The Search for African Roots Leads to Europe too?

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Where are you from?

This question is not so easily answered for many African Americans. In many cases, entire family histories have been lost because a name simply wasn't written down. In fact, it wasn't until the year 1870 that emancipated former slaves were accounted for by name in the U.S. Census.

These gaps in recorded history have brought many family journeys for their roots to a sudden, disappointing halt. But the science of DNA is changing that. Genetic genealogy testing is connecting more and more African Americans to their heritage all over the world. And not just in Africa, but Europe as well. PBS' own Skip Gates disclosed an eye opening family fact in the series African American Lives 2: He's Irish! And decedent of a king named Niall of the Nine Hostages, who lived in Ireland around 500 A.D. You can watch a video clip of of his discovery by visiting African American Lives 2.

 

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