Louisiana Creole’s -“The root of it all”

What do you do when you invest $100 with a DNA research company only to receive “scattered regions” as your result?

If you’re Gena Robinson, you begin a task she referred to as operation “push” for better results. She said that “scattered” regions meant her results did not reflect the complete story of a person who derived from the journey of a people with a clear cut diaspora outside of Africa.

It was obvious to her, she said, that after reviewing her DNA results that DNA companies did not take into consideration poly-ethnic communities in “isolation” like that of Louisiana Creoles and Caribbean Communities alike for that matter into their research.

“Therefore, I literally felt incomplete and automatically saw myself as someone whose people deserved much more of an explanation,” Gena remarked. “It was only necessary given world history and the harsh realities that the Transatlantic Slave trade had on people of color. An “isolated geographic genetic identity” is confirmation of each diaspora and the stories that lie within,” she said.

“Communities that are part of the African Diaspora deserve an identity that is a true reflection of the struggle and resilience from which we come.  We should not be a forgotten people or confused with any other diaspora’s across the globe; most especially in America where the identity of people of color and the contributions made seems to be an ongoing battle,” she said.

“Louisiana Creoles, who are in part the original foundation of Afro-Latin people in the U.S. Sister communities like that of Haiti, Seychelles, Puerto Rico, Martinique, Cuba, Brazil, Venezuela, Guadeloupe, etc., understand all too well the struggle of identity,” Gena said. She went on to say that each has an extensive history and is deserving of their own worldwide platform for the contributions made.

The “Gumbo People” as Louisiana Creoles inevitably became to be known, due to their richness in diversity and much like the classic dish they are known for, are the perfect blend of Native American, African, Portuguese, Spanish and French ancestry primarily speaking. Dating back more than 500 years, they are one of the first multi-ethnic people of the Americas. They are homegrown Non-Anglo-Saxon people that flourished in Louisiana well before it was sold to the United States in 1803.

They speak a French-based Louisiana Creole language, are overwhelming of the Roman Catholic faith, and recognizably have some of the world’s best cuisines inclusive of Etouffee, Po Boys, Gumbo, Boudin, Andouille, Jambalaya, Dirty Rice, Beignets, Pralines, Catfish Courtbouillon and Cush-Cush, (a dish Gena says she remembers all too well that her grand-mere use to make for her when she was a little girl) just to name a few.  

Louisiana Creoles are also a participating community of the worldwide Mardi Gras Carnival, which is otherwise known as “Fat Tuesday,” a type of Pre-Lenten event held in New Orleans with an emphasis on feasting in excess just before the fasting of the solemn Christian Season of Lent. 

Louisiana was eventually sold by French military and political leader Napoleon Bonaparte, in 1803, needing money for the Great French War. As a result, Creoles found themselves being redefined by the practices of the Jim Crow Anglo-Saxon American social constructs which included trying to rename a people using terms such as negro, black, African American and other names that did not fit or define their already thriving Latin culture.

Louisiana Creoles dominated the territory until the early decades of the 20th century.

Gena said, that the “push” for inclusiveness of “isolated genetic diversity” came as a direct culmination of her studies in Social Science at the prestigious Howard University in Washington, D.C. and The “1998 Community Genetic-Conference of “National Dialogue on Genetics and Minority issues” sponsored by Howard University College of Medicine’s “Genetics Division” and Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. They were a first in educating “diverse communities” to take part in genetic research and were extremely inspirational in Gena’s outlook towards the “push” and her advocacy for inclusiveness of  “isolated genetic diversity” in DNA research companies.

Additionally, Gena believes that “multi-ethnic/multi-cultural empathy” is something research companies and organizations need to understand and practice. There are many people of color who suffer in silence about their identity, often to appease others and because they are often underrepresented.

She understands how important it is for communities of the African Diaspora, and their diverse backgrounds, to be clearly represented. She said, “History has not always stood on the right side of truth when it comes to people of color and the identity factor. Though there are many similarities in each of these groups there are also many differences that need to be addressed.”

“As an advocate for my Louisiana Creole Community”, she said, “I would spend the next roughly 2 years, after receiving my results in 2015, lobbying for inclusion of “isolated diverse communities” in DNA Research. Inevitably, the countless hours spent via telephone speaking with company representatives about the mass dispersion of people from Africa during the Transatlantic Slave trade  which was responsible for populating much of the world’s multi-ethnic communities had a new identity that needed to be recognized in light of DNA testing (clustering).

“In the operation “push” I made them aware that Louisiana Creoles, like others are part of the African Slave trade are a prime example of a people that have distinct and identifiable DNA patterns due to the many blends within the region that settled and as a result of isolation factors over an extended period of time,” Gena said.

Eventually, Ancestry DNA heard my plea for inclusion of “poly-ethnic isolated communities” of the African Diaspora. In March of 2017, they finally implemented “Genetic Communities” which took into account communities like mine that are more isolated in their DNA makeup and literally have a story to tell based on specific ethnic connections.

“I want to thank my Alma Mater Howard University for giving me the tools to advocate. They were undoubtedly ahead of the trend some 23 years ago with the “Community Genetics” concept in educating people of color about “diverse isolated communities”. I can honestly say, Howard had long shown me what true diversity looked like particularly since it is an HBCU. Make no mistakes it was because of Howard’s’ “push” that made me “push” for inclusion. They were right steadfast in their teachings…..Go Bison’s”, Gena said.

Gena commented that as someone who practices Social Science, there is a level of awareness she has as it pertains to the needs of people in a society. Group identity within the African Diaspora is more about giving recognition to the struggle of a people who have managed to sustain themselves in that environment from which they come. It should not be a proper protocol to leave these communities nameless and faceless. She went on to say that a DNA identity can most certainly help to provide more of an understanding to the narrative of one’s diaspora.

From Gena’s perspective, the acknowledgement of underrepresented diverse communities most assuredly added more value for the dollar spent. 

“Over the course of time these isolated diverse communities have established distinct cultural practices such as: culinary, language, religion, music, traditions, celebrations, social needs, customs, rituals, values or just basic core cultural traits and a means of creative expression,” Gena commented. For example, she said that Louisiana Creoles are unquestionably the authors of the folklore style Zydeco music otherwise known as “Lala” music and the traditional Gumbo.

Gena does not see an end to the uses of DNA testing with this latest innovation prompted by her “push”.

“There is still more room for growth in DNA testing. However, this is without a doubt a step in the right direction. I would encourage all people but particularly people of color to be involved in what is being said about you. It is a natural inclination for someone who is a part of a particular diaspora to want to sustain some part of what your ancestor’s have worked hard to maintain…….your SPECIFIC diaspora and all the contributions they made that changed the world,” she commented.

Gena advocates for her Louisiana Creole Roots in other ways also. She is a playwright of Social Science issues with a concentration on her Louisiana Creole Roots. Additionally, she writes about a plethora of issues pertaining to people of color that are a part of the African Diaspora both current and historical.

“I look forward to sharing more of my work which has been received by many as thought-provoking literature,” she said.

One of those plays just to name, “Louisiana’s Gumbo Girl” has received tremendous accolades. “I couldn’t be more proud. But, needless to say, the pandemic has slowed things down quite a bit. This time has been a tremendous struggle for artists everywhere to include production costs. Hopefully, we will be hitting the stage again in the near future in full production mode,” commented Gena. For more insight please contact me by email for more info!

Even with this challenge, she is very hopeful that the play productions will resume making more of an impact with theatre lovers everywhere soon.

I would like to thank my entire Louisiana Creole family for their support and for the acknowledgment of my hard work and dedication to the advancement of our Louisiana Creole Community!  Most especially, I would like to give thanks to the Creole photo-op fam! You look amazing with your Creole-selves!

Also thanks to Doug of the Historic Sites and History Services (Middlesex) for the use of the beautiful campus for the photo-op!

Finally, big thanks to Georgina Dhillion (Chief Editor) of this diamond of a magazine and for all the hard work you do in giving voice and vision to the Kreol’s of the world! You are appreciated!