Senator Elizabeth Warren has been pilloried by Democrats and Republicans for releasing the results of a DNA test that confirms part of her ancestry. In a recent editorial in The Washington Post, Dana Milbank added his voice to those who have condemned her. For those who are interested, you can read the entire piece here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/join-my-tribe-elizabeth-warren/2018/10/16/3fb0867e-d181-11e8-b2d2-f397227b43f0_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.6e96f48c5020
He wrote: "This is why Warren’s DNA stunt was such a blunder: She took Trump’s DNA-test dare and let him divide us — again — by race and ethnicity, just as he did when he goaded President Barack Obama to prove his legitimacy by producing his birth certificate." First, Trump doesn't need any prompting - dividing us is his modus operandi. Second, NO ONE has the right to say that anyone else is not entitled to claim part of his/her heritage - NO ONE.
Milbank noted that "“Senator Warren is undermining tribal interests with her continued claims of tribal heritage,” proclaimed the Cherokee Nation, decrying her “inappropriate and wrong” use of a DNA test, a “mockery” that dishonors “legitimate” tribal citizens." While her DNA does not entitle her to tribal membership (which she acknowledged), the tribe DOES NOT have the right to eliminate one of her lines of descent or disparage the obvious pride she feels in that portion of her heritage.
And, yes, I've read Vine Deloria and understand why some Native Americans do not like White Americans claiming Native descent. Nevertheless, our history on the subject of race is much more complicated and nuanced than the views of some of these folks allow. Barack Obama often pointed out that our history in these matters is tortured and very complex.
The majority of my own ancestry is European. However, like Warren, I have trace amounts of Native American DNA. And family tradition and traditional genealogical research confirms what my DNA test demonstrated. Because some of the Eastern tribes intermarried with Europeans several hundred years ago, Native DNA was diluted among many people who were considered full-fledged members of the tribes. Hence, a White ancestor marrying an "Indian" might have entailed that person joining themselves to someone who was genetically more European than Native. Finally, current testing of Autosomal DNA only has the ability to pick up ethnicities back to about six generations.
This testing can reveal all kinds of interesting heritages. Most African Americans, for instance, have large percentages of European DNA as part of their ancestry. And, like many White Americans, I have trace amounts of African DNA (also demonstrated by genetic testing). Now, while I do not have any experience living as a Black man, the fact that African ancestry is part of my genetic story is undeniable. My father's test also identified Ashkenazi heritage. He's not a Jew, but that heritage is still his.
When we look at our tortured history, we see instances where "one drop" of African blood meant that you were less than a full citizen of the United States. There was also a time when many of our ancestors sought to Anglicize their names and conform to the ways of the English majority so as to escape the ridicule and prejudice that greeted them when they got off of the boat. We should remember these instances when we seek to exclude folks from our camp.
My own Autosomal DNA test results showed large percentages of heritage from Britain, Scandinavia and Central Europe. Now that doesn't mean I'm English, Irish, Swedish, German or French; but that doesn't prevent me from taking pride in those heritages. My brother, on the other hand, didn't want to claim his French heritage; but I quickly pointed out that whether he claimed it or not would not exclude it from his heritage - it was still a part of him.
Charlemagne may have lived and ruled twelve centuries ago, but I'm still a descendant of his and proud of the fact that I am! The fact is that we are all the product of thousands of ancestors. Each of us has two parents, four grandparents, eight great grandparents, sixteen great great grandparents, thirty-two great great great grandparents - well you get the picture. And, while our genetic heritage from each one of these folks diminishes over many generations, take away any ONE of them and you wouldn't be here!
Sorry, I'm claiming all of my heritage, and I really don't care who likes it! It's mine, and NO ONE can take it away from me. It's all an integral part of who I am - part of my very fiber and being. I understand if you don't want me to be a part of your tribe, but you will not deprive me of a legitimate point of pride in my heritage. I'm an American, and that is a very messy identity. I can embrace it or deny it, but I can't change it (and neither can you).
He wrote: "This is why Warren’s DNA stunt was such a blunder: She took Trump’s DNA-test dare and let him divide us — again — by race and ethnicity, just as he did when he goaded President Barack Obama to prove his legitimacy by producing his birth certificate." First, Trump doesn't need any prompting - dividing us is his modus operandi. Second, NO ONE has the right to say that anyone else is not entitled to claim part of his/her heritage - NO ONE.
Milbank noted that "“Senator Warren is undermining tribal interests with her continued claims of tribal heritage,” proclaimed the Cherokee Nation, decrying her “inappropriate and wrong” use of a DNA test, a “mockery” that dishonors “legitimate” tribal citizens." While her DNA does not entitle her to tribal membership (which she acknowledged), the tribe DOES NOT have the right to eliminate one of her lines of descent or disparage the obvious pride she feels in that portion of her heritage.
And, yes, I've read Vine Deloria and understand why some Native Americans do not like White Americans claiming Native descent. Nevertheless, our history on the subject of race is much more complicated and nuanced than the views of some of these folks allow. Barack Obama often pointed out that our history in these matters is tortured and very complex.
The majority of my own ancestry is European. However, like Warren, I have trace amounts of Native American DNA. And family tradition and traditional genealogical research confirms what my DNA test demonstrated. Because some of the Eastern tribes intermarried with Europeans several hundred years ago, Native DNA was diluted among many people who were considered full-fledged members of the tribes. Hence, a White ancestor marrying an "Indian" might have entailed that person joining themselves to someone who was genetically more European than Native. Finally, current testing of Autosomal DNA only has the ability to pick up ethnicities back to about six generations.
This testing can reveal all kinds of interesting heritages. Most African Americans, for instance, have large percentages of European DNA as part of their ancestry. And, like many White Americans, I have trace amounts of African DNA (also demonstrated by genetic testing). Now, while I do not have any experience living as a Black man, the fact that African ancestry is part of my genetic story is undeniable. My father's test also identified Ashkenazi heritage. He's not a Jew, but that heritage is still his.
When we look at our tortured history, we see instances where "one drop" of African blood meant that you were less than a full citizen of the United States. There was also a time when many of our ancestors sought to Anglicize their names and conform to the ways of the English majority so as to escape the ridicule and prejudice that greeted them when they got off of the boat. We should remember these instances when we seek to exclude folks from our camp.
My own Autosomal DNA test results showed large percentages of heritage from Britain, Scandinavia and Central Europe. Now that doesn't mean I'm English, Irish, Swedish, German or French; but that doesn't prevent me from taking pride in those heritages. My brother, on the other hand, didn't want to claim his French heritage; but I quickly pointed out that whether he claimed it or not would not exclude it from his heritage - it was still a part of him.
Charlemagne may have lived and ruled twelve centuries ago, but I'm still a descendant of his and proud of the fact that I am! The fact is that we are all the product of thousands of ancestors. Each of us has two parents, four grandparents, eight great grandparents, sixteen great great grandparents, thirty-two great great great grandparents - well you get the picture. And, while our genetic heritage from each one of these folks diminishes over many generations, take away any ONE of them and you wouldn't be here!
Sorry, I'm claiming all of my heritage, and I really don't care who likes it! It's mine, and NO ONE can take it away from me. It's all an integral part of who I am - part of my very fiber and being. I understand if you don't want me to be a part of your tribe, but you will not deprive me of a legitimate point of pride in my heritage. I'm an American, and that is a very messy identity. I can embrace it or deny it, but I can't change it (and neither can you).
That is an entertaining piece of writing. I wonder if we can get Bruce Springsteen to put some music with the lyrics.
ReplyDeleteI have an image of your all american brother being annoyed by his daft smart dressing french brother. :-)
Magwa sends regards to "the grand pere the francais colonel munro."
Anyway charlemagne was frankish, ruling both sides of the rhine river.
It brings a different perspective to "the golden rule". Who is the other? Am I my brothers keeper. No you (dna) are a keeper (vessel) of your brothers.
One of the first New Yorkers was a North African pirate. Peter Salee. I believe some 1 million americans descend from a "very very merry lady" running a "pub" in mannahatta.
Swedish...maybe Delaware.
I think it is great to take pride in each and every strain of ones heritage. But I would grin for a day if a 99.99999 percent white person would claim to be a black man. And worse, claim financial reparations or claim to be a better dancer than the white people. Although last month serious trouble in the work place when police officers started calling their colleague kunta after the results of dna testing.
Anyway. Each and every person alive today descends from a long line of survivors. Sometimes I wonder how anyone was able to pass the age of 18.
Nck
It was nice to hear about some of the Heinz 57 ingredients in my personal dna profile as a white guy. But, I really can't say that I had any inordinate sense of pride, or wanted to visit any of the so-called mother lands, or even desired a family seal.
ReplyDeleteWhat must have seemed odd to those who knew me was that because of HWA, the Old Covenant oracles, and kosher dining experience, I really got caught up in a pseudo-Jewish facade for a number of years. I was a Judeo-phile, and still today admire the ways in which Jewish people have exhibited special talents, and have risen to the tops of all fields. I mean, when someone in a concert setting screams out for "Free Bird", who else but Bob Dylan and his band would honor such a request, and actually pull it off fairly well?
The fact is, all ethnicities have something about them that we can admire. When people ask me how I became skilled as a technician, I always answer "Mexicans!" Mexican friends were definitely my primary influence in getting started working on cars, and it all took off from there.
People ask where I got my sense of fashion, and appreciation for music, and I answer "African-Americans"! So much to learn there, too!
I believe that we are all one race, the human race. Anyone who doesn't draw on that entire gene pool has got to be ignorant.
BB
Yes I like that cultural aproach. The icelandic thing for fishing and horses is not genetic. Nor was pizza known outside of naples before the us army liberated that city. I do like to go to Italian restaurant that is not run by Greek or vice versa. But that is crazy preference. What do I know if there s a chinese chef behind the curtain.
ReplyDeleteJewish success in business might be connected to thousands of years of limiting them to few occupations. Ability to take loss and especially risk. Go cash in an instant. Help each other find greener pastures while forced to move liquid assets for the umptieth time.
Nck
What if Senator Warren benefited from her identification as Native American? In the not too distant past, identification as Native American generally did not accrue to the benefit of those who were so labeled (that's an understatement). In fact, it is not an exaggeration to say that Native Americans were subject to losing their lives, lands, possessions and dignity with mind numbing regularity. Do you suppose Senator Warren's Native American ancestors would have ANY problems with one of their descendants deriving some benefit from their identity?
ReplyDeleteHahahah Miller. You wanna go that way? The old law vs grace debate? Can you just walk up to the front of the hall raise your hands and identify as a christian or do you need to classify by some standards???
ReplyDeleteFirst of all let me state that I do not believe the native Americans to be selfish as in above average. I also believe they might find it entertaining and interesting to see "the white daughter in the four wheeled horse and the huge tipi with the cool wind installed by BB" identify as one of their own.
HOWEVER. Looking at the Masai tribes a youngster does not qualify to be an adult without having been on a hunting party for lions and possibly even catching and killing one.
Other WHITE tribes from the America's require the removal of skin at delicate places and the daughters of such tribes find those of the European tribes funny and possibly unatttracive for not having removed said part of skin despite any attractive accents or manners they might harbor.
My point.
It depends what it takes to be accepted by the constituency.
To be an American means to pledge allegiance to certain creed and adhere to that creed, invent new things and be hypocritical about subjects regarding sex. To be European means to deny any creed, pledge to nothing, enjoy natural breasts and try to improve something.
I'm sure there must be standards to which Senator Warren must adhere in order to be fully accepted by the elders, since that is the norm for all tribes anywhere.
What good is a german who enjoys whine, a french person enjoying mcdonalds on a regular basis an american eating with fork and knife, a british person weaving magic carpets, or an Indian person enoying cannoli.
There got to be rules!!!
nck
I believe that the Native Americans who lived during the "trail of tears" era would be gratified and encouraged to know that their descendants' reputation and stature would be correctly and properly benefited from their identity. The point is, the tribes have criteria for establishing authenticity for the purpose of becoming official members of their tribe, and sharing in the benefits, and it would appear that the percentages in Senator Warren's case do not meet these criteria. Most of us who realize that political correctness is simply remembering what our mothers and grandmothers taught us when we were children cringe when POTUS calls her "Pocahontas" . However, I believe that most Native Americans who have lived on reservations would believe that in Senator Warren beats the heart of a white woman.
ReplyDeleteIt's a little complicated.
BB
I would never accuse American ex-pat ladies talking about "Monet", sipping a Cabernet and having "sooo much enjoyed their 4 hour stay in Florence" of "cultural apropriation or whatever.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure about the ladies in the Midwest welcoming them back. "Do you think Mary-Anne has changed the past 2 years?"
While the man tribe shares a Coors and meat and all is right before they descend into the man cave and watch football.
nck
Yes, all man-made organizations have rules/standards for membership (which includes the entity known as Cherokee Nation). Those rules/standards are set by the leaders of the groups (legislatures, councils, committees, judicial bodies and executives). In some cases, membership is based on having an ancestor on one of the rolls created by the U.S. government. Some tribes require various percentages of Native ancestry to be accepted as members. Chief John Ross of the Cherokee at the time of their removal and infamous Trail of Tears is estimated to have had somewhere between 70-80% European ancestry. Other Native Americans take a dim view of anyone with Native ancestry who doesn't live on their reservation. The point is that all of these standards/rules are subjective and arbitrary.
ReplyDeleteI am a Christian, but I'm not a member in good standing of any of the Armstrong Churches of God, the Southern Baptist Convention or the Roman Catholic Church (and have no desire to be on the rolls of any of those organizations). You can exclude me from membership in your organizations, but you CANNOT change the facts of my ancestral affiliations. Sorry, it just not up to you or any other person or group of people.
And, are we defining rights and benefits as applying to the members of a government recognized man-made organization? Or is the right/benefit/entitlement based on membership in the human race, U.S citizenship or being part of a group who has suffered past discrimination? Let me get this straight, my heritage doesn't count because my ancestors didn't get recorded on a role? or they were too many generations back? And what does it really mean when we check White, Black, Hispanic, Native American or Other on those forms? Is it dependent on membership in a government recognized organization? Yes, let's talk about race - we have so much to discuss!
Well, there is the United Nations and there is the Organization of Indigenous peoples.
ReplyDeleteI will not deny the good Senator membership of good standing of the human race. (Although we are all stardust....from out there......., with a touch of gold formed in the nucleus of stars).
Man, this is taking me back to my freshman years. Le Contract Social by JJ Rousseau, L Esprit des Lois by Montesquieu et al.
My friend, you lost entitlement to Swedish subsidies and child care the moment your ancestors pledged allegiance to the USA. It doesn't mean you are forbidden from getting the kids that nice bed from Ikea or enjoy the Swedish meatballs while assembling the kit and have pride in what your swedish genes accomplished in conjunction with the manual.
I know. Bill Clinton was the first black president. What does he check at the boxes.
I quite liked my little story about the ladies at the country club welcoming their ex pat friend back. "Do you think she has changed?" They feel she has become snobby "unamerican" with her chatter about "Monet." Perhaps it is insecurity on their part. Perhaps our fear of the black man is insecurity on our part. My point. What did the Red Man have to offer, what we rejected and now suffer the consequences.
Where are the buffalo? What did we do with the environment? Please native people. Reclaim your dignity. Show us the way forward. Help us save the earth as you have lived harmonious with nature for many years. Make your heritage part of the shared heritage of mankind.
We need each other. We are one. E pluribus Unum.
nck
Angelina: Where do you live?
ReplyDeleteTrudy: Bennington Hills
Angelina: I've never seen you at the Country Club!
Trudy: I didn't say that I was a member of the Bennington Hills Country Club.
Angelina: I've never seen you at a meeting of the Homeowners' Association either!
Trudy: I live in a small apartment just inside the corporation limits - I don't live on snob hill!
Angelina: And you have the audacity to say that you're from Bennington Hills? Where do you get off claiming to be one of us?
Trudy: I NEVER made such a claim - You can keep your Country Club and your Homeowners' Association!
Angelina: Well, the nerve. I can't believe you have the gall to show your face here and let your rugrats play in this park!
Trudy: It's a city park, Bitch; and me and my kids are entitled to be here. Sorry you don't like it - not really!
We do need each other, but e pluribus unum as an American motto. As you know, it means "out of many, one." English, Irish, French, German, Swedish, Cherokee, Shawnee and African all coming together to produce me (and my story is not atypical). I'm not entitled to Swedish subsidies and child care, but I am entitled to claim that part of my heritage; and that includes learning about, adopting and experiencing any cultural accouterments I might be interested in - I don't really care whether or not you like my Viking helmet! You're entitled to think it's ridiculous and laugh - that's your prerogative (and, just for the record, I'm making a point - I don't really have a Viking helmet).
Several Native American women married into the very Scottish Vann family after they arrived on this continent. Over the years, many of these mixed people lived as Cherokee, some of them lived as White folks. Many of the wealthy and influential members of this family lost their homes in Georgia and Alabama and made the long trek to Indian Territory via the Trail of Tears (and were in-line to sign up for the rolls). Some of the poor, unimportant folks who were living as White folk escaped notice and remained on their small plots of land. My ancestor made a choice about which side to associate himself with. As a consequence of that choice, a small amount of Cherokee blood got to stay in the magnificent homeland of this impressive but persecuted people. I'm the product of the folks who stayed behind. Through that trace ancestry a part (a very small part) of the Cherokee continues to own and roam around on a part of their original homeland, and yes, I'm proud of that (please excuse my pride).
ReplyDeleteIts not the helmet I'm laughing at. When I ordered you to join the shieldwall for the saxon attack the white sneakers and shorts stuck out like a sore thumb.
ReplyDeleteObjects will assist a person to connect with cultures. The culture/value system inside a person is harder and requires immersion.
How do you love a mother like an Italian male, what makes Heidi Klum tick, what's it like to experience freedom on a bike on route 66?
Thank you for sharing the Vann information. I am an avid fan of several versions of "Who do you think you are?" tv program. And Vann will be part of my mental database.
I am part of an extended family who at one time had to make tough choices to remain or go. The choice was remain, until politics, nationalism and racial issues forced to reconsider the choice of preference. The 2nd choice was denied on the basis of racial quota aplicable for one of the female matriarchs.
To lose all was the least of my extended family problems. To get out alive in time was priority and ones physical features and last names were a factor at the time, not ones papers or the stamps one had acquired.
Decades later I visited as the regular tourist and was hailed as a moviestar with entire families joining me to take photos of my, to them striking physical features, which are ordinary in other quarters. Politics, nationalism and the abuse of racial differences for nationalistic purposes were a far cry from those welcoming invitations.
I'm not filing for reparations. The past is the past. We are building for the future based on a common heritage and shared history reapecting the sovereign right of peoples to govern themselves. (Until mankind as a whole recognizes we are in this together.
Nck
Well said, and we are in this together. I included the Vann story to demonstrate that I have skin in this game. Thank you for doing the same. We can exclude each other from our organizations/cliques/groups, but our DNA will always say that we are cousins/family.
Delete