If you are 1/32 something, is it even right to claim it?

Question

(If it should actually count) I'm about 1/32(with smaller traces further back it would be a little more) Irish and 1/32(or a little more) Italian, my family on my mom's side are proud to be these, but I'm not even sure I'm either one at this point. My grandmother on my dad's side said that her mother said they had Irish, but I'm not sure either way.

Answer 1

in a room full of genealogists, of course you would 'claim' it.  As well as 1/64ths and so forth...and they'll  happily swap stories how they found THEIR lineage back to <fill in the blank>.  It is what we do and love doing. Yes, you are legitimately part Irish, part Italian, and anything else in your history.  Of course, we do always warn you to document anything you present.

What are you NOW? You are whatever culture/ country you have been raised in.  One is now.. the other is historical and ancestral background.  

If you are talking about teen buddies, who have no clue what genealogy is, they won't care if you moved from Florida, last week.  Ancestry is just not on their radar.  That has got nothing to do with your 'right' to claim yours.

Answer 2

Yes, you can be proud of all your heritage.

Actually just tell people you are 1/32nd sweet. handsome, bold and modest and they should know exactly what you mean.

Answer 3

It depends on what you want to claim.  If you are wanting to claim a specific heritage for minority status say for a college scholarships, the cut off fraction is often 1/16.  If you are wanting to say I am this part Scottish, this part English, this part Cherokee, you have to realize that may find another ancestor who increases your percentage.  I am 1/32 Cherokee and a lot Scottish and English.  I have learned that there may be a second Cherokee ancestor in that time frame.  If I the new ancestor pans out, I could be 1/32 through her and 1/32 through the known ancestor...combine the two and I have 1/16 Cherokee in me.

Each time you find another person somewhere up your tree, the percentages may shift higher in one heritage and lower in the others.   One thing i like to tell people is I have 4 Scottish lines proven and a probable 5th...but that is my focus right now.

Answer 4

I think that it depends on the race/culture your raised to be aware of and the active parents' own pride in their culture.  I am half black, 1/4 Irish, 1/4 French and a Jew.  I was raised to be very aware of my black and Irish heritage/culture.  My identity is tied to those cultures and my own pride in them.  I have raised my children with a focus on our religion thinking that by reading children's books and by daily involvement from the black side of my family that they would gain the same pride and identity that I have.  

I was shocked when my seven year old (who is as white as white bread in appearance) came home last week and asked if she was part African American.  While I have always believed that people who say they are "color-blind" are morons, I found that my daughter who has been actively raised around black culture never noticed a difference in skin color.... even in her own dark skinned grandfather.  I don't know if I felt pride or was just miffed that I failed to infuse a racial/cultural identity in my daughter that such a deep part of my own identity is tied to..  

So, I guess my answer is that if you feel that part of your heritage is strong part of your identity, I would be claiming it still.

Answer 5

If it is there and you know it, why not?

Answer 6

Yes, you can claim it.  Heck, I would.  It's not going to harm anyone, and it adds to the rich history of your family.  Just because something's small doesn't mean it should be left out.