Overcoming Prejudice, DNA and Identity

Identity testing has been a part of human history for centuries – long before the DNA test arrived and revolutionized how we confirm identity. In the second half of the nineteenth century, human’s search for identifying marks began. From the colour of the eyes, the shape of the ear, dental records, handwriting, fingerprinting and finally testing DNA. Establishing identity is of course necessary to help solve crime but also for an emotional sense of self.

Transformed Science

Scientists, anthropologists and detectives have all been on the elusive search for identity. As the DNA test proves – with the exception of identical twins – every person’s individual genetic make-up is unique. Before these tests transformed modern science, the art of identification was often a dangerous one. Identifying marks and certain traits were used to back up racial prejudices. Charles Darwin‘s cousin, Francis Galton, used cranial measurements and composite photographs to reveal the persistence of certain features in murderers, sexual offenders, mental patients and Jews. Human identity could become a dangerous ideological weapon and as history has shown – Hitler being the most obvious example – the worst ramifications of this are genocide and racism. Galton also saw Negroid features as a sign of degeneracy and was a firm believer in eugenics – the social philosophy which advocates the improvement of human hereditary traits through various forms of intervention.

Overcame Prejudice

The DNA test however is a great way of overcoming social prejudice and racism as a recent Channel Four show,100% English, revealed. The show took a handful of English people convinced of their pure Anglo-Saxon heritage, but as their DNA tests revealed, this wasn’t the case.

Agreed to DNA Test

Comic, Danny Blue, was one of the participants in the show that agreed to a DNA test. Before the results were revealed, he insisted they would find no dilution of his Anglo-Saxon bloodline going back 12 generations. He also said that although the black footballer Ian Wright was born in England and played football for the England team that, “An English person can’t have black skin.” Danny’s test revealed his genetic make-up was 10% Middle Eastern, 11% South Asian, 37% south-eastern European and 43% northern European. Danny was forced to re-think his ideas of identity and race based on the colour of someone’s skin.

The tests have also proved to BNP supporters that they have a black ancestor in their not so distant past – forcing them to reassess their prejudices.

If you are interesting in finding out your ancestral make-up and anthropological roots, you too can take one of these tests. This simple test can tell you where on earth your ancestors originated and travelled – your unique geographical and racial heritage.