GENEALOGY-DNA-L Archives

From:
Subject: Re: [DNA] Native American and Melungeon Blood
Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2003 14:57:20 EST

In a message dated 4/2/03 10:56:32 AM Pacific Standard Time,
writes:

>
> How many generations before you "lose" ethnicity?
>
Ethnicity is a cultural construct, a sense of identity, and applying genetic
rules to the concept does not work very well. If you find out you are part
something, like 1/8 Cherokee, that is a genetic measurement. However, unless
you have a Cherokee identity, unless you identify with the Cherokee culture,
you do not have Cherokee ethnicity.

On the other hand, it is common in our culture to assign people with mixed
African-European ancestry to the African-American subculture. That's true
even when the African genes are less than 1/8.


Grant W. Johnston, Chico, CA

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