 |
|
|
|
 Rod
Adkins is not surprised to find that his ancestors came from sub-Saharan Africa.
“Based on my knowledge of people and cultures, I had always concluded that
my roots were most likely originated in the Congo region of Africa,” he said.
Like many Black Americans, his ancestors came to the Americas as slaves.
“I can trace back my father's family for five generations on his mother's
side and four generations on his father's side,” said Rod. “My great-great-grandparents
on my grandmother's side, Charlie & Mandy Sinquefield, were born slaves in
Louisville, Ga. My great-grandparents on my grandfather's side, Israel Gibbons
and Gertrude Adkins, were also born slaves on a plantation in Louisville. The
Adkins name was adopted from her owner.
“Today, my grandmother still lives in Louisville, Ga., on what was the first
major land purchase by the Adkins family. Five acres were purchased from a large
landholder, TB Kelly, after several years of my grandfather working for him.
“I can trace back my mother's family for five generations. My great great-grandmother,
Patty Campbell, was born as a slave on a plantation in Brunswick, Ga.”
Rod is a member of Haplogroup E3A, which means his ancestors were Black Africans.
His DNA also indicates that his forebears took part in the Bantu expansion when
members of that tribe moved across Africa in the last 2000 years. Haplogroup E3A
dominates genetic types in both east and west, sub-Saharan Africa. It is also
the most common Haplogroup among American men of African descent.
Their DNA makeup differs greatly. That indicates that the line is very old — not
surprising since Africa is often cited as the cradle of all mankind. In fact,
scientists say there is more genetic diversity in a single African village than
in all of Western Europe.
“I was not surprised by the results, but it is extremely interesting to gain
a view on where in Africa my ancestry originated,” said Rod.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
