Thought this was a pretty neat article to share. Megan Smolenyak, former chief historian for Ancestry.com is currently writing genealogy pieces at the Huffington Post featuring celebrity subjects; just yesterday the online newspaper published one on Prince. The genealogist is the author of the books, "Who Do You Think You Are? The Essentials to Tracing the Roots of Your Family Tree" and "Hey America, Your Roots Are Showing", and quite similarly to family tree projects of Dr. Henry Louis Gates of Harvard University (Faces of America), Smolenyak uses the latest tools in genealogical research to explore the family histories of renowned Americans.

An excerpt of a couple tidbits she found on The Purple One's roots:

1880 Marriage of Ed Nelson to Emma Hardy, Claiborne Parish Louisiana

As with other gifted musicians such as Beyoncé and Jay Z, Prince has a concentration of Louisiana roots. In fact, all four of his grandparents were born there, though Minnesota, Georgia, and Arkansas can also claim a piece of his heritage.

and my favorite...great great granny was doing her thing. :

One of his great-great-grandmothers could be considered a 19th century version of a cougar. After her first marriage, she took a second husband less than half her age. Her new, teen-aged husband was only five years older than his eldest stepchild. Even so, she managed to outlive him.

to read the full article in full go here:

Hey, Prince, Your Roots Are Showing

it's a short, but fun read.

tx for the link...nice read!....some things run in the family..

101 said:

tx for the link...nice read!....some things run in the family..

It took me a minute to make the connection, but

neat! thanks for the link. Prince's great-grandmother was a cougar

"oh, my goodnesss..." "driver."

The article is proof positive that humankind is regressing...

Ottensen said:

Thought this was a pretty neat article to share. Megan Smolenyak, former chief historian for Ancestry.com is currently writing genealogy pieces at the Huffington Post featuring celebrity subjects; just yesterday the online newspaper published one on Prince. The genealogist is the author of the books, "Who Do You Think You Are? The Essentials to Tracing the Roots of Your Family Tree" and "Hey America, Your Roots Are Showing", and quite similarly to family tree projects of Dr. Henry Louis Gates of Harvard University (Faces of America), Smolenyak uses the latest tools in genealogical research to explore the family histories of renowned Americans.

An excerpt of a couple tidbits she found on The Purple One's roots:

1880 Marriage of Ed Nelson to Emma Hardy, Claiborne Parish Louisiana

As with other gifted musicians such as Beyoncé and Jay Z, Prince has a concentration of Louisiana roots. In fact, all four of his grandparents were born there, though Minnesota, Georgia, and Arkansas can also claim a piece of his heritage.

and my favorite...great great granny was doing her thing. :

One of his great-great-grandmothers could be considered a 19th century version of a cougar. After her first marriage, she took a second husband less than half her age. Her new, teen-aged husband was only five years older than his eldest stepchild. Even so, she managed to outlive him.

to read the full article in full go here:

Hey, Prince, Your Roots Are Showing

it's a short, but fun read.

Thanks Ottensen,

Here's the rest of the article:

Prince Rogers Nelson, better known simply as Prince, has the music world intrigued with the series of singles he's been releasing -- most recently, Breakfast Can Wait. Will a full-fledged album be far behind? We can only hope. But while we're in wait-and-see mode, I thought I'd take a peek into his past -- and by that, I mean his pre-Minnesota, pre-purple, ancestral past. Here are a few of the discoveries I found scattered in the branches of his family tree:

• Among the surnames that appear in Prince's family tree are Bonnell, Brooks, Hardy, Head, Jenkins, Nelson, Phillips and Shaw, so those sharing these names could be related.

(Edited for compliance)

Twins run on both sides of Prince's family. His mother was one, and there were also twins in the Nelson branch on his father's side.

Due to the Great Migration, his once mostly Louisiana-based family dispersed to Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey and Tennessee. His maternal grandfather, a Pullman porter named Frank Shaw, went north to Minnesota by way of Iowa. Though this might sound like a peculiar route, this same pattern can be seen in the family tree of Cory Booker, whose ancestors were drawn from the South to Iowa for mining jobs. And as a result of all this meandering, one of Prince's great-uncles is buried at Burr Oak on the outskirts of Chicago, the same notorious cemetery where one of Michelle Obama's uncles is buried.

Prince's paternal grandfather had 11 children by two wives over a 36-year period. This grandfather's parents also had 11 children, but in a more concentrated 14-year period. 22 offspring from just these two generations means that Prince undoubtedly has dozens, if not hundreds, of Nelson cousins in both Arkansas and Minnesota.

Six of Prince's eight great-grandparents were born into slavery, and as was unfortunately so common, one of his great-grandmothers was apparently the daughter of her one-time owner.

Within Louisiana, Prince has roots in Claiborne, Webster, Bienville and Lincoln Parishes. More specifically, the towns of Homer, Cotton Valley, Arcadia and Vienna, are all ancestral hometowns for the Purple One.

(Edited for compliance)

[Edited 3/7/13 7:06am]

Well of course he has history everywhere-the man is Black and we all know how that history went, but nice lil find anyway.

You mean Olga Karlatos wasn't his momma? I thought he was part Italian? Part Puerto Rican? Part white?

NuPwrSoul said:

You mean Olga Karlatos wasn't his momma? I thought he was part Italian? Part Puerto Rican? Part white?

teiemka said:

The article is proof positive that humankind is regressing...

And I find it intriguing that anyone would metaphorically go into an informal dining establishment that is the equivalent of The Cheesecake Factory... expecting Kobe beef and bottles of Chateau Lafleur.

Just curious, but what exactly should we be expecting in place of that article? A lengthy treatise on why peace cannot be achieved at this time in The Middle East? An analysis on the impact that BRIC will have on the world economy in 30 years and what the rest of us can do to ensure we aren't left behind? Or perhaps formulas for Euclidean geometric theorems in the formation of crop circles?

It's a light piece on a noteworthy public figure in music. It just happened to be in the entertainment section of an online newspaper that covers pop culture, and it seemed it would fit here in this forum- a forum that is not exactly devoted to serious topics of a deeply intellectual nature, I might add.

If one is more interested in hard hitting news or topics that require a bit more brain muscle, there are always online versions of such esteemed publications as Foreign Policy, The Harvard Law Review, Psychology Today, Physics World, The Economist, Der Spiegel, and hosts of others if aforementioned article or this thread is deemed too lowbrow for their tastes.

Ottensen said:

teiemka said:

The article is proof positive that humankind is regressing...

And I find it intriguing that anyone would metaphorically go into an informal dining establishment that is the equivalent of The Cheesecake Factory... expecting Kobe beef and bottles of Chateau Lafleur.

Just curious, but what exactly should we be expecting in place of that article? A lengthy treatise on why peace cannot be achieved at this time in The Middle East? An analysis on the impact that BRIC will have on the world economy in 30 years and what the rest of us can do to ensure we aren't left behind? Or perhaps formulas for Euclidean geometric theorems in the formation of crop circles?

It's a light piece on a noteworthy public figure in music. It just happened to be in the entertainment section of an online newspaper that covers pop culture, and it seemed it would fit here in this forum- a forum that is not exactly devoted to serious topics of a deeply intellectual nature, I might add.

If one is more interested in hard hitting news or topics that require a bit more brain muscle, there are always online versions of such esteemed publications as Foreign Policy, The Harvard Law Review, Psychology Today, Physics World, The Economist, Der Spiegel, and hosts of others if aforementioned article or this thread is deemed too lowbrow for their tastes.

I don't understand what's regressive about this article. There are a lot of people who feel geneaology is worthwhile... they believe it's an added piece to the puzzle of who they are. Think of this as Prince's "Akashic records"

Of all the studies about Prince, I don't think anyone has ever gone back as far as this writer... Culture has a geneaology, too... and there is something to be said of the southern rooted folks who migrated to the midwest, and their role in creating some of the most enduring genres of American music. Whether it's the blues in Chicago, Detroit Motown / Detroit Techno, Chicago House, Memphis Stax, Dayton/Ohio funk, or Minneapolis sound... there is something that those folks brought with them, and passed on to their children and their children, that made it the heartland of music.

Before the internet & mass media flattened the earth so that everyone could all look and sound the same, there was a time when there was a very distinct regional differentiation among people... Prince & his cohorts' uniqueness represent one of those regions.

Great find! I have followed some of the stories the author has done on other celebs. Interesting topic.

I would love to see a chart, as Prince's roots have so much controversy. The fact one of his ancestors was a plantation child, no doubt born from rape does not surprise me, as Prince's skin complexion though darker when he was young, was never dark enough to convince me he is 100% African American.

When I was doing a search for one of my American friends, I chanced upon Prince's tree which only had 3 generations, I knew who it was, as it said that the one kid covered up was born June 7th 1958 at Mt Sinai Hospital Hennepin county to Mattie and John Nelson, there was one other child born 1960. Its showed that John had a father called "Clarence Walter Nelson born 1893/4)".

If Prince was Italian or Puerto Rican you would expect some Latin sounding names. Names like Shaw and Nelson are clearly White sounding Anglo saxon or Celtic slave holder names, passed on to freed slaves. Plus Prince is always talking about Family names and slave names. "Who is Nelson, I am not Nels son!". Plus too Italian ancestry would usually mean post 1880 arrival in the USA as few came before then and after 1924 very few came afterwards due to a racist immigration law passed that year. So Prince would be expected to have at least one great grandparent or grandparent who was Italian or Hispanic for him to be called that.

I am surprised it only goers back to his grandparents, learning about Matties father was new to me, especially when here in New Zealand, everyone can trace their roots back to the mid 19th immigration vessel they came on and further. My European side goes back fully 8 generations and in some cases 14 generations to the 1500s. Most Maori and Polynesians are better still, oral histories that were written down around 150 years ago take me back 25 generations to my ancestor Tamatea around 1300 and my tribal ancestor Hauiti who lived around 1550.

The other controversy being Prince's mother, she is clearly lighter skinned than John and its more likely she had more Caucasian blood than John. Most books and sources quote her being much younger and saying she was born in 1932 or 1934, yet Ronin Ro's book mentions she dies in March 2002 aged 81, that would make her born in 1920/21, much older than its mentioned and only 4 or 5 years younger than John born in 1916.

[Edited 2/9/13 13:57pm]

Oh wow. This is fascinating.

Since Prince has always wanted to claim mixed heritage, having some bonifide Louisiana ancestry on both sides of the tree is going to have him screaming Creole is no time.

I wonder if he's seen this. (Well, he reads the Org so of course).

P.S. I CANNOT BELIEVE the writer said "as with other gifted musicians such as Beyonce and Jay Z."

Musicians? I cannot.

[Edited 2/9/13 14:05pm]

Adorecream said:

I would love to see a chart, as Prince's roots have so much controversy. The fact one of his ancestors was a plantation child, no doubt born from rape does not surprise me, as Prince's skin complexion though darker when he was young, was never dark enough to convince me he is 100% African American.

When I was doing a search for one of my American friends, I chanced upon Prince's tree which only had 3 generations, I knew who it was, as it said that the one kid covered up was born June 7th 1958 at Mt Sinai Hospital Hennepin county to Mattie and John Nelson, there was one other child born 1960. Its showed that John had a father called "Clarence Walter Nelson born 1893/4)".

If Prince was Italian or Puerto Rican you would expect some Latin sounding names. Names like Shaw and Nelson are clearly White sounding Anglo saxon or Celtic slave holder names, passed on to freed slaves. Plus Prince is always talking about Family names and slave names. "Who is Nelson, I am not Nels son!". Plus too Italian ancestry would usually mean post 1880 arrival in the USA as few came before then and after 1924 very few came afterwards due to a racist immigration law passed that year. So Prince would be expected to have at least one great grandparent or grandparent who was Italian or Hispanic for him to be called that.

I am surprised it only goers back to his grandparents, learning about Matties father was new to me, especially when here in New Zealand, everyone can trace their roots back to the mid 19th immigration vessel they came on and further. My European side goes back fully 8 generations and in some cases 14 generations to the 1500s. Most Maori and Polynesians are better still, oral histories that were written down around 150 years ago take me back 25 generations to my ancestor Tamatea around 1300 and my tribal ancestor Hauiti who lived around 1550.

The other controversy being Prince's mother, she is clearly lighter skinned than John and its more likely she had more Caucasian blood than John. Most books and sources quote her being much younger and saying she was born in 1932 or 1934, yet Ronin Ro's book mentions she dies in March 2002 aged 81, that would make her born in 1920/21, much older than its mentioned and only 4 or 5 years younger than John born in 1916.

[Edited 2/9/13 13:57pm]

Considering that race is a socially constructed identity, respectfully, there is no such thing as "Caucasian blood" or 100% this or that (if I get a transfusion/blood donor from someone white does that mean I am now %white because I have "white" blood?). People's complexions are not made like mixing coffee--add more milk to lighten it, therefore if it is light it had more milk. I know these are short-hand ways that people use to discuss race and ethnicity, but we shouldn't reinforce incorrect concepts about them.

The definition of someone as "black" or "white" does not come from their genetic make up, it comes from society making decisions on what physical traits it will prioritize over others in order to project/force an identity onto someone. In a country where skin color historically was used by those in power to subordinate and exploit labor, it is no surprise that skin color is therefore wedded to the idea of "racial identity."

WHen I originally posted the "what about being Italian, Puerto Rican, etc." it was really a joke directed at those who have argued for years here and elsewhere that Prince is not "100% black" (whatever that means).

NuPwrSoul said:

Adorecream said:

I would love to see a chart, as Prince's roots have so much controversy. The fact one of his ancestors was a plantation child, no doubt born from rape does not surprise me, as Prince's skin complexion though darker when he was young, was never dark enough to convince me he is 100% African American.

When I was doing a search for one of my American friends, I chanced upon Prince's tree which only had 3 generations, I knew who it was, as it said that the one kid covered up was born June 7th 1958 at Mt Sinai Hospital Hennepin county to Mattie and John Nelson, there was one other child born 1960. Its showed that John had a father called "Clarence Walter Nelson born 1893/4)".

If Prince was Italian or Puerto Rican you would expect some Latin sounding names. Names like Shaw and Nelson are clearly White sounding Anglo saxon or Celtic slave holder names, passed on to freed slaves. Plus Prince is always talking about Family names and slave names. "Who is Nelson, I am not Nels son!". Plus too Italian ancestry would usually mean post 1880 arrival in the USA as few came before then and after 1924 very few came afterwards due to a racist immigration law passed that year. So Prince would be expected to have at least one great grandparent or grandparent who was Italian or Hispanic for him to be called that.

I am surprised it only goers back to his grandparents, learning about Matties father was new to me, especially when here in New Zealand, everyone can trace their roots back to the mid 19th immigration vessel they came on and further. My European side goes back fully 8 generations and in some cases 14 generations to the 1500s. Most Maori and Polynesians are better still, oral histories that were written down around 150 years ago take me back 25 generations to my ancestor Tamatea around 1300 and my tribal ancestor Hauiti who lived around 1550.

The other controversy being Prince's mother, she is clearly lighter skinned than John and its more likely she had more Caucasian blood than John. Most books and sources quote her being much younger and saying she was born in 1932 or 1934, yet Ronin Ro's book mentions she dies in March 2002 aged 81, that would make her born in 1920/21, much older than its mentioned and only 4 or 5 years younger than John born in 1916.

[Edited 2/9/13 13:57pm]

Considering that race is a socially constructed identity, respectfully, there is no such thing as "Caucasian blood" or 100% this or that (if I get a transfusion/blood donor from someone white does that mean I am now %white because I have "white" blood?). People's complexions are not made like mixing coffee--add more milk to lighten it, therefore if it is light it had more milk. I know these are short-hand ways that people use to discuss race and ethnicity, but we shouldn't reinforce incorrect concepts about them.

The definition of someone as "black" or "white" does not come from their genetic make up, it comes from society making decisions on what physical traits it will prioritize over others in order to project/force an identity onto someone. In a country where skin color historically was used by those in power to subordinate and exploit labor, it is no surprise that skin color is therefore wedded to the idea of "racial identity."

WHen I originally posted the "what about being Italian, Puerto Rican, etc." it was really a joke directed at those who have argued for years here and elsewhere that Prince is not "100% black" (whatever that means).

I don't think he realized that it's a running joke around here,

Also as we keep having to remind people over and over again mixed ancestry is not something unique to Prince as an African American. It's very, very common.

Adorecream said:

I would love to see a chart, as Prince's roots have so much controversy. The fact one of his ancestors was a plantation child, no doubt born from rape does not surprise me, as Prince's skin complexion though darker when he was young, was never dark enough to convince me he is 100% African American.

When I was doing a search for one of my American friends, I chanced upon Prince's tree which only had 3 generations, I knew who it was, as it said that the one kid covered up was born June 7th 1958 at Mt Sinai Hospital Hennepin county to Mattie and John Nelson, there was one other child born 1960. Its showed that John had a grandfather called "Clarence Walter Nelson born 1893/4).

If Prince was Italian or Puerto Rican you would expect some Latin sounding names. Names like Shaw and Nelson are clearly White sounding Anglo saxon or Celtic slave holder names, passed on to freed slaves. Plus Prince is always talking about Family names and slave names. "Who is Nelson, I am not Nels son!". Plus too Italian ancestry would usually mean post 1880 arrival in the USA as few came before then and after 1924 very few came afterwards due to a racist immigration law passed that year. So Prince would be expected to have at least one great grandparent or grandparent who was Italian or Hispanic for him to be called that.

I am surprised it only goers back to his grandparents, learning about Matties father was new to me, especially when here in New Zealand, everyone can trace their roots back to the mid 19th immigration vessel they came on and further. My European side goes back fully 8 generations and in some cases 14 generations to the 1500s. Most Maori and Polynesians are better still, oral histories that were written down around 150 years ago take me back 25 generations to my ancestor Tamatea around 1300 and my tribal ancestor Hauiti who lived around 1550.

There is nothing to convince, because there is no such thing as 100% Black American. Black American is part of a variety of cultures/ethnic groups that share a similar cultures/history. It is not a race. It is only referenced as a race, by societal views or standards. All, if not most, Black Americans have African, European or other ethnicities running through their veins, and that can be traced through DNA testing. . This also does not mean that one is in denial of their Black culture, despite results of their DNA test..

Doesn't matter how 'very dark or very light' an individual who defines as Black American, is. For example, according to Don Cheadle's DNA test, when Professor Henry Gates read him his results, part of that DNA test, showed 19% European ancestry, while 81% showed sub-saharan African, but no one would question if he has European ethnicity, because of his dark complexion. A person's ethnicity can be traced through DNA testing.

People tend to question Blacks who are lighter-skinned, about their ethnicity. That's mostly because many people lack the cultural and historical knowledge of Black Americans as a varied people, and seem to be 'selective' when embracing/showing respect towards many persons who identify as Black, I find that often times, when it is an individual like a celebrity, whose ethnicity is questioned, and when some find out that individual may have non-African (so-to-speak) ethnicity, many jump and down with glee, and tend to embrace, value and respect that individual's non-African side, moreso than give the same level of respect/value and acceptance and joy, towards that individual's Black African ancestry or Black American culture.

I find that a lot of Prince fans tend to do that, because there are many that will not fully accept that Prince refers or accepts himself as 'Black'. I find it interesting how many fans have missed the many times Prince refers to himself as 'Black' in many of his songs;most recently in his song 'Breakfast can wait' or maybe some choose to ignore when he uses the 'B' word.

Number two. The surnames of the majority of Black Americans (including Black Caribbeans) come from Europeans or White Slave owners (French, Dutch, English, Irish, German, Spanish, etc.).

Black is a culture. By societal standards, it is generally referenced as a racial group within society, consisting of various cultural/ethnic groups, with a shared/similar history.

Just like 'White' references those of European descent/ancestry, although there are several ethnic groups under the label 'White', the same societal rule, is used to define those under the societal-designed label 'Black'.

I think if people take more time, and make the effort to study, human history, the origins of man, Trans-saharan and Trans-Atlantic slave eras, etc., and look into the research by genetic scientists, where much of their research has shown that Africans have the highest, genetic diversity out of all the other people in the world, then I think more people will understand why many Black Americans are of varying skin tones, and maybe one day, their varying complexions, will no longer be looked upon, as though they're 'science projects' always being dissected.

Check out the works/research of:

Spencer Wells, Population Geneticist/Explorer

Book/Documentary: Journey of Man: A Genetic Odyssey(2003)can be found on youtube in 13 parts

Most recent documentary/project: The Human Family Tree - Spencer Wells

(Also available on netflix and recently aired on National Geographic On Demand cable)

Info on Spercer Wells

http://www.nationalgeogra...cer-wells/

Dr. Alice Roberts

Documentary: The Incredible Human Journey

'Edited for spelling and minor corrections'

[Edited 2/10/13 6:06am]

Ottensen said:

NuPwrSoul said:

You mean Olga Karlatos wasn't his momma? I thought he was part Italian? Part Puerto Rican? Part white?

i'm married to scarlett johansson (in my own mind ) and this didn't even make me smirk and i've seen the fucking movie. i know who olga, whatever the hell her last name is, is. now what are you doing?

I posted this on Twitter hours ago!

I wa sso happy, because well. I am from the South. Born and Raised in New Orleans Louisiana! AND MY LAST NAME IS JENKINS!

Haha, I ain't saying we releated, but that was a cool read! lol

2elijah said:

Adorecream said:

I would love to see a chart, as Prince's roots have so much controversy. The fact one of his ancestors was a plantation child, no doubt born from rape does not surprise me, as Prince's skin complexion though darker when he was young, was never dark enough to convince me he is 100% African American.

When I was doing a search for one of my American friends, I chanced upon Prince's tree which only had 3 generations, I knew who it was, as it said that the one kid covered up was born June 7th 1958 at Mt Sinai Hospital Hennepin county to Mattie and John Nelson, there was one other child born 1960. Its showed that John had a grandfather called "Clarence Walter Nelson born 1893/4).

If Prince was Italian or Puerto Rican you would expect some Latin sounding names. Names like Shaw and Nelson are clearly White sounding Anglo saxon or Celtic slave holder names, passed on to freed slaves. Plus Prince is always talking about Family names and slave names. "Who is Nelson, I am not Nels son!". Plus too Italian ancestry would usually mean post 1880 arrival in the USA as few came before then and after 1924 very few came afterwards due to a racist immigration law passed that year. So Prince would be expected to have at least one great grandparent or grandparent who was Italian or Hispanic for him to be called that.

I am surprised it only goers back to his grandparents, learning about Matties father was new to me, especially when here in New Zealand, everyone can trace their roots back to the mid 19th immigration vessel they came on and further. My European side goes back fully 8 generations and in some cases 14 generations to the 1500s. Most Maori and Polynesians are better still, oral histories that were written down around 150 years ago take me back 25 generations to my ancestor Tamatea around 1300 and my tribal ancestor Hauiti who lived around 1550.

There is nothing to convince, because there is no such thing as 100% Black American. Black American is part of a variety of cultures/ethnic groups that share a similar cultures/history. It is not a race. It is only referenced as a race, by societal views or standards. All, if not most, Black Americans have African, European or other ethnicities running through their veins, and that can be traced through DNA testing. . This also does not mean that one is in denial of their Black culture, despite results of their DNA test..

Doesn't matter how 'very dark or very light' an individual who defines as Black American, is. For example, according to Don Cheadle's DNA test, when Professor Henry Gates read him his results, part of that DNA test, showed 19% European ancestry, while 81% showed sub-saharan African, but no one would question if he has European ethnicity, because of his dark complexion. A person's ethnicity can be traced through DNA testing.

People tend to question Blacks who are lighter-skinned, about their ethnicity. That's mostly because many people lack the cultural and historical knowledge of Black Americans as a varied people, and seem to be 'selective' when embracing/showing respect towards many persons who identify as Black, I find that often times, when it is an individual like a celebrity, whose ethnicity is questioned, and when some find out that individual may have non-African (so-to-speak) ethnicity, many ump for glee, and tend to embrace, value and respect that individual's non-African side, moreso than give the same level of respect/value and acceptance, towards that individual's African ancestry or Black American cultural side.

I find that a lot of Prince fans tend to do that, because there are many that will not fully accept that Prince refers or accepts himself as 'Black'. I find it interesting how many fans have missed the many times Prince refers to himself as 'Black' in many of his songs;most recently in his song 'Breakfast can wait' or maybe some choose to ignore when he uses the 'B' word.

Number two. The surnames of the majority of Black Americans (including Black Caribbeans) come from Europeans or White Slave owners (French, Dutch, English, Irish, German, Spanish, etc.).

Black is a culture. By societal standards, it is generally referenced as a racial group within society, consisting of various cultural/ethnic groups, with a shared/similar history.

Just like 'White' references those of European descent/ancestry, although there are several ethnic groups under the label 'White', the same societal rule, is used to define those under the societal-designed label 'Black'.

I think if people take more time, and make the effort to study, human history, the origins of man, Trans-saharan and Transatlantic slave eras, etc., and look into the research by genetic scientists, where much of their research has shown that Africans have the highest, genetic diversity out of all the other people in the world, then I think more people will understand why many Black Americans are of varying skin tones, and maybe one day, their varying complexions, will no longer be looked at, as though they're 'science projects' always being dissected.

Check out the works/research of Dr. Alice Roberts and Spencer Wells.

[Edited 2/9/13 16:03pm]

I can't tell you how much I always appreciate your messages! You are SO ON POINT WITH 'Black/African American' History! I love it! I have learned so much fom you over the years, reading what you thought about lyrics and all, and this always makes me smile! FINALLY, someone willing to bring the facts and not the BULL!

EyeJester7 said:

2elijah said:

There is nothing to convince, because there is no such thing as 100% Black American. Black American is part of a variety of cultures/ethnic groups that share a similar cultures/history. It is not a race. It is only referenced as a race, by societal views or standards. All, if not most, Black Americans have African, European or other ethnicities running through their veins, and that can be traced through DNA testing. . This also does not mean that one is in denial of their Black culture, despite results of their DNA test..

Doesn't matter how 'very dark or very light' an individual who defines as Black American, is. For example, according to Don Cheadle's DNA test, when Professor Henry Gates read him his results, part of that DNA test, showed 19% European ancestry, while 81% showed sub-saharan African, but no one would question if he has European ethnicity, because of his dark complexion. A person's ethnicity can be traced through DNA testing.

People tend to question Blacks who are lighter-skinned, about their ethnicity. That's mostly because many people lack the cultural and historical knowledge of Black Americans as a varied people, and seem to be 'selective' when embracing/showing respect towards many persons who identify as Black, I find that often times, when it is an individual like a celebrity, whose ethnicity is questioned, and when some find out that individual may have non-African (so-to-speak) ethnicity, many ump for glee, and tend to embrace, value and respect that individual's non-African side, moreso than give the same level of respect/value and acceptance, towards that individual's African ancestry or Black American cultural side.

I find that a lot of Prince fans tend to do that, because there are many that will not fully accept that Prince refers or accepts himself as 'Black'. I find it interesting how many fans have missed the many times Prince refers to himself as 'Black' in many of his songs;most recently in his song 'Breakfast can wait' or maybe some choose to ignore when he uses the 'B' word.

Number two. The surnames of the majority of Black Americans (including Black Caribbeans) come from Europeans or White Slave owners (French, Dutch, English, Irish, German, Spanish, etc.).

Black is a culture. By societal standards, it is generally referenced as a racial group within society, consisting of various cultural/ethnic groups, with a shared/similar history.

Just like 'White' references those of European descent/ancestry, although there are several ethnic groups under the label 'White', the same societal rule, is used to define those under the societal-designed label 'Black'.

I think if people take more time, and make the effort to study, human history, the origins of man, Trans-saharan and Transatlantic slave eras, etc., and look into the research by genetic scientists, where much of their research has shown that Africans have the highest, genetic diversity out of all the other people in the world, then I think more people will understand why many Black Americans are of varying skin tones, and maybe one day, their varying complexions, will no longer be looked at, as though they're 'science projects' always being dissected.

Check out the works/research of Dr. Alice Roberts and Spencer Wells.

[Edited 2/9/13 16:03pm]

I can't tell you how much I always appreciate your messages! You are SO ON POINT WITH 'Black/African American' History! I love it! I have learned so much fom you over the years, reading what you thought about lyrics and all, and this always makes me smile! FINALLY, someone willing to bring the facts and not the BULL!

Thanks, EyeJester7, as always I appreciate your comments. Also, I added links to vids on subject mentioned in my post. Maybe it will give some insight to those who are curious about the varied, physical features/appearances of humans in general.

'Incite to insight edit'

[Edited 2/11/13 20:48pm]

Thanks to NuPwrSoul and 2elijah. Your comments are very well said, and all I must say is, “Amen!”

1725topp said:

Thanks to NuPwrSoul and 2elijah. Your comments are very well said, and all I must say is, “Amen!”

Thanks 1725Stopp. Much appreciated.

Funny: when I used to catch the show Who Do You Think You Are? I read it as sang by Prince in "It's gonna be lonely"

A fun read, but man is that lazy reporting. All they did was go to Ancestry.com, type in "Prince", and spit out the results. A 10 year old could do that.