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Well, this is awkward.
Former Black Panther and racial activist Angela Davis was left in total shock upon finding out that her ancestors arrived in the US aboard the Mayflower, a ship believed to have carried the original pilgrims from Europe to the US. Davis reacted in disbelief when the host of the popular PBS show, Finding Your Roots.
Davis is notorious for working with the Communist Party USA and the Black Panther Party in the 1960s and 70s.
The Pilgrim ship Mayflower is is well known in American history as a symbol of early European colonization of the future United States. For a racial activist of her stature to find out she is descended from William Brewster, one of the 101 passengers that made the frightful journey to the ‘New Land’ in 1620, was obviously a bitter pill to swallow.
Henry Louis Gates Jr., the show’s host and director of the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University revealed the results of the ancestry test to Davis, asking her “Any idea what you are looking at? That is a list of the passengers on the Mayflower.”
Davis reacted with disbelief, saying “No, my ancestors did not come here on the Mayflower.” Gates posted the video of ‘her ancestor’ reveal to twitter.
“Do you know what you’re looking at? That is a list of the passengers on the Mayflower.”
Our researchers discovered #AngelaDavis’s ancestors traveled to the US on the Mayflower and here is her reaction. #FindingYourRoots pic.twitter.com/G2HhA9BSrT
— Henry Louis Gates Jr (@HenryLouisGates) February 22, 2023
Davis is known for her involvement in the armed takeover of a California courtroom resulted in four deaths and her placement on the FBI’s Most Wanted List.
In a world where groups are too often judged by their ancestors this is a very telling moment, and proves that we are all colonists in a way. Davis’ reaction is priceless.
“Oof. That’s a little bit too much to deal with right now.”
Let’s hope she is not condemned or discriminated against for her ancestors colonisation of America. After all, holding her personally responsible for the actions of her family 400 years ago seems a bit unfair, doesn’t it?
