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Odin2005

(53,521 posts)

55. A year ago, I had my autosomal DNA tested by the company 23andMe...

Sun Jun 17, 2012, 11:38 AM

Jun 2012

And it said that my DNA was entirely European except for a tiny sliver of Sub-Saharan African DNA on Chromosome 11. I suspect that sliver came from a North African enslaved by the Vikings in a raid. Of perhaps it came from the same small bit of African DNA native to Britain as a result of black Roman soldiers we know settled in Britain after they retired (Brian Sykes talks about it because he also has a sliver of African DNA). That sliver then got to Norway via Viking slavers in Britain.

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DNA helps tell story of first lady's forebears [View all] MnExpat Jun 2012 OP

Well, that was mighty white of her Demeter Jun 2012 #1

... Tansy_Gold Jun 2012 #2

What an interesting article! XemaSab Jun 2012 #3

The Balls of Charleston SC and elsewhere. Fascinating read. nt MADem Jun 2012 #14

On average, American blacks have about 20% European DNA FarCenter Jun 2012 #4

Mostly because of slave owners raping black women. Zalatix Jun 2012 #6

Did you read the whole article? XemaSab Jun 2012 #8

Yes, I did. It's called Stockholm Syndrome. Zalatix Jun 2012 #9

That's why a white man would choose to stay with his black "girlfriend" after the war? XemaSab Jun 2012 #10

Absolutely out of the question. Zalatix Jun 2012 #11

And this isn't racist why....? XemaSab Jun 2012 #12

Because if blacks owned white slaves I wouldn't say any differently. Zalatix Jun 2012 #13

Really? danadevin85 Jun 2012 #16

??? Number23 Jun 2012 #67

That's why a white man would choose to stay with his black "girlfriend" after the war? danadevin85 Jun 2012 #18

White women had the same legal rights as black women at that time obamanut2012 Jun 2012 #23

not really danadevin85 Jun 2012 #26

Yes, really obamanut2012 Jun 2012 #27

still weren't slaves danadevin85 Jun 2012 #30

"only difference, before slavery ended, was that they couldn't be bought or sold" NYC Liberal Jun 2012 #71

No shit. Number23 Jun 2012 #73

Wow. Number23 Jun 2012 #68

The only difference apparently was that white women couldn't be bought or sold. NYC Liberal Jun 2012 #72

i think it's hyperbole. HiPointDem Jun 2012 #70

Possibly in some cases treestar Jun 2012 #31

The 1870 Census is full of surprises - lynne Jun 2012 #47

very cool story waddirum Jun 2012 #63

and/or doing what you have to do to survive eShirl Jun 2012 #21

The white daddy was born in 1860. He would have been terribly precocious to have MADem Jun 2012 #15

No, Dolphus, the son of the slave, was born around 1860 muriel_volestrangler Jun 2012 #34

Well, let that be a lesson to ME then!!!! MADem Jun 2012 #40

And most white Southerners have some African DNA. Odin2005 Jun 2012 #7

That mendacious Bob Barr comes to mind! MADem Jun 2012 #41

Oh, that's funny! Odin2005 Jun 2012 #54

He's got kin who are ashamed to say he's a relative! MADem Jun 2012 #65

I've always loved this pic of Barr SoCalDem Jun 2012 #60

A great novel about "passing" waddirum Jun 2012 #64

Technically wouldn't all people have African DNA? 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #61

Oh, and welcome to DU! XemaSab Jun 2012 #5

WHY ON EARTH would it be difficult to accept? Quantess Jun 2012 #17

I wondered that too - why would they fear being called racists? treestar Jun 2012 #32

One's genealogical origins are interesting, but we can't take them personally. Quantess Jun 2012 #37

True. And the farther back, the relationship is really quite slight treestar Jun 2012 #38

Absolutely, I think it is interesting to find out family history. Quantess Jun 2012 #46

Yes, I don't think these people have anything to be proud of or ashamed of treestar Jun 2012 #48

I do take it personally but maybe a little differently than you think Nikia Jun 2012 #57

You see it not much differently, or not at all differently, than how I see it. Quantess Jun 2012 #58

Some people think that personal characteristics are inexorably inherited. MADem Jun 2012 #43

But nobody is completely innocent, then, if we judge them by their genetic connections. Quantess Jun 2012 #49

That's only if you believe that "sins of the fathers" rap! MADem Jun 2012 #50

I have an older relative whose own father was a total shithead (by her account) Quantess Jun 2012 #53

Yep--I don't see a need to cart around ancestral baggage. MADem Jun 2012 #69

A year ago, I had my autosomal DNA tested by the company 23andMe... Odin2005 Jun 2012 #55

Six degrees of separation, isn't it? Quantess Jun 2012 #56

I don't think FLOTUS should really gives a damn danadevin85 Jun 2012 #19

I do -- I think she should invite Ms. Tribble to the White House obamanut2012 Jun 2012 #24

Oh Please danadevin85 Jun 2012 #25

True racists wouldn't give a damn if their relative was the First Lady or not obamanut2012 Jun 2012 #29

Im quite sure they weren't the only family they owned danadevin85 Jun 2012 #35

How do you know that is so? treestar Jun 2012 #33

I think it was genealogists who were tracing Michelle Obama's ancestors muriel_volestrangler Jun 2012 #36

DNA tests are expensive, too, I believe treestar Jun 2012 #39

They have gotten much less expensive Nikia Jun 2012 #59

I thought they were more like $800 treestar Jun 2012 #62

There are a some families who have family reunions based on their interacial histories. One of my jwirr Jun 2012 #42

I would want to know that line if I were her. MADem Jun 2012 #44

the trouble with Tribbles eShirl Jun 2012 #20

OK--that wins the thread!!!!! MADem Jun 2012 #45

So interesting! I hope she gets to meet MObama obamanut2012 Jun 2012 #22

I'd be excited. YellowRubberDuckie Jun 2012 #28

And then there's Strom Thurmond. n/t kskiska Jun 2012 #51

Michelle should tell them that if they vote for Obama, they'll call it even. Baitball Blogger Jun 2012 #52

We're all related felix_numinous Jun 2012 #66

I *love* that! renate Jun 2012 #74