Students track their ancestry — using DNA
Toolbox
By PATRICK McARDLE STAFF WRITER - Published: November 29, 2009
BENNINGTON – College often is considered a place where young adults learn who they are and, thanks to a course based on the work of Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., that's exactly what a class of Southern Vermont College students found out this semester.
For the class, "Exploring Faces of Diversity: Building the 'I Am … and I Am From' Exhibit," about a dozen students and Southern Vermont College Provost Albert DeCiccio, who is teaching the class, traced their history through family memories, primary records — and DNA testing.
The resulting exhibit is on display at the Bennington Museum, and Gates himself will speak with students when he comes to give a lecture for the college Dec. 11.
DeCiccio said the class came from a lecture Gates gave in January to the Council of Independent Colleges' meeting of presidents. Southern Vermont College President Karen Gross talked to Gates afterward, because he had singled out the college in Bennington for its work with "first-generation students and students of color."
"She said, 'I'd like you to come to talk to the Bennington community and Southern Vermont College.' He said, 'I'd do that if you will do a course using (his) methodology,'" DeCiccio said.
Gates book, "In Search of Our Roots: How 19 Extraordinary African Americans Reclaimed Their Past," published this year, looks at the family history of famous black Americans such as actors Don Cheadle and Morgan Freeman, comedians Chris Tucker and Chris Rock, poet Maya Angelou, singer Tina Turner, and talk show host Oprah Winfrey.
While Gates has been well-known for his lectures and writing for years, he gained national fame in July when he was arrested in his own Massachusetts home by Cambridge Police. The incident culminated in a visit to the White House, where Gates, Gates' arresting officer and President Barack Obama shared beers together to talk about the issues raised by the incident.
Gates' book and the accompanying two-part PBS documentary explain his methodologym, which includes getting an oral history from family; vital records to bear out the oral research; and DNA testing. The genetic testing is especially useful for blacks, because the practice of slavery resulted in a lack of vital records.
DeCiccio said his class was assisted by the services of two Web sites. Staff at ancestry.com donated their services for the semester to help students find vital records and, with Gates' assistance, the CEO of familytree.com agreed to help make the DNA tests affordable.
After getting the results, the students put together their exhibit, even building their own pedestals, which include about four paragraphs on what they learned, an object of some significance to their family history and a short audio file to which museum visitors can listen. The posters on the pedestals also include three "artifacts," such as vital records or family photographs.
Naturally, the students got a variety of results from their DNA testing.
"I basically knew that I was from Europe, my family, but after the DNA testing, I could see that I went back a lot farther. … I could actually track my roots deeper into Europe, almost into Eastern Europe which was pretty cool to find out. It's a lot more history than I knew," said Brett Clatworthy of Argyle, N.Y.
Sara Neily, of Cornish, N.H., found out she was Irish, French and German although she said none of that background was a surprise.
While she knew her ancestors came from Guyana, after being brought there from India, Aliyah Pasha of Slingerlands, N.Y., said she didn't get any new insight into her family's history because "not many people from that part of the world … do these tests."
"I was disappointed because I thought I would actually find out more because I didn't actually know anything about my family history before this. But I found out a little bit more, which is a little bit better … but I want to find out what's the truth and what's just assumed," she said.
Katie Gallaher of Belmont, Mass., is adopted, but has been in touch with her birth mother since she was in second grade. She didn't know until this semester that she was part Cherokee Indian.
"I'm really interested in the Native American part. I want to start looking into that more and seeing my heritage. I've always been interested in Native American culture, so now I just more of a reason to be inspired by it," she said.
For economic reasons, the students tested only the part of their DNA inherited from their mother.
DeCiccio said he also took pride in teaching the first course in the United States that used Gates' methods. Another college in Detroit is planning a similar course, and a college in Spain used the same methods over the summer.
Gates will be speaking at the Bennington Center for the Arts as a guest of Southern Vermont College on Dec. 11 at 7 p.m.
patrick.mcardle@rutlandherald.com
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