Comments on: Blog Contest: How Would Knowing Your Roots Change Your Perception Of The Past, Your Interpretation Of The Present, And Your Aspirations For The Future? (Week 3) http://www.africanancestry.com/blog/2010/02/blog-contest-how-would-knowing-your-roots-change-your-perception-of-the-past-your-interpretation-of-the-present-and-your-aspirations-for-the-future-week-3/ Sharing news, inspiration and behind-the-scenes moments at African Ancestry Sat, 25 May 2013 02:11:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Cyderia Gates http://www.africanancestry.com/blog/2010/02/blog-contest-how-would-knowing-your-roots-change-your-perception-of-the-past-your-interpretation-of-the-present-and-your-aspirations-for-the-future-week-3/comment-page-1/#comment-2256 Cyderia Gates Mon, 22 Feb 2010 04:56:32 +0000 http://blog.africanancestry.com/?p=482#comment-2256 Most of what I have ever learned that was of any significance to my life’s journey was gleaned from long conversations with my maternal grandmother as we lay awake in bed at night. These late night talks about life and her memories of our ancestors connected our souls in such a way that nothing–not even her subsequent death in 1996–could sever the bond that we shared. When I began actively tracing my lineage two years ago, every positive search result instilled in me that same connection to each of my ancestors. They became real! From the “X” which constituted my maternal great grandfather’s signature on his World War I draft registration application to the 1880 United States Census report reflecting my maternal great-great-great grandmother’s age of 37 years old, I encountered the universal thread that unites all of humanity and which transformed my perception of the past from a distant abstract of people unknown to me to a very personal reality.

As I interpret the present, I recognize that I am a modern-day representation of my ancestors. I am the African’s vision for a future empire and I am the fulfillment of my enslaved ancestors elusive dreams of freedom. In my genealogical search, I have reached an impasse in identifying the parentage of my great-great-great grandmother. In the event that that I do not make the connections between her and the ancestors of the continent of African, then I will celebrate the connections made available through modern genetics that will connect me to a place that I can go and know that this is “home”.

. . .When your children ask their parents in time to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ then you shall let your children know, Israel crossed over the Jordan here on dry ground. (Joshua 4:21-22)

Among my immediate future aspirations is the advocacy for genealogy and DNA testing in the African-American community. When I consider that (as of this writing) African Ancestry has 2,739 Facebook followers and AfriGeneas has 2,268 compared to the tens of thousands of people of color who support hip hop icons and reality television pages for their connections to the community, their remains a great deal of education to facilitate.

In addition, realizing the painstaking process involved in the current genealogical search process, I so wish that my grandmother was still alive to answer more of my questions. As I now reflect on the meaning of my life and evaluate the legacy that I will leave behind, I yearn for the elusive privilege of knowing my ancestors’ thoughts, feelings, perceptions of their places in this world. Seeing now how this lack of available information has brought to light my own crisis of identity, I am determined to provide as much documented information as possible to the generations in my family that follow. The babies will ask, “What do these stones mean?” As my grandmother provided as much as she could for me, I am intent on having the answers for them.

]]> By: Parish Taylor http://www.africanancestry.com/blog/2010/02/blog-contest-how-would-knowing-your-roots-change-your-perception-of-the-past-your-interpretation-of-the-present-and-your-aspirations-for-the-future-week-3/comment-page-1/#comment-2253 Parish Taylor Mon, 22 Feb 2010 03:49:49 +0000 http://blog.africanancestry.com/?p=482#comment-2253 How would knowing my roots would change my perception of the past? It wouldn’t change my past, but it would brighten my present, right now I can’t say that I have complete knowledge of self because I know nothing about my origin, I know nothing about my ancestors. By knowing my roots I will go into another paradigm shift for the better of course. It’s hard not knowing. I’m a college student who’s surrounded by a lot of people who all know their original nationality, ethnicity, their origins in general. We have conversations and they share stories about their culture, their country, and their history. I would love to do this but it hurts to only be able to talk about slavery and everything that came along with it every time I want to share my history, this is the only thing I can go back to. I Parish Taylor want to represent SOMETHING, I want to represent something bigger than me, I want to represent my people, I want to feel a peace of that freedom that should have been my birth right. I want to feel and know what peace is. It’s “Black History Month” but what does that really mean when you don’t know who you are? What does that mean when you know that you are being cheated out of something that belongs to you. What does that really mean when your people can’t even come together with a plan to put an end to these evil tactics that are killing us off from genocide to starvation, if we allow this to continue we will be extinct and for those who had the knowledge and the wisdom to set some of our minds, spirits, and souls free but kept it to themselves because of fear, selfishness, money, more power or whatever they are doing nothing but washing their hands in the blood puddles of those black youth who die in the streets without a clue of the greatness they were robbed. What level of effect is Black history month suppose to have on a 19 year old who’s been learning about M.L.K. and Rosa Parks since birth. There has to be more to who I am and the people I come from. I can’t and will not just accept that my people are nothing, I won’t, I will NOT. There has to be more to who we are. Why is it so hard to find just a little peace of something that has something good to say about who we are, whether it’s television, music, books etc, etc. Who ever has the knowledge have to stand up now before it’s to late and get whatever knowledge there is about our people out into the minds for us who just don’t know what we have that we should be taking pride in. All of the negativity which is reality in our communities which is plaguing us would have no choice but to turn into positivity if we all knew our root and of our people’s greatness that’s known but suppressed our aspirations for our future would change not only individually but as a people.

-Parish Taylor

]]> By: Kristen Samuel http://www.africanancestry.com/blog/2010/02/blog-contest-how-would-knowing-your-roots-change-your-perception-of-the-past-your-interpretation-of-the-present-and-your-aspirations-for-the-future-week-3/comment-page-1/#comment-2252 Kristen Samuel Mon, 22 Feb 2010 03:33:09 +0000 http://blog.africanancestry.com/?p=482#comment-2252 Knowing your past is vital to understanding your present, knowing who you are and how you came to be. watching “Roots” for the 1st time a few years ago, i became quite envious of Alex haley who was able to track his family history all the way back to Africa. Ever since i was a little girl, ive always wanted to know where MY family roots lie. The product of two west indian parents and being the only member of my family to be raised in the US, i’m not very close to either side of my family. I’ve always felt that if i at least knew where my ancestors came from, who they were, what they did, i could be just a little closer to understanding who i really am.
I feel that knowing your history is so important to who you are. Being able to look back into time and to see all the struggles and sacrifices thoses who came before you made helps you appreciate your position in life today. Knowing you wouldnt be where you are unless thoses people made thoses decisions should really make you appreciateyour life so much more. Now that im sitting here thinking about it, im realizing that every decision i make is an important one because it not only affects my life; its gonna affect the lives of my children and their children and so on. Not knowing your past leaves leaves a person with no sense of direction in life. You cant know where you are going until you know where you’ve been. Unfortunatly, too many people of color have no idea where they’ve been so they have no clue where they’re going. I want to find out where i’ve been, so i can finally start making plans to find my final destination.

]]> By: Felicia Addison http://www.africanancestry.com/blog/2010/02/blog-contest-how-would-knowing-your-roots-change-your-perception-of-the-past-your-interpretation-of-the-present-and-your-aspirations-for-the-future-week-3/comment-page-1/#comment-2250 Felicia Addison Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:53:42 +0000 http://blog.africanancestry.com/?p=482#comment-2250 The term “Past, Present and Future” would not fascinate as much as it does if the three weren’t intertwined in a love story as powerful and as meaningful as that of “Man, Woman and Child.

Before delving into my family history, my perception of the past was mostly based on what I thought to be the truth, it influenced my present situation in confusion and uncertainty, therefore my future was unimportant and unimaginable.

Yet, there was always curiosity…

Curious to know why! Curious to know when and where! I come from a generation where grown folx business was grown folx business, it doesn’t make any sense to ask because they won’t tell. But I was always that nosey little girl that knew how to keep quiet, always how to listen and retain what I could possibly use later.

So as I grew into a young woman I started to take what I knew about my family and apply it to my life. However there were road blocks as a good portion of my parents had already passed on, so there was no way to “ask” them – so I began to “research” them. What I found in the past was strength unimaginable, which made my present more bearable and my future more obtainable.

So you reach back and you look at all of these elders from different times, their various walks and you realize, your walk is not that difficult, but because they survived their journey, your back has strength, your head is on straight and your stride has purpose. Without their past, you wouldn’t be in your present and therefore cannot plan your future. Past, Present and Future – the road map to life.

Thank you,

Felicia Addison

]]> By: Melinda Cummings http://www.africanancestry.com/blog/2010/02/blog-contest-how-would-knowing-your-roots-change-your-perception-of-the-past-your-interpretation-of-the-present-and-your-aspirations-for-the-future-week-3/comment-page-1/#comment-2249 Melinda Cummings Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:33:43 +0000 http://blog.africanancestry.com/?p=482#comment-2249 It is said that a tree is only as strong as its roots. I have two children a son and a daughter. While I am not as concerned for my son, however I am concerned for my daughter. My son’s father is from Africa; therefore, he has some idea about his heritage. My daughter has an estranged relationship with her father. Her father’s family has a very rich heritage filled with civil rights activist and musicians. I know nothing about my heritage. I want my children to know were there roots come from. A sense of identity is important in order to stay focused on achieving your goals. You say to yourself if my great great……. ancestor who survived the middle passage can survive such a horrific experience then I can make my great greats’ living not in vain by reconnecting with my heritage and making my great greats’ voyage come full circle. Knowing my roots will solidify my purpose, Give me pride about my ancestry, and act as a compass for where home is when I return to my Africa before I die.

]]> By: T.L. Hill http://www.africanancestry.com/blog/2010/02/blog-contest-how-would-knowing-your-roots-change-your-perception-of-the-past-your-interpretation-of-the-present-and-your-aspirations-for-the-future-week-3/comment-page-1/#comment-2236 T.L. Hill Sun, 21 Feb 2010 05:59:24 +0000 http://blog.africanancestry.com/?p=482#comment-2236 Africa

A student without a teacher
A soldier without a general
A child without a mother

Africa

But who
How
When

Africa

Calling me faintly
Then loud
My ancestors

But who
How
When

Africa

Come to me that I may taste your wine
Partake of your essence and
Hush the voices
My forebearers calling calling

Africa

But who
How
When

Discovery

I know you
I’ve loved you
I embrace you

Africa

Sharing your beauty
Incomparable joy

A student has found her teacher
A soldier has found her general
A child has finally found her mother

Africa
Africa
Africa

I do not know if my poem can clearly convey my intent to answer your above question, but I truly hope that it does. There is a yearning inside of me that goes beyond my ability to express in simple words what the discovery of my ancestry would mean to me.

Thank you.

]]> By: Youlanda Thompson http://www.africanancestry.com/blog/2010/02/blog-contest-how-would-knowing-your-roots-change-your-perception-of-the-past-your-interpretation-of-the-present-and-your-aspirations-for-the-future-week-3/comment-page-1/#comment-2195 Youlanda Thompson Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:38:39 +0000 http://blog.africanancestry.com/?p=482#comment-2195 How would it change my perception of the past? Well, I would feel more in tune with my ancestors and the trials and struggles they went through to get me and so many others to the place that we are now. My perception of the present would be that I would feel less like I am out of place with who I am and where I should be headed in the future. Sometimes I feel like I am letting so many people down and as long as I feel thios way I do not believe I can go into the future to Honor them. My mother did not talk much about her side of the family and did not seem to be interested infinding out about them. As for my father, he talked and had wished he knew more about those that came from Africa. Being disconnected from those ancestors leaves a great void that I cannot discribe, perhaps with the knowledge of them I can find some peace and strength to move forward to better thing that will honor them.

]]> By: J.M. BRIGHT http://www.africanancestry.com/blog/2010/02/blog-contest-how-would-knowing-your-roots-change-your-perception-of-the-past-your-interpretation-of-the-present-and-your-aspirations-for-the-future-week-3/comment-page-1/#comment-2179 J.M. BRIGHT Thu, 18 Feb 2010 08:46:56 +0000 http://blog.africanancestry.com/?p=482#comment-2179 It would make me veiw things different knowing my roots. Would change my perception just to learn an understand that our forefather saw a vision an faught for thier offsprings too have a purpose in this world is a blessing. Just to understand the stories grandma use to tell by memorie an knowing really who I am an which i came. Is anuff to make you change, Iwont have to my kid you cant date him because thats you family knowlege is power.

]]> By: Lord Muhammad S. Aadam http://www.africanancestry.com/blog/2010/02/blog-contest-how-would-knowing-your-roots-change-your-perception-of-the-past-your-interpretation-of-the-present-and-your-aspirations-for-the-future-week-3/comment-page-1/#comment-2176 Lord Muhammad S. Aadam Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:38:07 +0000 http://blog.africanancestry.com/?p=482#comment-2176 Just knowing would change so much because it will give the African-America a sense of identity more than we could ever imagine. Just knowing where you have come from over 500 years worth of history could answer questions and give you a different guide toward the future. Without knowing nothing about our past have gotten us quite far, but knowing just that much more is worth more than 40 acres and a mule, it is worth a Kingdom. It will be that Kingdom of Heaven in our minds that most of Black people have been searching for. For decades I have wondered where were my people coming from before my Grand-mother and have found nothing. My mother passed and my maternal grandmother. All of her close siblings have passed and I have a hard time trying to trace it. Just knowing that there is a way to do it, will give me that confidence that I can pass on to my children and will allow me to actually visit the homeland of MY forefathers.

~Lord M. Shaheed Aadam

]]> By: Lanetta Brookins http://www.africanancestry.com/blog/2010/02/blog-contest-how-would-knowing-your-roots-change-your-perception-of-the-past-your-interpretation-of-the-present-and-your-aspirations-for-the-future-week-3/comment-page-1/#comment-2174 Lanetta Brookins Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:54:27 +0000 http://blog.africanancestry.com/?p=482#comment-2174 Just knowing where you came from can be very comforting to know. It would help me to better understand what tribe I belong to in Africa. What were my people good at were they good at weaving,building wooden constructions,or did they belong to a lineage of kings and queens? I could put the good use of knowing this to probably help someone else out in life. My future career will be in nursing I would want to know was this one of their talents in life,to help nurse people back to good health. Were they good at writing things down. Knowing this would change my way of living life.

I would be able to look back on the past,and look towards the present. Maybe the future to help people out in life. I would probably feel happy,nervous, and anxious. Just knowing my roots would make a difference on my past,present, and future.

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