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The idea of having an identity and a traceable history is a luxury that I have not been afforded. I have met people who have traced their lineage to the continent of Africa through centuries. To my own knowledge, the furthest my history goes are plantations in Southern Mississippi and sharecroppers in Lowndes County, Alabama. Although I believe there is much more to my family timeline, I am, nonetheless, proud of the legacy that has been shared with me.
Watching someone as influential in hip hop as Q-Tip talk about the little knowledge he has about his own ancestry astonishes me. This is a man who clearly expresses much pride and respect for the nations of Africa (word to the Zulu Nation) and surely has the resources to delve deeper into his lineage but only had an inclination of what his true past held. Fortunately, he teamed up with African Ancestry and okayafrica to trace his roots and discover where all that musical talent originates from.
Oh, and check out the video of Questlove and Black Thought of The Roots tracing their roots as well.
Audio Gumbo 