What is your real race?

It’s a trick question we’re technically all African.

In my Themes of World History class we are spending the semester studying human migration. I know that might sound boring but to jazz things up a bit we have been asked to part of The Genographic Project that National Geographic is doing. What this project does is track the migration of humans. There are genetic markers in our DNA that allows researchers to see where we have come from. Without getting to into it (that is why I provided the link) I will be able to say that 60,000 year ago my ancestors started out from Africa and then follow their migration up to a certain point. I will be able to see what tribes my ancestors were apart of maybe Inuit, San Bushmen, or Zulu… Who knows? We are going to apply this to our class and see how, why, and when each of our ancestors migrated around the world.

While this is really cool the project really doesn’t get that close to modern times. At first when the Professor announced it he didn’t tell us that tidbit so my mind had been racing with all the possible controversy and uncomfortable situations this project may cause.

1) The giant elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about- We have one African American in the class and we all know how a lot of Africans made their way to America, it’s no secret but it isn’t exactly the most comfortable thing to talk about. I was kind of looking forward to her presentation.

Tisha- Then I found out that my ancestors moved towards the Western Coast of Africa, where they lived for 4000 years as the Kongan people.
Professor- Where did your ancestors go next?
Tisha- Oh you act like you don’t know. Mutha fucka where do you think we ended up?
Professor- Uh I wasn’t implying anything… I…. I…
Tisha- I want my 40 acres and a mule you honky son of a bitch. (Pulls out shotgun.) BLACK RAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2) The Uh-Oh situation- I can just imagine Johnny getting up there and arguing with the professor.

Johnny- This test isn’t accurate sir.
Professor- Why do you say that?
Johnny- Well my father is 100 percent Italian yet my DNA says that my ancestors actually settled in Mexico.
Professor- This is National Geographic Johnny….
Johnny- My mom told me that is why I have darker skin… Because my dad is Italian… Oh God… Wait a second… Our postman used to be Mexican…. That whore.

3) The Bigot- I really think a bigot would end up like the guy in Scanners when his head explodes. In fact a few people dropped the class after the first day I am sure this may have had something to do with it with a few of them. I don’t think they liked the idea that they we are basically all Africans.

So how far back to you know your history?