Ep. 216: Twenty-Three and Not Me

EQ: Why are white people so obsessed with genealogy and what are the ethical implications when genealogy becomes entangled with nationalism?

Guest: Zach Powers,  communications director of a Pierce County health equity and access nonprofit and a freelance nonfiction writer who contributes frequently to the Seattle Times' Pacific Northwest Magazine.

This week we're getting into the messy, strange obsession with genealogy and DNA tests. From being Team 23andMe, believing  the feds are spying on us to  TikTok takes and sports metaphors about fandom and heritage, we ruminate on why many Americans are tracing their roots. Our guest, Zach Powers, helps us connect loyalty, community, and the way ancestry shapes identity be it in the form of fandom or  nationalism. We talk about the gap between geographic vs. national heritage (because, sorry, free-kicks bend, but ancestry tests don’t), how white Americans flex Native ancestry, and how facing uncomfortable histories can open pathways to healing. Are ancestry tests a flex, a way to belong or necessary to pick your next World Cup team? TBD. 

Do Your Fudging Homework:

• Annie: If you choose to research your family history, use your best discretion when disclosing personal information. Some groups that run genealogy websites are not neutral third parties and have a vested interested in collecting information about you. Protect yourself online. 

• Zach: “The Lost Family: How DNA Testing is Upending Who We Are” by Libby Copeland