Podcasts about Melungeon

Any of numerous "tri-racial isolate" groups of the Southeastern United States

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Best podcasts about Melungeon

Latest podcast episodes about Melungeon

Nymphet Alumni
Ep. 112: Halal Clean Girl Prison Uniforms | Study Break [TEASER]

Nymphet Alumni

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2025 10:23


In this edition of Study Break, we discuss the Hollyweirdness of the Oscars (notably that James Bond humiliation ritual), Pretty Little Thing's rebrand from Love Island resortwear to halal clean girl prison clothes, the Losercore undertones of Prada's FW 2025 show, the abjection of the Shrek 5 trailer and the gravity of Shrek's highbrow legacy, the revolt against millennial burger joints and craft breweries, plus Biz makes a special announcement.  Join our Patreon for more episodes and early access to Biz's top secret project! Links: James Bond Musical Tribute at the 97th Oscars (Lisa, Doja Cat, Raye) Pretty Little Thing Featured PLT monstrosities: sage tailored cropped blazer/dress, burgundy soft rib two piece set, grey bardot ruched dress PLT founder Umar Kamani on their rebrand – DrapersBoohoo/PLT/Nasty Gal class action settlementPrada Fall 2025 Ready-to-Wear Collection on Vogue RunwayShrek 5 Official Trailer on YouTubeEuphoria Season 3's "Silver Slipper" strip clubKyle Gordon's "We Will Never Die" on TikTokMillennial burger spot roast on TikTokTate McRae – Revolving door (Official Music Video) Flew out to Atlanta TikTok storytime (Girl's POV) Flew out to Atlanta TikTok storytime (Boy's POV) Appalachian hair texture/Melungeon discourse on TikTokStephanie Soo/Rotten Mango Ash Trevino Deep Dive on YouTube

Characters Without Stories
Everett Nichols, a Protector Who Defends What Matters - Healing from the Past with DJ BeeZee (Old Gods of Appalachia)

Characters Without Stories

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2024 78:47 Transcription Available


Content Warning this episode for brief mentions of forced sterilization (49:03-49:53) and death of a child (57:40-57:48).DJ BeeZee brings Everett Nichols to the table. Everett is a union man, through and through, who defends those closest to him.DJ and I discuss healing from generational trauma, the union history of Appalachia, and how finding player agency in TTRPGs can be cathartic when we lack agency in our lives.This character is built for Old Gods of Appalachia, a Cypher System game by Monte Cook, based on the podcast of the same name.DJ BeeZee is an AuDHD Game Master for Hire and Co-Host of One Shot's Tavern, a TTRPG podcast focused on learning about all of the tools and mechanics that TTRPGs across the spectrum offer in order to become better story tellers, game masters, and game designers.You can learn more about DJ at:https://www.characterswithoutstories.com/guests/dj-beezeeThe Thorne Files is a Monster of the Week Actual Play podcast filled with twisting mysteries, malevolent evils and character-lead drama. https://open.spotify.com/show/2zpkCPR5NIFYS2BAxcpKx6?si=d9d9409ec02544a7Hammer of the Gods is an actual play TTRPG podcast, primarily set in an alternate history home brew world based around Ancient Greece and Greek Mythology. They've has now branched into playing and streaming other games such as Werewolf, Masks, and Eat the Reich.https:/linktr.ee/HammpodSend us a textSend us a textCover art by The CuriographerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecuriographer Sign up for my Newsletter to stay up-to-date on the podcast:https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/760760/109867356957705889/shareYou can find Star at:Website: http://www.characterswithoutstories.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starmamacYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@characterswithoutstoriesThreads: https://www.threads.net/@characterswithoutstoriesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/characterswithoutstoriesBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cwspod.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/characterswithoutstoriesThanks for listening, and may all your characters find their stories!

Before We Were White
Episode 10: No Safe Harbor, Part 1

Before We Were White

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2023 56:28


The eastern half of the continental USA is dotted with places often described as "tri-racial isolate communities". One of the largest such population groups can be found spread over Eastern Kentucky, the western parts of Virginia, East Tennessee, and West Virginia. Widely known as "Melungeons", few Americans have been the subject of such intense scrutiny and curiosity. Who are these people?  Where did they come from?   Are they really a mix of Northern European settlers, African Americans, and indigenous peoples? Or is there something more complicated and deeply hidden in Melungeon history? 

Stories-A History of Appalachia, One Story at a Time

One of the biggest moonshiners (literally) in Appalachia was a Melungeon woman from Newman's Ridge in Hancock County, Tennessee. She lived an interesting life, providing shine in many ways, including from a hollow tree.To find out more, give this week's episode a listen!You can subscribe to the Stories podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Audible, Stitcher, Goodpods or on your favorite podcast app.Thanks for listening and for sharing our stories of Appalachia with your friends!

Generation Mixed
45 - Who are the Melungeons?

Generation Mixed

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2022 40:36


Abraham Lincoln. Elvis Presley, Heather Locklear. Ava Gardner. These are just four celebrities thought to be Meungeon. Who is this group?The Melungeon are a tri-racial group who have been around at least since the 17th century. Various theories about their origins, surnames, the etymology of the word “Melungeon” and the Melungeon DNA Project are discussed.What are your thoughts about Melungeons? Is this part of your background? Let me know when I post on Thursday on Insta @generationmixedpodcast Generation Mixed-What it means to be multiracial in America, one story at a time, from the studios to the streets.DOWNLOAD and SUBSCRIBE to Generation Mixed Podcast.FOLLOW me on:TikTok: | https://www.tiktok.com/@genmixedpodcast?lang=enInstagram: | https://www.instagram.com/generationmixedpodcast/Twitter: | https://twitter.com/GenMixedPodcastSubscribe to our newsletter at www.Justjmarc.comPlease email us here with any suggestions, comments, and questions for future episodes” generationmixedpodcast@gmail.com

House of NAE. The Memoir Which Became The Podcast Which Became The Calling.
GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY! Happy Day of Trans Visibility! Why I'm Embarrassed For My State Of Florida. Plus, Finding Your Resilience. I'm Melungeon. Are You?

House of NAE. The Memoir Which Became The Podcast Which Became The Calling.

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2022 21:00


It's a cornucopia of stuff here at HAG. The Podcast. Why Governor DeSantis is a douchecanoe. Why being SEEN in every avenue is so important. How the fact I'm Melungeon helps when the poop hits the fan. How it makes me resilient when I need it. Good stuff.

Melungeon Voices
S2 EP7: Dr. Arwin Smallwood Interview

Melungeon Voices

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2021 32:06


Last, but certainly not least, we present a compelling discussion with one of our prominent speakers from this year's MHA Union Conference. Dr. Arwin Smallwood is Professor and Chair of the Department of History and Political Science at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro. His research primarily focuses on the relationships between African-American, Native-American, and Europeans in Eastern North Carolina during the Colonial and early Antebellum period. Wrapping up our second podcast season, in this final episode, Dr. Smallwood and I go into detail on the interrelation between European, African, and Indigenous people. Or to those who attend the this year's virtual MHA Conference, the interrelation between the Lost Colony of Roanoke, the Tuscarora people, and the Melungeon people. Presented by The Melungeon Heritage Association Hosted by Heather Andolina Produced by Lis Malone

Project Dark Corona
Monsters and Folklore

Project Dark Corona

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2021 176:56


JUSTIN DECKER is fast gaining momentum and recognition in the crypto community as his extensive study and vast knowledge of mysterious creatures are both captivating and intriguing fellow researchers throughout the nation. Decker, who now resides in the epicenter of The Great Smoky Mountains in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is known for his astute insight into the fascinating field of cryptozoology, and his colleagues say he has profound, thought-provoking theories and ideas that facilitate riveting cryptid discussions on media platforms such as podcasts. Decker is becoming a highly sought-after guest on such podcasts as the popular Paranormal Roundtable Discussion podcast and The Skookum Sessions. Decker may be new to the crypto community, but his research into the unknown, particularly with cryptids, has been a life-long passion and endeavor. Decker was born and raised in the Amazon Jungle in Colombia, South America, instilling within him a close connection to the land and a keen observatory nature. He is a survivalist enthusiast and an avid reader, having read over 1,000 Bigfoot reports. Colleagues say it is Decker's talented and articulate storytelling that makes him a podcast favorite. He is a gifted speaker who is already getting bookings for the 2021 convention lecture year. In one of his most recent podcasts with the Paranormal Roundtable, one YouTube listener commented that she was “hanging on to every word!” Decker's stories from the wild terrain of the Amazon Jungle certainly enthralls, but it is also his intelligence in the field of cryptozoology and firm grasp of the subject that compel people to listen to him. In his research, Decker looks for common threads in cryptid behavior such as patterns and details. Justin loves to hike and cook and hopes to expand Bigfoot research and documentation in The Smoky Mountain region. He is also interested in other unknown subject matter and describes himself as a “curious seeker of anything odd or peculiar.” His life's motto is Vivamus Ferox, which is Latin for “Live Fiercely.”JENNIFER MCDANIELSJennifer McDaniels is a 15 -year newspaper veteran, having written for several newspapers throughout Appalachia. Some of her writings concerning the issues of Appalachia's coalfield communities have been published in newspapers all over the world through the Associated Press. Jennifer gained national attention when she became an imbedded reporter covering the historic Black Jewel coal miners protest in 2019 - a story that went global and continues to unfold today. Her video footage of the protest was aired on CBS News. Although Jennifer is currently a freelancer, she worked 10 years for The Harlan Daily before becoming a public relations specialist for Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College. Although writing is in her blood, Jennifer's current goal is to become a High School English teacher and to instill within teenagers a love for expressing themselves through the written word. She has her Master's in Communications, and is currently working on her Master's in Education.Since she was a young girl, Jennifer has been intrigued by her Appalachian culture - particularly the folklore of her mountain home. She has documented the stories passed down to her by her elders, and she has collected hundreds of folklore stories by mountain people through the last 10 years. She has served as the past president of the Harlan County Arts Council and was recently nominated and voted in as president of the Harlan County Historical Network. She has received numerous accolades for her writing, including awards from the Kentucky Press Association. Her writing and photography have been included in several books, including Berea College's "Appalachian Heritage."Although she loves to write about her Appalachian culture and heritage, Jennifer has most recently become passionate about folklore. She feels that folklore, oral histories, and storytelling are important art forms that preserve the more humanistic aspects of history. She has spoken at conferences and lectures on Appalachian folklore concerning Foxfires, the Blue People of Appalachia, Mountain "Haint" Stories, as well as her experiences of being a single woman reporter in the mountains of Southeast Kentucky. Jennifer has discovered in recent years her Melungeon heritage and hopes to soon lecturing on this fascinating group of people. Jennifer is currently working on three books she plans to have published in 2022 including mysterious happenings on Harlan County's Big Black Mountain, the murder of Pine Mountain's Laura Parsons, and her memories as a young girl growing up Appalachian.

Melungeon Voices
S2 EP6: Lauren Magnussen Interview

Melungeon Voices

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2021 25:55


Lauren Magnussen is a Production Editor at Mascot Books. She has a B.A. in English from the College of William and Mary and is currently pursuing her Master's Degree in English Literature. She worked in Academia and professional theatre before transitioning to her dream job in book publishing.In this week's episode, Lauren and I discuss her extensive research and discoveries on the Melungeon people. Presented by The Melungeon Heritage Association Hosted by Heather Andolina Produced by Lis Malone

Melungeon Voices
S2 EP5: Onur Kaya Interview

Melungeon Voices

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2021 33:10


Onur Kaya is a Professor at Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy, located in Burdur, Turkey. He has written several published articles and papers, as well as presented at many Academic conferences. The Melungeon people are one of his main research areas and the subject of his PhD thesis. In this episode, Onur joins Heather from his home country of Turkey, to share his extensive research on the surprising, Turkish-Melungeon connection. Presented by The Melungeon Heritage Association Hosted by Heather Andolina (MHA Board President) Produced by Lis Malone (www.breakingdishes.org)

Melungeon Voices
S2 EP4: William Isom II Interview

Melungeon Voices

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2021 31:29


William Isom II is a native of Hamblen County, Tennessee. He's the director of community outreach for East Tennessee PBS, and is the director of the Black in Appalachia Project. During this episode, William shares what it's like to be multi-ethnic and black in Appalachia, how it is connected to the Melungeon people, and how it inspired the growth of the Black in Appalachia Project. Presented by the Melungeon Heritage Association (www.melungeon.org) Hosted by Heather Andolina (MHA Board President) Produced by Lis Malone (www.breakingdishes.org)

Melungeon Voices
S2 EP2: Jake Richards Interview

Melungeon Voices

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2021 20:48


Jake Richards grew up and currently lives in East Tennessee. He is the author of two books, one published just a few of months ago. Jake writes about his Melungeon and Cherokee traditions and ancestry, which are on both sides of his family. His Melungeon ancestors came from both Newman's Ridge and the Pee Dee River migrations. In this episode, Jake shares his fascinating knowledge of Appalachian folklore and magic, as well as some interesting spiritual traditions connected to the Melungeon people. Presented by the Melungeon Heritage Association; Hosted by Heather Andolina, MHA Board President; Produced by Lis Malone, Creator & Host of "Breaking Dishes" Podcast.

Stuff They Don't Want You To Know
The Melungeon Mystery

Stuff They Don't Want You To Know

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2021 61:59


It's no secret that the story of US history taught in school doesn't always match the reality of certain events -- and the deeper you dig, the stranger some stories become. In today's episode, the guys dive into the historic mystery surrounding Melungeons and other communities collectively known as tri-racial isolates, groups throughout the southern and eastern United States known for their enigmatic origins and insular, rural communities. Where did these groups actually come from? Are any of the legends about them true? Tune in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

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The Michael Eure Show Podcast
Tri-Racial Identity of Tuscarora, Meherrin, Melungeon, and other Native Americans in North Carolina, Virginia, and East to West (Part 2)

The Michael Eure Show Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2021


In this episode, Michael continues his interview with Doctor Arwin Smallwood, Professor and Chair, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University Department of History and Political Science and Carter G. Woodson Distinguished Lecturer for the Association for the Study of African American Life & History. Dr. Smallwood will discuss the Tri-Racial Identity of Tuscarora, Meherrin, Melungeon, and other Native Americans in North Carolina, Virginia, and East to West during the Michael Eure Show.

The Michael Eure Show Podcast
Tri-Racial Identity of Tuscarora, Meherrin, Melungeon, and other Native Americans in North Carolina, Virginia, and East to West

The Michael Eure Show Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2021


In this episode, Michael interviews Doctor Arwin Smallwood, Professor and Chair, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University Department of History and Political Science and Carter G. Woodson Distinguished Lecturer for the Association for the Study of African American Life & History. Dr. Smallwood will discuss the Tri-Racial Identity of Tuscarora, Meherrin, Melungeon, and other Native Americans in North Carolina, Virginia, and East to West during the Michael Eure Show.

Forgotten America
Ep.010: Spirit of the Mountains

Forgotten America

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2021 71:41


Emma Ayers, Managing Opinion Editor at Young Voices and native of northeast Tennessee, joins Garrett on today’s episode to talk about the importance of tradition and religion in Appalachian culture. Together, they also explore the importance of meaningful work to the future prosperity of the Appalachian region, share the history of the mysterious Melungeons of Appalachia, and discuss possible solutions to the region’s woes.    You can learn more about Melungeons from this article in USA Today.   Recommended Books in this episode:  Spirit of the Mountains by Emma Bell Miles Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values by Robert M. Pirsig Shop Class as Soulcraft by Matthew B. Crawford Alienated America: Why Some Places Thrive While Others Collapse by Timothy Carney   You can keep up with Emma’s work at Young Voices by going to their website https://www.young-voices.com/    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   You can support the Cardinal Institute by donating or following us on social media:    Donate: www.cardinalinstitute.com/donate Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cardinalinstitute Newsletter: www.cardinalinstitute.com/contact YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCosCMp86mjLbf8ZWfE5yS7Q Twitter: @CardinalWV Facebook: /CardinalInstitute/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardinal-institute-for-wv-policy/ Instagram: @teamcardinalwv

Beyond Race Podcast
Melungeon Struggles: A Conversation w/Sandra Goins

Beyond Race Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2020 53:15


In this episode we chat with Sandra Goins, poet, who talks about her struggles as a tri-racial individual who is not traditionally accepted by any race and how she turns her struggle and anxiety into beautiful poetry.

struggle goins melungeon
UnHidden Voices
Episode 15: Master Class with Special Guest Amir Sundiata Al Rashid

UnHidden Voices

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2020 132:48


This episode is the opportunity to hear from my brother, Sundiata Al Rashid. He is Amir of the Lighthouse Mosque located in Oakland, California, a manager of a housing facility for the homeless, and a doctoral student at the Graduate Theological Union. He studies the history of Black American Muslims as descendants from West and North Africa. In our discussion, Sundiata defines the terms Black and Mulatto. He also introduces the history of the Melungeon people to us as he shares what it means to be a Black American Muslim today. You will get an opportunity to learn more about our personal history from Sundiata who has the best memory of anybody you will ever meet. He shares details of life events and people that we grew up with including our white stepbrother Adam. The full transcript to the episode can be found here. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Melungeon Voices
Wayne Winkler Interview

Melungeon Voices

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2020 26:37


Season Finale - Author, Public Radio Station Manager and former MHA President, Wayne Winkler, discusses his book "Beyond the Sunset" about the Melungeon outdoor drama, Walk Toward the Sunset, and its significance on the Melungeon people back then, as well as today.

Melungeon Voices
Robert Wells Interview

Melungeon Voices

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2020 22:27


Software developer, Robert Wells, repurposed his professional skills in both research and analysis to pursue genealogical studies. In this episode he shares his knowledgeable insight while providing tips on how to apply genealogical records, DNA analysis and third-party ancestry records services to learn more about your own personal family tree, as well as ways to avoid common research pitfalls. Host Heather Andolina shares insight into her current documentary film, "Infamous Characters Notorious Villains" and how her family's Melungeon heritage discovery served as inspiration.

Melungeon Voices
Bill Gipson Interview

Melungeon Voices

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2020 28:35


Retired Dentist, Author and Researcher, Bill Gipson, shares his vast knowledge and research findings into the historic migration of the Gipson/Gibson and Collins families, in addition to surprising possible foreign origins related to Melungeon ancestry.

Melungeon Voices
Beverly Scarlett Interview

Melungeon Voices

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2020 25:58


District Court Judge and Author, Beverly Scarlett, shares her personal journey in discovering her Melungeon ancestry which began with a mysterious family photo and later developed into her deep genealogical family research which has inspired her new book due out this summer.

Melungeon Voices
Frederick Murphy Interview

Melungeon Voices

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2020 32:19


Historian and Documentary filmmaker, Frederick Murphy, discusses filmmaking, race, historical trauma, his personal story (and Melungeon connection) and the mission of his project organization, History Before Us.

Melungeon Voices
Melungeon Voices Introduction

Melungeon Voices

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2020 7:19


Melungeon Heritage Association President, Heather Andolina, teams up with Podcaster, Lis Malone, to bring its members (and all those interested in learning about this mixed heritage group of people) an audio -version of what was to be shared at the 2020 Conference.

Pass the Salt Live
Jezebel Spirit

Pass the Salt Live

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2019 30:00


The spirit of Jezebel is a spirit of adultery, a spirit of baby-killing, a spirit of idolatry, a spirit of witchcraft. Jezebels are men-haters. There are more witches in America today, than Presbyterians. Read about the Jehu spirit. He drives recklessly, but he did a lot of good, too. I see this parallel character in […]

The Time Traveler’s Suitcase
Studying Them Melungeons

The Time Traveler’s Suitcase

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2019 44:53


Can genealogy be funny? It can with Melungeons. Pete Ferrand travels to Newmans Ridge, Tennessee, where he witnesses a battle over the definition of the term Melungeon. Reading by Ginger Cuculo of the chapter "Cyberfeud on the Ridge" from Ancestors and Enemies: Essays on Melungeons, by Phyllis E. Starnes and Donald N. Yates Ginger Cuculo, audiobook narrator.

Militantly Mixed
The N-words (both of them)

Militantly Mixed

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2019 79:00


Listen in while Sharmane aka Mixed Girl Mane chats with Sean a Mixed-Race man of Black, White, Japanese (like me!), and Melungeon decent. We talk about some of the darker sides of Mixedness, racism, police brutality, and the difference between the two "n-words." This topic is a heavy one for many of us and I would like to continue this conversation. If you are having feelings and thoughts about what we discuss on this week's episode, please leave us a voicemail at 323-545-6001 and we'll get into it next week. * * * Produced and Edited by: Sharmane Fury Music by: David Bogan, the One - https://www.dbtheone.com/ * * * Connect with us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or call 323-545-6001 * * * Militantly Mixed is a fan sponsored podcast, if you are enjoying the show please consider sponsoring us on Patreon or Paypal today! Thank you. This is a ManeHustle Media Podcast. Turn your side hustle into your ManeHustle.

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Militantly Mixed
The N-words (both of them)

Militantly Mixed

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2019 78:50


Listen in while Sharmane aka Mixed Girl Mane chats with Sean a Mixed-Race man of Black, White, Japanese (like me!), and Melungeon decent. We talk about some of the darker sides of Mixedness, racism, police brutality, and the difference between the two "n-words." This topic is a heavy one for many of us and I would like to continue this conversation. If you are having feelings and thoughts about what we discuss on this week's episode, please leave us a voicemail at 323-545-6001 and we'll get into it next week.   * * * Produced and Edited by: Sharmane Fury Music by: David Bogan, the One - https://www.dbtheone.com/ * * * Connect with us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or call 323-545-6001 * * * Militantly Mixed is a fan sponsored podcast, if you are enjoying the show please consider sponsoring us on Patreon or Paypal today! Thank you. This is a ManeHustle Media Podcast. Turn your side hustle into your ManeHustle.

black race japanese paypal mixed edited interracial biracial mixed race multiracial multiethnic newandnoteworthy sharmane melungeon militantly mixed podcastersofcolor mixed girl mane manehustle manehustle media podcast sharmane fury music
Chasing History Radio
Chasing History Radio: A Lost Smoky Mountain People: The Melungeons

Chasing History Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2018 11:30


The Lost Colony of Roanoke has nothing in these people! One of the biggest mysteries in early American history, a group of dark-skinned, dark-hair, blue-eyed people were discovered in the Tennessee Mountains in the late 1700's. Who are these people? Where did they come from? In this episode, we explore the possibilities & focus on a probable origin of these mysterious people.

The Pop List
5 Fascinating Mysteries

The Pop List

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2018 61:03


This episode is the third installment of our "mystery" episodes.  As one of our most popular subjects in the past, we decided to dig up 5 more gems that will have you scratching your head for days. Listen. Learn. Enjoy.  The Pop List

Research at the National Archives and Beyond!
My Free People of Color and Those Classified as Melungeon - Gigi Best-Richardson

Research at the National Archives and Beyond!

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2017 79:00


  Gigi Best is an Author, Historian, Genealogist, Poet, Playwright, Journalist, Speaker and Antiquarian Bookstore Owner. While earning her A.A. and B.S. Degrees, she was awarded Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges. While in her M. A. Program in English Literature and History, she received  the All American Scholar awards. As a Federal Retiree she earned the Citation for Exemplary Civil Service to the United States Air Force 2002-2004. She is a recipient of the Phillis Wheatley Literary Award for her Book, “Thomas the Melungeon: His Locust Family of Free Persons of Color Civil and Revolutionary War Patriots.” This genealogical and historical work has been placed in many Genealogical Libraries to include Daughters of the American Revolution; Tampa, Florida’s John G. Germany Library; North Carolina Archives and the Jefferson Davis Presidential Library. Gigi is currently working on two historical novels entitled: Nathan Best: From Enslaved Body Servant to Confederate Courier and Chapin’s Forty Acres. She is a member of Phi Alpha Theta, Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society and many National Lineage Societies to include: Board of Directors Sons & Daughters of the U.S. Middle Passage, Florida Branch Governor, Sons and Daughters of Pilgrims; Daughters of the American Revolution; Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America; Colonial Dames 17th Century; Colonial Dames of America; Society of New England Women; Daughters of Union Veterans of Civil War.  Gigi has proven her Best, Hardy,Sutton,Durant, and Tilden ancestors to 1583 and her Free Persons of Color, Lucas/Locust ancestors to 1806.

Backintyme.biz Promo Show
Grave Houses-DNA-Updates Melungeon Gathering 2017 Morristown, Tn.

Backintyme.biz Promo Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2017 46:00


Necro ethnicity. A skeleton key to unlock the amalgamation within mixed people groups . The veil is lifting from the hidden mystery that has perplexed scholars for at least 600 years! Join us as Stacy Mae Webb and April Mullins Mela collaborate utilizing data gleaned from Genealogy, DNA, and Cultural Geography. These two ladies have conducted fieldwork that sketch a beginning portraiture of the many faces of Melungeoness. We'll catch you up on the latest DNA findings and discuss the upcoming Melungeon Heritage Association yearly gathering in Morristown, Tn. June 20,21 & 22 Hope to see you all there!

Stories-A History of Appalachia, One Story at a Time

On today’s podcast, Rod and Steve tell the story of Mahala Mullins, renowned Melungeon maker of that sweet, sweet mountain nectar known as “moonshine.” Ms. Mullins, a resident of Newman’s Ridge in Hancock County, Tennessee, was also quite literally the biggest moonshiner in those parts, so much so that you’ll be surprised to learn what […]

Backintyme.biz Promo Show
Redbone and Melungeon DNA Truthers!

Backintyme.biz Promo Show

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2016 123:00


Its been an awesome year to enjoy connecting with new cousins and DNA findings. With the advent of DNA applications to genealogy we will end the new year by revisiting 2016 interviews and discussing new findings through the Facebook group Redbone & Melunegeon DNA Truthers Study group. We will update the Goins Book, and announce planning for a Redbone gathering in Leesville, Vernon Parish La. A reunion in April or May in Leesville, Vernon Parish La. where the Glass window settlement was located and the enfamouse Rawhide Fight took place. Preparing for an intensive Perkins research group and subsequent book. Plus we will update you on all the new Backintyme Publishings from 2016,including Belles of the Creek Nation, Cherokee Paradox and Alabama Tribes by Scott Sewell as well as Margo WIlliams, From Hill Town to Strieby & the updated republish of the Redbone Chronicles. We invite all cousins who have made ties through DNA to join us and introduce your families, and ties to one another. We will be discussing autosomal results of the Redbones, Melungeons and other remnant Indian groups of early American history. We hope you can join us this New Years Eve from 4pm CST to 6pm CST Just follow the guest call in instructions to comment or speak with the host and cohosts.

Backintyme.biz Promo Show
Legacy & Identity, DNA studies with Tom Kingery (Redbone, Melungeon, Tribal)

Backintyme.biz Promo Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2016 92:00


Guest: Tom Kingery, Family Historian, and Genealogist, DNA study of Melungeon, Redbone and Mixed Blood Native American families. Tom is a full time police officer at Horseshow Bend, Texas. He has studied his family history, genealogy and DNA tested extensively. He will share the history of his Mixed Blood families and heirloom photos. He will also share extensively on the Omnipop results and compared to Tribesdna.Surnames: Byrd, Reeves, Collins, Goodman, Hatcherm Williams, Batchelor, Hardy, Feilder, Dunn, Shoemaker, Carter, Dancer, Ward, Moniac, Colbert,  Interrelated Descendant of these tribes:MOWA, Chickasaw, Sioux, Chippewa, Portugal, India (Gypsy), Canary Islander, Tejano, Mediterranean, Asia, Arabian, Noth Africa, Central American Indian and more!  News: Movie: Free State of Jones releaseMHA 20th Union Gathering at Big Stone Gap... a great success!Margo Williams New Book, From Hill Town to Strieby from Backintyme.bizLars Adams new book Breaking The House of PamunkeyScott Sewell's new book, Alabama Tribes Kayce Powell's new series of youtube video's & books: A Brother's Love, based on a true accounting of the life, death and ensuing court cases over the estate of Keith Chandler, of Critendeon Co., Kentucky. The story of Steve Chandler's relentless quest to seek justice for his little brother and to clear his families name. Mohon Sage: The Real Life Victims of a Modern Day Con-Artist in the United States Supreme Court Writ Certiorari -   CassieStevenson. The Death of Anthony Stevenson While Assisting Immigrant Farm   Workers In An Emergency, both employees for Clay Mohon Mowing, LLC.

Stories-A History of Appalachia, One Story at a Time

Starting in the mid-19th century, just before the Civil War, there were several Tennessee court cases that helped define the role of the mysterious people known as “Melungeons” in Appalachian society. On this episode, Rod and Steve tell the story of those cases as well as the history, as best it can be determined, of […]

A Way with Words — language, linguistics, and callers from all over
Mr. Can't Died (Rebroadcast) - 12 January 2015

A Way with Words — language, linguistics, and callers from all over

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2015 51:21


This week on "A Way with Words": You pick up what you think a glass of water and take a sip, but it turns out to be Sprite. What's the word for that sensation when you're expecting one thing and taste something else? Also, slang from college campuses, like "ratchet" and "dime piece." And the story of a writer who published her first novel at age 73, then went on to win a National Book Award. Plus, the origins of bluebloods, Melungeons, Calcutta bets, Vermont Cree-mees, and a handy phrase used to help buck someone up: Mr. Can't died in a cornfield.FULL DETAILSIs it a good thing to be ratchet? This slang term can refer to a bumpin' party or a girl who's a hot mess. There's nothing like a refreshing gulp of water, unless what you thought was water turns out to be vodka or Sprite. When the expectation of what you'll taste gives way to surprise, shock, and offense, you've experienced what one listener calls cephalus offendo. You might also call it anticipointment. The phrase I see you, meaning I acknowledge what you're doing, comes from performance, and pops up often in African-American performance rhetoric.A listener from Charlottesville, Virginia, is dating a professional golfer who often plays a Calcutta with other tour members. Calcutta, a betting game going back over 200 years, involves every player betting before the tournament on who they think will finish with the lowest score. It was first picked up by the British in and around—you guessed it—Kolkata, also known as Calcutta.When a term paper is due in 24 hours, there's no better tactic than to break open the Milano cookies and procrastineat.Our Quiz Guy John Chaneski has a game for the Mamas and the Papas, with two-word phrases beginning with the letters M-A- M-A- or P-A- P-A-If you say you're not up to this or that challenge, someone might push you harder with the reminder Mr. Can't died in a cornfield. This old saying is particularly evocative if you've ever been stuck in a corn field, because it's easy to think you won't make it out. Another version of this phrase is can't died in the poorhouse.Blue blood, a term often used to refer to WASPy or patrician folks, goes back to the 1700s and the Spanish term sangre azul. It described the class of people who never had to work outside or expose themselves to the sun, so blue veins would show through their ivory, marble-like skin. If someone's a dime piece or a dime, they're mighty attractive -- as in, a perfect 10.What's the difference between drunk and drunken? If you dig through the linguistic corpora, or collections of texts, you'll find that we celebrate in drunken revelry and break into drunken brawls, but individuals drive drunk and or get visibly drunk. Typically, drunken is used for a situation, and drunk refers to a person.Ever seen someone repeatedly around town and made up an elaborate life story for them without actually ever meeting them? In slang terms, that sort of person in your life is called a unicorn.Harriet Doerr published her first novel, the National Book Award-winning Stones for Ibarra, at the age of 73. Don't think about ordering a soft serve ice cream in Vermont—there, it's a Creemee. The term has stuck around the Green Mountain State by the sheer force of Vermonter pride.The term Melungeon, applied to a group of people in Southeastern Appalachia marked by swarthy skin and dark eyes, has been used disparagingly in the past. But Melungeons themselves reclaimed that name in the 1960s. The Melungeon Heritage website details some of the mystery behind their origin. The name comes from the French term melange, meaning "mixture."The initialism LLAS, meaning love you like a sister, isn't a texting phenomenon—it goes back 30 or 40 years to when girls would write each other letters.Diminutive suffixes, Donnie for Don, change the meaning of a name to something smaller, cuter, or sweeter. This episode was hosted by Martha Barnette and Grant Barrett.....Support for A Way with Words comes from Common Ground, the new word game for nimble and knowledgeable minds. More information about how language lovers can find Common Ground at commongroundthegame.com.--A Way with Words is funded by its listeners: http://waywordradio.org/donateGet your language question answered on the air! Call or write with your questions at any time:Email: words@waywordradio.orgPhone: United States and Canada toll-free (877) WAY-WORD/(877) 929-9673London +44 20 7193 2113Mexico City +52 55 8421 9771Donate: http://waywordradio.org/donateSite: http://waywordradio.org/Podcast: http://waywordradio.org/podcast/Forums: http://waywordradio.org/discussion/Newsletter: http://waywordradio.org/newsletter/Twitter: http://twitter.com/wayword/Skype: skype://waywordradio Copyright 2014, Wayword LLC.

Progressive Spirit
Wayne Winkler, The Melungeons of Appalachia

Progressive Spirit

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2015 29:00


Wayne Winkler is the General Manager of WETS and the author of Walking Toward the Sunset:  The Melungeons of Appalachia.  His picture is in the December 2014 issue of Psychology Today as part of a chapter in a book on DNA and genealogy.  He speaks with me about the article, "The Past Is Written on Your Face" by Christine Kenneally, and the fascinating Melungeon history.

Backintyme.biz Promo Show
Eddie Manuel, The Manuel Family

Backintyme.biz Promo Show

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2014 74:00


Please join us for a live interview with Eddie Manuel at Backintyme.biz at Blog Talk Radio. Eddie will talk about the Manuel Family who are of Lumbee & Melungeon descent. The Manuel family shared a Portuguese heritage, as well as Native American. Eddie will share with us his DNA scores and what those means to him, as an educator, father, husband & Melungeon descendant in the 21st century. Eddie Manuel, has made his home in Wytheville, Va for 35 years. He is an adjunct professor teaches American, World History and Military Leaders at Granthum University and serves as consultant to the Melungeon Heritage Association. Eddie has also built a "Melungeon Village" in his back yard. "To be honest, in the beginning I did not care about history at all. That was, until I read several books by Dr. Brent Kennedy, who opened my eyes to my Melungeon identified ancestry. When I completed the DNA testing is when I realized the magnitude of the truth in origins, for my family. The analysis provided familial matches from Saudi Arabia, and Palestine. Furthermore, validating my family history of Turkish, Portuguese, Spanish, and Native American ancestry. I have been able to trace my ancestry back to early 1600's related to William Hennings Bryan and Daniel Boone. I was also able to obtain records from the National Archives which I learned of the families ties to the Creek and Seminole Indians." Talking Points King Manuel Native American, Lumbee, Creek, Seminole Variations in Manuel Surname spelling North Carolina (arrival to coast) Stories of Portuguese Pirates in NC DNA Labana Manuel Gypsies Indentured Servants Lumbee Discrimination toward the Manuel Family www.backintyme.biz    

Backintyme.biz Promo Show
Let's Talk Redbone & Melungeon DNA

Backintyme.biz Promo Show

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2014 45:00


Call in and tell us about your DNA scores. I will elaborate on Redbone DNA results and the often confusing myths and obstacles to understand your results, ethnicity and admixture. To get a basic idea of Redbone DNA results, you may review these on my website, here. http://txredbones.mehrapublishing.com/my-redbones/ Please do prepare and contribute your scores and or share questions and answers for others. This will be a 45 minute discussion. Hope to chat with you there! If you would like more information on Tribes DNA testing that the Redbones took, you can visit their website for more information here.

dna redbone mtdna melungeons melungeon y dna
Backintyme.biz Promo Show
Melungeons & Redbones with Q&A, This Blood Don't Run!

Backintyme.biz Promo Show

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2014 45:00


This Blood Don't Run! This might turn into a Sunday afternoon series! Melungeons, Redbones openly discuss their people, genealogical ties and compare histories! Discussions and open forum call in from live listeners & commentors. Announcement of upcoming Blog Talk Radio and Q& A from call in's. Please leave a comment in the FB comment box and we will try to  answer those within the 30 minute lineup. Current blog articles, essays, Face Book postings and discussion. Theories, ideas and genealogy of mixed blood early American families. Bloggers, descendants, researchers, family historians and interested folks are encouraged to listen, comment or chat with others about the Redbone, Melungeon, Lumbee and other mixed ethnic group descenants. Please prepare by watching the full length Youtube announcement of Backintyme Promo Show Here. Of you are interested in being a featured guest or bloger, please do email me at backintyme@mehrapublishing.com You can find the Backintyme.biz on Face Book Here You Can Visit Our Website Here Backintyme.biz

Backintyme.biz Promo Show

Discussing the soon to be released (2015) Goins Book by Backintyme Publishing. Authors included and descriptions of their chapters. Author's include; Cyndie Goins Hoelescher descendant of the Moore Co., Pocket Creek Goins families (Lumbee), Steven "pony" Hill descendant of The Sumter Co., Smiling Indians or also refered too as the "Privateer Stock", Gary "Gabe" Gabehart who is descended from Jeremiah Goins & Saraphina Drake (2) Keziah Nash, Marilyn Baggett Kobliak descendant of the James & Elizabeth Perkins Goins who matched DNA with Jeremiah Goins lines, Scott Withrow will be representing the Goins men of the Revolutionary War era. Justin Goins whose DNA is represented int he Goins DNA study of "Core Melungeon" group and will be representing the line from Agnes to Joseph Gowen to Joseph Goins who was husband of Mahala or "Big Haley" Mullins of Newman's Ridge. This family traces to Volentine Sevier Goins into Barry Co., Missouri and then into Indian Territory Oklahoma. Stacy Webb Goins lines, Thomas Goins and Nancy Johnson family. THe Texas Revolutionary War family who recieved a league & labor from Sam Houston & Frank Goings intrepreter for Bill Cody's Wild West Show. This book promises to be an exciting and new look into the lives, families, personal photo's and genealogy of many of the Melungeon and Redbone Goins, Goings, Goyens families. Many Spellings are included from the Carolina's to Tennessee to Okalhoma for some of the Melungeon families. A chapter dedicated to The Goin's Mothers. Including many beautiful pictures and stories. Contributing authors and the families they represent will be highlighted in further shows. Call in's welcome! Please visit our website here for more information and other related books from Backintyme Publishing

A Way with Words — language, linguistics, and callers from all over

This week on "A Way with Words": You pick up what you think a glass of water and take a sip, but it turns out to be Sprite. What's the word for that sensation when you're expecting one thing and taste something else? Also, slang from college campuses, like "ratchet" and "dime piece." And the story of a writer who published her first novel at age 73, then went on to win a National Book Award. Plus, the origins of bluebloods, Melungeons, Calcutta bets, Vermont Cree-mees, and a handy phrase used to help buck someone up: Mr. Can't died in a cornfield.FULL DETAILSIs it a good thing to be ratchet? This slang term can refer to a bumpin' party or a girl who's a hot mess. There's nothing like a refreshing gulp of water, unless what you thought was water turns out to be vodka or Sprite. When the expectation of what you'll taste gives way to surprise, shock, and offense, you've experienced what one listener calls cephalus offendo. You might also call it anticipointment. The phrase I see you, meaning I acknowledge what you're doing, comes from performance, and pops up often in African-American performance rhetoric.A listener from Charlottesville, Virginia, is dating a professional golfer who often plays a Calcutta with other tour members. Calcutta, a betting game going back over 200 years, involves every player betting before the tournament on who they think will finish with the lowest score. It was first picked up by the British in and around—you guessed it—Kolkata, also known as Calcutta.When a term paper is due in 24 hours, there's no better tactic than to break open the Milano cookies and procrastineat.Our Quiz Guy John Chaneski has a game for the Mamas and the Papas, with two-word phrases beginning with the letters M-A- M-A- or P-A- P-A-If you say you're not up to this or that challenge, someone might push you harder with the reminder Mr. Can't died in a cornfield. This old saying is particularly evocative if you've ever been stuck in a corn field, because it's easy to think you won't make it out. Another version of this phrase is can't died in the poorhouse.Blue blood, a term often used to refer to WASPy or patrician folks, goes back to the 1700s and the Spanish term sangre azul. It described the class of people who never had to work outside or expose themselves to the sun, so blue veins would show through their ivory, marble-like skin. If someone's a dime piece or a dime, they're mighty attractive -- as in, a perfect 10.What's the difference between drunk and drunken? If you dig through the linguistic corpora, or collections of texts, you'll find that we celebrate in drunken revelry and break into drunken brawls, but individuals drive drunk and or get visibly drunk. Typically, drunken is used for a situation, and drunk refers to a person.Ever seen someone repeatedly around town and made up an elaborate life story for them without actually ever meeting them? In slang terms, that sort of person in your life is called a unicorn.Harriet Doerr published her first novel, the National Book Award-winning Stones for Ibarra, at the age of 73. Don't think about ordering a soft serve ice cream in Vermont—there, it's a Creemee. The term has stuck around the Green Mountain State by the sheer force of Vermonter pride.The term Melungeon, applied to a group of people in Southeastern Appalachia marked by swarthy skin and dark eyes, has been used disparagingly in the past. But Melungeons themselves reclaimed that name in the 1960s. The Melungeon Heritage website details some of the mystery behind their origin. The name comes from the French term melange, meaning "mixture."The initialism LLAS, meaning love you like a sister, isn't a texting phenomenon—it goes back 30 or 40 years to when girls would write each other letters.Diminutive suffixes, Donnie for Don, change the meaning of a name to something smaller, cuter, or sweeter. This episode was hosted by Martha Barnette and Grant Barrett.--A Way with Words is funded by its listeners: http://waywordradio.org/donateGet your language question answered on the air! Call or write with your questions at any time:Email: words@waywordradio.orgPhone: United States and Canada toll-free (877) WAY-WORD/(877) 929-9673London +44 20 7193 2113Mexico City +52 55 8421 9771Donate: http://waywordradio.org/donateSite: http://waywordradio.org/Podcast: http://waywordradio.org/podcast/Forums: http://waywordradio.org/discussion/Newsletter: http://waywordradio.org/newsletter/Twitter: http://twitter.com/wayword/Skype: skype://waywordradio Copyright 2013, Wayword LLC.

Transom Podcast
A Code To Live By In Appalachia

Transom Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2013 19:02


About A Code To Live By In Appalachia “Mysterious” is probably the first word most people associate with the Melungeons. They were a mixed race group that settled in southern Appalachia in the late 1700s. They lived in their own communities, separate from their white neighbors. Some stayed in those communities as late as the mid-20th century. Jack Goins The oldest generations of Melungeons had a striking look: dark skin, straight black hair, blue eyes. Nobody knew where they had come from or how, exactly, they ended up in the mountains along the Tennessee-Virginia border. Melungeons themselves often explained their distinct looks by claiming Native American or Portuguese ancestry. But their white neighbors would sometimes claim they had African heritage. The mystery of the Melungeon people drew me in, just like it’s drawn in so many others. Growing up in Tennessee, I remember my mom occasionally mentioning the Melungeons. Whatever remarks she made always seemed to end with: “… and nobody knows where they’re from. Isn’t that something?” Recently, a little googling led me to Jack Goins, the force behind the Melungeon DNA Project. Jack is a retired TV salesman in Hawkins County, Tennessee, who is descended from Melungeons. He’s been gathering DNA samples from other descendants to try to get some answers about Melungeon ancestry. So Who Are the Melungeons, Really? Jack’s DNA project is ongoing, but so far, he’s found that, for the most part, Melungeons have sub-Saharan African and European roots. These findings have surprised some Melungeon descendants who had assumed they were Native American or Portuguese. The study only found a single instance of Native American heritage in the group, and no Portuguese markers. Jack himself was surprised to find out his paternal line was African, because his great, great grandparents had been marked as Portuguese on the 1880 census. He theorizes that their predecessors had immigrated from an African country, such as Angola, that had been under Portuguese rule. Vardy school Jack co-authored a study on Melungeon DNA in the Journal of Genetic Genealogy. It was published shortly after I met him last year. The Associated Press ran an article on the study with headlines like, “Melungeons aren’t who they thought they were,” and “Melengeon DNA study reveals ancestry, upsets ‘a whole lot of people.’” A whole lot of people were upset. But from what I could tell, they were upset more by the way Jack conducted the study than the results he found. People had to be descended from a very specific “core group” of Melungeons to be included in the study. Plus, it was a Y-line test, so it only included men. So, a lot of people who identified as Melungeon descendants couldn’t be in the study. And when the article came out and stated definitively where the Melungeons had come from, it ruffled some feathers. Telling a story without answers Lots of people still claim Melungeon heritage. The hardest part about this project was getting a grasp on who the Melungeons actually were, and who counts as Melungeon now. When I began the story, I was expecting to find hard answers. I thought my timing with the story was impeccable. At the time I was starting my research, Jack happened to be finishing up his study. A published paper on the Melungeons promised numbers and facts—a tantalizing prospect. I was going to be able to tell a story of a group of people who had never know where they were from, until they turned to Science. My story would start with a mystery, and end with a solution. Bam! If only. Johnnie at church The more people I met, the more opinions I heard about who the Melungeons were. I realized that Jack’s study only encompassed a fraction of all the people who claim Melungeon ancestry today. I went to a Melungeon reunion in Virginia last summer, and practically everyone there told a slightly different versio...

Transom Podcast
A Code To Live By In Appalachia

Transom Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2013 19:02


About A Code To Live By In Appalachia “Mysterious” is probably the first word most people associate with the Melungeons. They were a mixed race group that settled in southern Appalachia in the late 1700s. They lived in their own communities, separate from their white neighbors. Some stayed in those communities as late as the mid-20th century. Jack Goins The oldest generations of Melungeons had a striking look: dark skin, straight black hair, blue eyes. Nobody knew where they had come from or how, exactly, they ended up in the mountains along the Tennessee-Virginia border. Melungeons themselves often explained their distinct looks by claiming Native American or Portuguese ancestry. But their white neighbors would sometimes claim they had African heritage. The mystery of the Melungeon people drew me in, just like it’s drawn in so many others. Growing up in Tennessee, I remember my mom occasionally mentioning the Melungeons. Whatever remarks she made always seemed to end with: “… and nobody knows where they’re from. Isn’t that something?” Recently, a little googling led me to Jack Goins, the force behind the Melungeon DNA Project. Jack is a retired TV salesman in Hawkins County, Tennessee, who is descended from Melungeons. He’s been gathering DNA samples from other descendants to try to get some answers about Melungeon ancestry. So Who Are the Melungeons, Really? Jack’s DNA project is ongoing, but so far, he’s found that, for the most part, Melungeons have sub-Saharan African and European roots. These findings have surprised some Melungeon descendants who had assumed they were Native American or Portuguese. The study only found a single instance of Native American heritage in the group, and no Portuguese markers. Jack himself was surprised to find out his paternal line was African, because his great, great grandparents had been marked as Portuguese on the 1880 census. He theorizes that their predecessors had immigrated from an African country, such as Angola, that had been under Portuguese rule. Vardy school Jack co-authored a study on Melungeon DNA in the Journal of Genetic Genealogy. It was published shortly after I met him last year. The Associated Press ran an article on the study with headlines like, “Melungeons aren’t who they thought they were,” and “Melengeon DNA study reveals ancestry, upsets ‘a whole lot of people.’” A whole lot of people were upset. But from what I could tell, they were upset more by the way Jack conducted the study than the results he found. People had to be descended from a very specific “core group” of Melungeons to be included in the study. Plus, it was a Y-line test, so it only included men. So, a lot of people who identified as Melungeon descendants couldn’t be in the study. And when the article came out and stated definitively where the Melungeons had come from, it ruffled some feathers. Telling a story without answers Lots of people still claim Melungeon heritage. The hardest part about this project was getting a grasp on who the Melungeons actually were, and who counts as Melungeon now. When I began the story, I was expecting to find hard answers. I thought my timing with the story was impeccable. At the time I was starting my research, Jack happened to be finishing up his study. A published paper on the Melungeons promised numbers and facts—a tantalizing prospect. I was going to be able to tell a story of a group of people who had never know where they were from, until they turned to Science. My story would start with a mystery, and end with a solution. Bam! If only. Johnnie at church The more people I met, the more opinions I heard about who the Melungeons were. I realized that Jack’s study only encompassed a fraction of all the people who claim Melungeon ancestry today. I went to a Melungeon reunion in Virginia last summer, and practically everyone there told a slightly different versio...