What Are You?

Most people can remember back to elementary school and learning about what a person’s heritage or background is. Instead of asking, What is your background, it has been my experience that most kids and even adults simply ask, What are you? In response, people will quickly name off between two and six different nationalities, feeling extra proud with each extra nationality. The truth of the matter is though, most people do not have actual proof that they are German or French or Canadian. The majority of a person’s family history comes from stories told by parents and grandparents, and I am no exception.

I always knew I had mostly German in me. My grandparents’ last name was Weber, and my mom’s side looks very German with round faces, blue eyes, and light hair. I never had bothered to ask about my heritage because I had heard many stories and references to know I was German. When we began talking about different backgrounds in school, I discovered that almost everyone in my class was German. I didn’t like that my background was so popular. When I got home that day, I demanded to know my background and was delighted to find out that I was also Irish, English, and Native American. I relished in the fact that I was Native American with my blonde hair and blue eyes. My Grandpa Joe has all of the features of a Native American, and I would proudly boast to my friends that my grandpa was an Indian. Of course, I have no proof of my heritage. It is merely something that has been told to me, and as I’ve grown up, I’ve realized that my percentage of American Indian is very small, and I really am mostly German.

Family history is generally something people know through stories told by their parents and grandparents. There are no personal memories of one’s far back family history, so it is essential to rely on older family members to keep the family history alive. Most people do not have actual proof of their family histories, and I am one of this large group. Family histories rely on the memories of others to be passed on and stay alive.

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