Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
Joe BidenCongratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
 

peggysue2

(10,811 posts)
13. Absolutely agree, Hekate!
Sat Oct 5, 2019, 09:22 PM
Oct 2019

I said when the story first came out that it was much to do about nothing and neatly paralleled my husband's experience--inaccurate family storytelling. He was told that his great grandmother was NA, complete with rich, believable details.

Then came the DNA test.

Zero Native American blood but he scored high (3rd highest on the list) with Neanderthal ancestry. Not nice of me but I laughed and laughed and laughed. Didn't need a blood test to prove that, I said. Then I laughed some more. The joke writes itself!

So, that result was a surprise because we'd all taken the story on faith. Until we couldn't.

Mine, not so much. For someone who was told as a kid that I had the map of Ireland written across my face, the blood work confirmed the description and the family's ancestry narrative. The only mild surprise was someone 6-8 generations back had come from Finland. But that detail never made it into the family's oral history.

I think there are probably thousands of Americans who have been given a passed-down story and believed the generational retellings. Inexpensive DNA testing has turned a lot of these narratives on their heads.

It is what it is. But certainly not earth shaking nor disqualifying.

That being said, Trump has already stated he's planning to reopen this line of attack. It's a head up to Dems: don't take the bait.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
Thank you, Hekate. sheshe2 Oct 2019 #1
Thanks back atcha, She Hekate Oct 2019 #36
💕 sheshe2 Oct 2019 #55
for me your final point is the most important. not just trump, i see democrats using republicans Lib 4 Life Oct 2019 #2
This is a good post. My great-great grandmother Cassandra was supposed to be PatrickforO Oct 2019 #3
Good post. As for the Pocahontas thing - DURHAM D Oct 2019 #8
My uncle told me that he was 1/4 Cherokee and I was 1/8th. demigoddess Oct 2019 #20
How many generations ago did her ancestors even come here? AdamGG Oct 2019 #28
Nah, cause if you look at a generation as being around 20 years, PatrickforO Oct 2019 #38
It's definitely possible, it's just that a few generations back puts me at Ellis Island AdamGG Oct 2019 #61
Not sure how you figure. I can trace my family back to the 1600s in Europe. PatrickforO Oct 2019 #64
If you even go back 4 generations... MoonchildCA Oct 2019 #60
This message was self-deleted by its author elocs Oct 2019 #66
There sure are a lot of Irish, too. Every March 17th. blm Oct 2019 #4
You must mean Olaf Drumpf. keithbvadu2 Oct 2019 #11
Her parents told her that her great great great grandmother Eric J in MN Oct 2019 #5
Uh huh Hekate Oct 2019 #7
So? nt DURHAM D Oct 2019 #9
yup, very stupid Skittles Oct 2019 #15
For the sake of being self-righteous, I'd pretend it's relevant as well. LanternWaste Oct 2019 #69
Is that a line from a movie? NT Eric J in MN Oct 2019 #73
Happy 57,000th post. guillaumeb Oct 2019 #6
Thank you Hekate Oct 2019 #40
Here's The Trump Family History (Bookmark This For Next Time Pocahontas Comes Up) DrFunkenstein Oct 2019 #10
Grandson Mme. Defarge Oct 2019 #18
I want his entire clan of grifters broken down so far they have to go back to the ancestral Yukon... Hekate Oct 2019 #41
I lived in Oklahoma for 20+ years catrose Oct 2019 #12
Interesting. I've heard similar views from other Oklahoma residents. blm Oct 2019 #14
Absolutely agree, Hekate! peggysue2 Oct 2019 #13
Love it about the Neanderthal strain! My mom the genealogist & the entire rest of the family... Hekate Oct 2019 #32
Still makes me laugh peggysue2 Oct 2019 #34
Hey, watch it. I'm one of those Neanderthals too. nolabear Oct 2019 #53
It's just an excuse for racism... Steven Maurer Oct 2019 #16
Bien dit, ma belle! Mme. Defarge Oct 2019 #17
Thank you, too Hekate Oct 2019 #42
Congrats on 57,000! And a hearty agreement with your post! KnR. Beartracks Oct 2019 #19
Thanks! Hekate Oct 2019 #43
When DNA tests are mentioned in relation to Native American ancestory it makes me cringe a bit Major Nikon Oct 2019 #21
It's a complicated relationship Boomer Oct 2019 #23
I was born during WWII. iows - I am old. DURHAM D Oct 2019 #24
My maternal grandmother would never admit to being Native American Major Nikon Oct 2019 #44
You make many good points here. And another is that even siblings, other than identical twins, pnwmom Oct 2019 #22
There's a lot going on here. WhiskeyGrinder Oct 2019 #25
We share a home state BannonsLiver Oct 2019 #26
Not as simple as people think catchnrelease Oct 2019 #27
My daughter's significant other has a Hispanic name, dark eyes, and black hair. Deeply tanned.... Hekate Oct 2019 #39
both a son and a daughter of mine did 23, as did i. mopinko Oct 2019 #50
All my life I was told I had a Chickasaw great grandmother. rickyhall Oct 2019 #29
Obama's mother is white but Trump knows he was born in Kenya IronLionZion Oct 2019 #30
We always thought my grandfather was part Native American. Snarkoleptic Oct 2019 #31
My ancestor, Susie Redman, was said to be Cherokee. Lunabell Oct 2019 #33
Same here. OldRed2450 Oct 2019 #45
Except her family history wasn't legend Bradshaw3 Oct 2019 #35
Yep -- and did you see the thread in this forum today with poster after poster going after her... Hekate Oct 2019 #37
Trump's "Swedish" Heritage Wasn't Legend - It Was A LIE DrFunkenstein Oct 2019 #49
Indigenous Peoples is better term HockeyMom Oct 2019 #46
Native American Heritage--Im an anthrpolpgist UncleNoel Oct 2019 #47
Is someone doing that here? cwydro Oct 2019 #48
Several someones, ranging from "concerned" to "shocked," & it persists. Irks me every time... Hekate Oct 2019 #57
Thanks! I'll pay more attention. cwydro Oct 2019 #58
The same thing happened to my DIL was shocked at the results. dewsgirl Oct 2019 #51
Thank you, Hekate! BlueMTexpat Oct 2019 #52
Nothing "turned out to be legend" jcgoldie Oct 2019 #54
There are dancers in the dance nitpicker Oct 2019 #56
Hekate, even halfway principled people never bought into this Hortensis Oct 2019 #59
I recall the DNA proved Warren correct treestar Oct 2019 #62
Yes. But Trump's slurs & lies entered the public sphere, & now we've got people ... Hekate Oct 2019 #63
And it's aggravating that the Dotard treestar Oct 2019 #72
This message was self-deleted by its author elocs Oct 2019 #65
I'll admit that I was among those who were annoyed ecstatic Oct 2019 #67
Yes, it's one thing to say that you have a certain heritage, hughee99 Oct 2019 #68
"stop letting goddammed Trump set the goddam narrative about our candidates. Just stop it." TidalWave46 Oct 2019 #70
Who exactly is "pounding" brooklynite Oct 2019 #71
Several threads featuring Warren, given enough time several posters show up with everything from Hekate Oct 2019 #74
Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»Democratic Primaries»To all those who still wa...»Reply #13