When I think of my family and our history, I realize that I’m really a lucky woman. As the grandchild of a black militant, Muslim woman who was also an educator, entrepreneur, community leader, wife, and mother of six, I stand before you as a testament to courage, will and desire. Knowing who my grandmother was and my father, who was also a Muslim entrepreneur, writer, and educator, now both deceased, I couldn’t help but wonder, where did these great minds come from?
Like many Blacks today, we face a broken aspect of our culture that seems like it could never be fixed. That is until science stepped up and finally gave us something that could help aid our unknown lineage. Accessible DNA testing. This DNA Kit will not only give me the percentages of my genetic makeup but also answer the questions I’ve always wanted to know.
So how does it work?
I ordered my kit from Ancestry.com for $79 but there are even better ones like AfricanAncestry.com that can delve even deeper into your African lineage and find the exact tribe you came from, however it does come at a hefty price of $299.
You have to spit into a clear tube, register your kit number online, then mail it off to the testing lab. This part was a tad bit disgusting but I bared it. It also noted that it would take 6-8 weeks to process and my results would be uploaded to their website.
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Since I couldn’t hold mywits any longer, I thought I’d share what crazy things are going on in my head while I wait! Check out my predictions and chime in on what you think too!
I will, for the most part, be of West African descent.
I’ve been told by people from Africa and America that I, in fact, look Ghanaian or Senegalese. My features are pretty broad and pronounced, and my bottom half is heavier. I have very kinky, type 4C hair, plus my hair and eyes are a deep brown.
Most of my family look of African descent, but they are all very much so on the lighter side. They’re beautiful shades of caramel, golden browns, and warm honey. My great-grandmother, however, was a stunning deep brown and so was her youngest son, my great uncle.
However, I’m likely to have more Native American in me than I think.
Not so much of my skin-tone or hair leads me to believe this particular prediction. However, my mother swears that her father was Native American and Black, yet I have never met him, seen a picture, silhouette or relative to the liking. I did grow up with grandmother on my mother’s side and she very much so had the features of a Native American.
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Her skin was very caramel, her hair grew very long as she’s always had dreadlocks since I’ve known her. Also, her lips were small and straight, her nose was very pronounced and her eyes had a slight slant to them. Plus, all the women on my mother’s side was very tall. I’m talking at least6-foot or taller and wore up to a size 12 shoe. Not sure if this even pertains to a Native American’s makeup but it sure makes me wonder a lot. Conversely, I never received any of those traits. It took after my dad’s side, short and petite.
*Side Note: Did you know if you have more than 25% of Native American blood and at least 1/16th (which is one great-great-grandparent) of the ethnicity you could be granted free tuition at any two to four-year public institution in the U.S.? Mind blown.
I will have a very small percentage of European in me.
Although I don’t think it’ll be much, there’s a small chance. I have no relatives that look any presumably Caucasian, but hey, you never know.
My American ancestry line will be traced from Tennessee and Arkansas areas.
I do have facts on this. My maternal great-grandmother was born in Helena, Arkansas. My grandmother and mother, however, were both born in Chicago, IL. I think the Tennessee areas will come from my dad’s side.
I will definitely have a new sense of pride that I’ve never felt before.
I didn’t take this test to now start waving a flag that I don’t have a real connection to. I did it to take a step toward finding my true identity. All of my answers won’t be answered with just this one test, it has to be followed up by more research and learning about my ancestors and family.
However, I do believe I will finally find what I’ve been looking for. A true and authentic sense of self.
Tia Muhammad, BS, is an award-winning freelance content & media creative, copywriter, blogger, digital designer, and marketing consultant. She owns the boutique content and digital media company, jackieGLDN|studio.
