

They were indeed living in the US Wingus Dingus Dec 2021 #93

People also need to stop talking about their DNA history javihehim Dec 2021 #21

Welcome to DU! n/t GP6971 Dec 2021 #23

Could you please explain more about your perspective on this? Cassidy Dec 2021 #42

All of our ancestors did horrible things to one another. Yours, mine, everyone's. Dial H For Hero Dec 2021 #59

Maybe in Africa or Europe JustAnotherGen Dec 2021 #75

Our human ancestors go back around a quarter million years. Dial H For Hero Dec 2021 #76

Not in America JustAnotherGen Dec 2021 #92

+1. BeckyDem Dec 2021 #107

Mali was selling slaves to Europe and the Middle East long before Christopher Columbus even sailed. cinematicdiversions Dec 2021 #82

Well my ancestors were the good ones JustAnotherGen Dec 2021 #89

In that situation Zeitghost Dec 2021 #64

Or Vice versa. BannonsLiver Dec 2021 #66

Amen JustAnotherGen Dec 2021 #71

Both sides of my family jonstl08 Dec 2021 #22

Some folks never change, unfortunately. BeckyDem Dec 2021 #48

CRT will be used to decimate Democrats in the midterms and that is a fact...I think Demsrule86 Dec 2021 #24

Curious... why would CRT "decimate" Democrats? Caliman73 Dec 2021 #40

I agree JustAnotherGen Dec 2021 #73

wait are you saying CRT is real? fescuerescue Dec 2021 #26

My only Civil War ancestor was in an Illinois cavalry regiment Klaralven Dec 2021 #29

People here in Colorado who brag about their heritage DENVERPOPS Dec 2021 #34

Thank you for saying that! Cassidy Dec 2021 #38

Not my white family DavidDvorkin Dec 2021 #36

"is on land that was taken by violence." As is all land around the world generally nt EX500rider Dec 2021 #84

Very true. DavidDvorkin Dec 2021 #87

my kids are descended from a slave, a slave owner, and had family on both sides of the civil war Amishman Dec 2021 #46

100% Italian in this country from the late phylny Dec 2021 #47

It's impossible for me to ignore my family history. I'm only two generations removed from the Klan. Aristus Dec 2021 #54

That is intense. Countless stories of good people who would not participate with the Klan BeckyDem Dec 2021 #55

My family has been here since 1750 Maeve Dec 2021 #56

Your post is awesome, thank you. BeckyDem Dec 2021 #57

The truth is often ugly but a neccessary step radius777 Dec 2021 #58

Well stated, thank you. BeckyDem Dec 2021 #72

I'll be calling a press conference to apologize for my dead ancestors. BannonsLiver Dec 2021 #65

Sounds familiar. BeckyDem Dec 2021 #74

Before dad passed away, mom did a lot of research on his family. Torchlight Dec 2021 #79

Precisely. I truly appreciate you sharing that history. BeckyDem Dec 2021 #80

Black folks aren't perfect, either. old as dirt Dec 2021 #81

Obama is a descendant of Jefferson Davis and a cousin of Dick Cheney. cinematicdiversions Dec 2021 #83

Simon Bolivar, democracy, and the bandits of Patia old as dirt Dec 2021 #86

I missed the part where anyone argued 'black folk are perfect' Torchlight Dec 2021 #88

Don't mind me. old as dirt Dec 2021 #94

Of course. Torchlight Dec 2021 #95

Expect more of the same. I can be a sarcastic asshole in my old age. old as dirt Dec 2021 #98

I didn't see sarcasm, just a knee-jerk defense Torchlight Dec 2021 #99

Well, I wouldn't quite say "nobody", but... old as dirt Dec 2021 #100

All my immediate "ancestors" parents, grandparents, were racist. ismnotwasm Dec 2021 #85

+1. They squirm, some quite visibly. BeckyDem Dec 2021 #91

I did my family tree on Ancestry. milestogo Dec 2021 #97

My family's shame is a lot more recent and possibly more than 1 type Tetrachloride Dec 2021 #101

I know all about my family history, some members were good and did great things, some were bad, Raine Dec 2021 #104

What little I know of my European ancestors leaves me little clue DFW Dec 2021 #105

This is a fascinating thread malaise Dec 2021 #106

Yep. BeckyDem Dec 2021 #108

My grandparents came to America Mossfern Dec 2021 #109

I do know my family's history, back to my great-great-grandparents on both MineralMan Dec 2021 #110

The Scots Irish side of my family held slaves LeftInTX Dec 2021 #111

Thank you for addding your history. When we look back, we're not ever certain what BeckyDem Dec 2021 #112

Even if I had not uncovered it, I would still feel the same LeftInTX Dec 2021 #113

Absolutely. BeckyDem Dec 2021 #114