Even if I'm 1/64 something, is it right to claim it?

Question

I'm asking because I want to know how far back I can claim to be part something before the blood goes away.

Answer 1

If you are 1/64th of something, and you want to claim that you are 1/64th of it, that is not wrong, unless you are saying or acting like you are 100% or half. Tell it like it is, if you want, you have nothing to be ashamed of. If I say I am part this, or I have some of that in me, I am not lying. Don't let it die my friend!

Answer 2

I wouldn't go as far as saying you are "x," but you can definitely say you have some ancestors that were.

Answer 3

In most cases, the legal minimum is 1/8th.  However, some sovereign Native American tribes have different standards (some of which are not even based on genetics) and are able to recognize tribal membership using their own criteria.

If you are asking this from the perspective of ethics - there is no "right" answer, but, IMO, if you are not culturally "x*x" you should not claim to be "x*x" regardless of your genetics.

Answer 4

The legal limit is 1/8th I believe.  This was established for affirmative action selections.  In plain English, you have to have at least one great-grandparent who was full X to claim that you are part X.  After that you should just say that you have X ancestors in your family tree.

Answer 5

You can mention someone as your ancestor.

But 1/64th , is almost notta.

Answer 6

DNA never "goes away"!

Answer 7

Some people like to claim they're descended from Pocahontas. Truth is, her blood would be on the order of 1/1490th of the person. Worse, the tribe doesn't want to hear about it. They point out that she married Wolfe and never again lived with the tribe.

About the only time 1/64th would be important is a regrettable one. The "one drop rule" of the Jim Crow era said if any part of you was Black, then you were Black.

What do you want to claim and why? What would those of that group say?

Be nice, say it's part of your ancestry but don't pretend it's a big part.

Answer 8

Sure, I think the culture you claim isn't the one you're directly from but the one you feel closest to.