The Riddle of 100% Black African Ancestry: Myths, Realities, and DNA

The question of whether someone can be 100% Black African

has puzzled many. While most Americans, whether Black or white, are unaware of the sexual abuse by white enslavers/bosses during the era of slavery and Jim Crow, which led to many having less than 100% Black African ancestry, there are still rare cases where individuals may score 100% Sub-Saharan African.

The Gullah Geeche people, for instance, are prime examples of those with a high percentage of Black African ancestry due to malaria a major factor that kept white settlers away. This has resulted in South Carolina having the highest rate of African admixture among African Americans, thanks in part to the Gullah Geeche, who have concentrated the most there.

Ancestry and DNA Testing

My curiosity led me to DNA testing, which revealed that I am 98% African, with 1% from the Iberian Peninsula and another 1% Central Iberian. Sometimes, individuals with a perceived white ancestry might find out they have substantial Sub-Saharan African ancestry, as happened with a white supremacist. Such discoveries challenge common assumptions.

Traditional US Black Folk: A Mix of Ancestries

The traditional US black folk, often thought of as 100% African, are in fact a mix of various ancestries. Their DNA maps reveal that a quarter of their DNA is typically of European descent, primarily from early settlers like the French, British, or Spanish.

Banishing the myth of 100% Black African ancestry, even the leading African ancestry groups like the Gullah or the Black Moors, who ruled Spain for centuries, are part of a complex, multi-ethnic weave.

Modern Mixed Heritage: Second Generation African Americans

Modern figures like Barack Obama, who is a second-generation African American, have clear European ancestry going back further than their recent African American heritage.

Thus, the question of whether one can be 100% Black African or not remains a subjective one. An individual's DNA test results must be taken with a grain of salt, acknowledging the layers of history, including the exploitation and interracial mixing that occurred during slavery and Jim Crow.

Understanding and embracing the complexity of African-American ancestry is key to grasping the true heritage of these individuals and communities.