I Discovered I’m Only 1% European, Part 1

Getting my DNA results a few months ago started me on the road to unpacking my internalized oppression. Here is my ethnic make-up. I’ll talk about why it changed me afterwards: 30% East Asian 17% Polynesian 13% Benin/Togo 11% Ivory Coast/Ghana 9% Cameroon 5% Central Asia 4% Nigeria 3% Mali 3% Senegal 1% West Europe <1% South Asia <1% Great Britain <1% South-Central Africa/Hunter Gatherers <1% Southeastern Africa, Bantu Side note: My mother is Filipino. Filipinos are typically an ethnic mix of Asian and Polynesian. Although, the original Filipinos migrated from Africa, and they exist today as the Aeta people. Also, the countries of Benin, Togo, and Nigeria make up what is called Yorubaland. And so I’m looking into Yoruba as a cultural whole as I research my roots. I wasn’t too surprised at my DNA results when I received them. However, I was surprised that there is so little European in my DNA make-up. I say this because most African-Americans have about 1/4 European in their DNA make-up (and, by extension, many Caucasian Americans with early American ancestors have a good percentage of African in their DNA make-up.).

Anyway, I was surprised at this because my entire life has been shaped around Whiteness (culture, education, religion, language, etc.), but my blood says otherwise. This could very well be the reason why I’ve had so much disconnect when I’ve tried to incorporate Whiteness in my own life. It just ain’t who I am

So I’m on a journey of releasing myself from Whiteness and reconnecting to how God created me, and the lines which He connected me to.

Also, it’s interesting how my African ancestry is a diverse mix of different West African countries. Through the practice of slavery, distinctive/unique African tribal practices and identities were erased as African people were sold from one plantation to another. Side Note: When I say Whiteness, I mean a social construct and harmful ideology, not White people. Although White people have definitely fed into this construct and harmful ideology.

Part 2 will be released soon.