My have friend from New Mexico. She is Hispano (not Hispanic). Her family arrived in what is now the United States with the Spanish Conquistadors. That was is 1607. I bet there are Americans who came even earlier with the founding of St. Augustine, FL. And how do we count San Juan, PR? The Spanish settlements in the United States are older than the English.

Anonymous wrote:Nope, but I think it is really cool when people find out something interesting about their ancestors. My grandfather fled Nazi Germany and his stories always fascinated me.

When I was an AA student at the University of Chicago in the '70s, I had three Jewish roommates. One of my roommates' parents were sent to Auschwitz and showed me their tattooed identity numbers on their arms that were placed there at the camp. And when my roommate's mother put her arm around me and told me that 'contrary to popular belief, we Jews understand what your ancestors went through', I just broke down and cried.

I ran my fingers across those numbers, and the next summer during a group excursion to Europe and while we were in Munich, I made it a point to detour to Dachau. This had (and still does) such an impact on me that 20 years later, I took my children to Africa to see the 'Door of No Return'.

I speak only for me but I allow no one to approach me (or more directly, get up in my face) and denigrate anyone whose ancestors suffered so much during enslavement, African or Jewish. I have touched and felt pain, literally and figuratively.

No one should ever forget.

We came on a plane through Dulles. And proud of it.

My dad's side of the family is directly descended from William Bradford. Seriously.

I also have family members that came over later.

I think a lot of people have ancestry to those on the Mayflower.

Anonymous wrote:AA here who is also a history professor. I have no probelm with anyone being proud of their history and lineage. My ancestors were slaves (we were able to trace back 1837) but post-slavery my kinfolks did some pretty awesome things (including a legislator during Reconstruction).

I think some of the problem is that people claim the positive parts of their lineage ("My family was on the Mayflower, isn't that cool?") but, at the same time, disclaim any negative apsects of that same lineage ("You can't blame me for the bad stuff our ancestors did - it was not my fault.") I am just saying that history is a positive and a negative story. Both should be ackowledged and told.

Thank you. I think this is essentially what pisses me off. If you want to acknowledge it, acknowledge it all, not just the fun stuff.

Anonymous wrote:AA here who is also a history professor. I have no probelm with anyone being proud of their history and lineage. My ancestors were slaves (we were able to trace back 1837) but post-slavery my kinfolks did some pretty awesome things (including a legislator during Reconstruction).

I think some of the problem is that people claim the positive parts of their lineage ("My family was on the Mayflower, isn't that cool?") but, at the same time, disclaim any negative apsects of that same lineage ("You can't blame me for the bad stuff our ancestors did - it was not my fault.") I am just saying that history is a positive and a negative story. Both should be ackowledged and told.

+1

Yes. Father's side in MA since 1600s.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh boy, did one of the resident DCUM angries hijack this thread too? I'm a black man and I think it's cool to trace your ancestors back to historical events.

Ugh. Please STFU with your Stephen from Django ass.

O
O
O
MG!!

Anonymous wrote:OP, you're not some special snowflake.

Lots of Americans have ancestors who arrived on the Mayflower.

Or on other ships like the Mayflower bound for America. My ancestors accommodations weren't so great though.

I have Native American ancestry. I win.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:that isn't the fault of anyone on this board

What isn't their fault, that they celebrate and revere people who owned people, stold other people's lznd and spread disease and acted like their very presence was doing THEM a favor?
Manifest Destiny Mother*******!!
Put that your license plate!

you do know most white people were not slave owners, right?

Exactly most... But it is well documented that the Mayflower 26 started slavery in the US.

Interesting to know if family was on the Mayflower but not exactly something to be proud and excited about.

Like, wow just found out my family was on the Mayflower and I am very sorry, then send some money to a scholarship or something.

Why? I didn't do anything.

Should today's Germans be responsible for a Jewish scholarship fund?

Lame
Lame
Lame

There's that stunning intellect again.

Go back to LSA.

I would if I knew what LSA was, in the meantime
BitchBye!
Now bring it back now
BITCHBYE!
Two Times now
BitchBye!BitchBye!
Now break it down fo' me now
B.i.t.c.h
B.Y.E
It's time fo' the Perculator
BitchBitchBitchBitchBye

!

Please take your meds now.

Anonymous wrote:I am a descendent of William Bradford.

Me, too! But no one in my family speaks to each other, so let's not get to know each other. Carry on the family tradition!

AA here who is also a history professor. I have no probelm with anyone being proud of their history and lineage. My ancestors were slaves (we were able to trace back 1837) but post-slavery my kinfolks did some pretty awesome things (including a legislator during Reconstruction).

I think some of the problem is that people claim the positive parts of their lineage ("My family was on the Mayflower, isn't that cool?") but, at the same time, disclaim any negative apsects of that same lineage ("You can't blame me for the bad stuff our ancestors did - it was not my fault.") I am just saying that history is a positive and a negative story. Both should be ackowledged and told.

Anonymous wrote:Oh boy, did one of the resident DCUM angries hijack this thread too? I'm a black man and I think it's cool to trace your ancestors back to historical events.

Ugh. Please STFU with your Stephen from Django ass.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:12:51, try making a cogent point

Cogent to whom?
Me thinketh thou art unfamiliar with both the Cha Cha Slide and the Perculator !
Me pitieth thou
Bitcheth Byeth

I like you.