3 ms·

I'm not sure if virtue signalling is the right word but a few years ago it became a bit of a joke as people would claim they were 0.3% Cherokee in order to garn

by 22c 3y ago

I'm not sure if virtue signalling is the right word but a few years ago it became a bit of a joke as people would claim they were 0.3% Cherokee in order to garner sympathy. If someone feels deeply connected to the land or really enjoys drinking green beer on St. Patrick's day, I don't feel like they should have to justify those passions to themselves or others by taking a DNA test. While this is an interesting historical endeavour, I can't help but think 23andMe is essentially catering for those kinds of people who want some sort of present day sympathy or understanding based on what 23andMe says might have happened to a distant ancestor.

astrange 3y ago
That didn't "become a joke a few years ago", you just noticed that every white person in Oklahoma thinks they're part Cherokee because their parents told them they were. This was a pretty reasonable belief until genetics tests came out. Why not trust your parents? Families being upset when this particular thing gets disproven comes up all the time in genetics forums. It happens almost as often as discovering someone's dad isn't their real dad.
- 22c 3y ago
  I agree that joke is perhaps the wrong word, but I saw it as the topic of a few memes relating to ancestry. DNA is also only part of the story when it comes to ancenstry, I'd argue it's probably the least important part unless you're talking about physical features or genetic disposition. I can see it being entirely possible that a great grandparent grew up on a reservation, learned all the customs etc. but was not born of native American parents. As you mention as well, being adopted etc. isn't uncommon. It doesn't mean you can't identify strongly with the culture of your parents just because you didn't get any of their genes.
  - astrange 3y ago
    > I can see it being entirely possible that a great grandparent grew up on a reservation, learned all the customs etc. but was not born of native American parents. In this case they almost universally just made it up. (Specifically it's usually about a "Cherokee princess", though that might be a stereotype. It's never a different tribe though, just Cherokee.) In some cases it turns out their ancestors were part black and covered this up by claiming to be native though. > As you mention as well, being adopted etc. isn't uncommon. Oh, I'm talking about adultery.

by 22c 3y ago

astrange 3y ago

That didn't "become a joke a few years ago", you just noticed that every white person in Oklahoma thinks they're part Cherokee because their parents told them they were. This was a pretty reasonable belief until genetics tests came out. Why not trust your parents? Families being upset when this particular thing gets disproven comes up all the time in genetics forums. It happens almost as often as discovering someone's dad isn't their real dad.

22c 3y ago
I agree that joke is perhaps the wrong word, but I saw it as the topic of a few memes relating to ancestry. DNA is also only part of the story when it comes to ancenstry, I'd argue it's probably the least important part unless you're talking about physical features or genetic disposition. I can see it being entirely possible that a great grandparent grew up on a reservation, learned all the customs etc. but was not born of native American parents. As you mention as well, being adopted etc. isn't uncommon. It doesn't mean you can't identify strongly with the culture of your parents just because you didn't get any of their genes.
- astrange 3y ago
  > I can see it being entirely possible that a great grandparent grew up on a reservation, learned all the customs etc. but was not born of native American parents. In this case they almost universally just made it up. (Specifically it's usually about a "Cherokee princess", though that might be a stereotype. It's never a different tribe though, just Cherokee.) In some cases it turns out their ancestors were part black and covered this up by claiming to be native though. > As you mention as well, being adopted etc. isn't uncommon. Oh, I'm talking about adultery.