A Family Tree With Roots Deep In Slavery |
A Family Tree With Roots Deep In Slavery
Code Switch: Race and identity, remixed
National Public Radio
2018-11-21
Man_Half-tube/Getty Images
“Well hello there Nabil!
“I welcome your letter.
…“So in the little bit of information you shared with me, I am intrigued.
“I have worked for a number of years, 26 in fact, on my genealogy. It has been a passion and at times an obsession.”
In her initial email to me, Karen surprised me with her excitement and candor — neither of which I was expecting from the woman whom I had gently accused of being the descendant of the man who owned my ancestors…
…My mother, who is white, chose to have me and raise me on her own. My father is black, but because he has never been part of my life, I’ve never held a strong black identity or felt I belonged to any single race. I grew up in very diverse and liberal surroundings where, if anyone asked, I was racially mixed, and that was fine.
I’m often asked the question, “What are you?” Or the less invasive, but still pointed, “Where are you from?” I’ve always described myself as “half black and half white.” It’s a phrase I still use for simplicity…
Read the entire article here.
Tags: Code Switch, Nabil Ayers, National Public Radio, NPR