why do black people for get about there white heritage when they find out they have white Ancesters?

Question

why do black people for get about there white heritage when they find out they have white Ancesters , they tend to go for the native american Ancestors ?

Answer 1

Well it's a matter of degree- I guess they were brought up thinking of white as a negative thing and don't want to acknowledge that nobody on this earth is purely anything.

I mean, most people have no problem acknowledging that everyone has black ancestors, but that's so far back it doesn't carry the same stigma as something within a few hundred years.

Answer 2

Not true. My grandmother was 1/2 Native American and 1/2 German on my mom's side and there's Irish on my dad's side. I do identify as black since I am not biracial. My heritage is not due to slavery or rape, so I have no issue with it. I think it would be silly to say what percentage I am of everything. The only people I bother telling my heritage to are the ones who make a comment about my "interesting coloring" (light tan skin and green eyes), but it's pretty obvious I am black. I see no need to forget about my heritage because it's who I am.

Answer 3

Most african-americans I know acknowledge their european ancestry. However for many AA's this mixture was not a question of choice for their ancestors but a question of force and power and they may not have been claimed by or had any ties to their white ancestors except for genetic. On the other hand, the intermarriage with native americans was often by choice so it is a part of the family story that is passed on and celebrated.

In my case, the only oral history that was passed down on my white ancestors was of a legal marriage between my great-great grandmother (black ) and her irish husband. But looking at my family, I'm sure there were others.

Answer 4

Everyone wants an identity they can relate to to feel whole and complete. When people are of mixed heritage it is confusing to say the least to an individual. So they sway to the side or heritage they relate most to or identify with most. A person doesn't like to feel they are a jumbled up mess so they usually regardless of race find an indentity which their family relates to most and goes with that foundation which helps form their character.

Answer 5

I haven't forgotten. When I was doing a family tree assignment in 8th grade, I found out that I have Norwegian ancestors. I thought that was real cool. I don't know why some people chose to ignore that no one is completely all of one thing, but that we all come from a mixture of cultures.

Answer 6

well b/c a lot of blacks...in my case,the ones that i know...feel that if both of their parents are black..then naturally they are black,and they also believe it's another way to strip them of their identity/heritage....

my great-great grandmother was full blooded Sioux and she married a black man...in that time marriage between Natives and blacks were not uncommon...now i love my great grams to death but why would i claim to 1/2, or 1/4 Native American when both my mother and father are of African descent(black)...feel my drift..could be argued the same about the blacks whom you mentioned.

Answer 7

Because the White Ancestors were more often than not slave masters. They would use their slaves for sex then either enslave the children or sell them. Would you be proud of this? I sure as hell would not. I am a white man myself, with southern roots. It makes me feel ashamed of this part of southern history.

Answer 8

They don't want to be associated with "the man". Although some black men, like Bryant Gumble, embrace it.

Answer 9

Perhaps because they weren't worth remembering! You did say when they "find out",Which would leave one to think they weren't embraced by that side of their family.

Answer 10

This is some kind of gross generalization, I'm sure.

Please use spell check.