| August 15, 2010 | ||
| 2:00 pm | to | 6:00 pm |
Do you know where you’re from? African Ancestry wants to help people find out. They’re a DNA-based ancestry tracing and research group who have been featured in the CNN Presents Black in America series. African Ancestry says they want to help African Americans to find out their roots more easily and accurately. On August 1st, African Ancestry hit the road with a 14-city “We Are Africa” road tour starting from New Orleans. They’ve been traveling daily to US cities ever since and this Sunday, the road tour makes a stop to Bed-Stuy!
Gina Paige, president & co-founder of African Ancestry originally sought venue space in Harlem, but was asked to consider Bedford-Stuyvesant. “We chose Brooklyn because it is a cultural center for people with African-centered thoughts, values, and histories. More specifically, we wanted to partner with the Black-owned businesses that are thriving in Bed-Stuy,” she said. African Ancestry partnered with Bed-Stuy business owners Angela Terry of Therapy Wine Bar (364 Lewis Avenue, between Macon and Halsey Streets), Richard Beavers of House of Art Gallery (373 Lewis Avenue at Macon Street) and Alexia Billiart and Ardenia Brown of at the soon-to-come produce place Butternut Market. Gina continued to say, “Partnering with Black organizations, institutions, and businesses is an integral component of this Road Tour and the owners of Butternut Market, House of Art, and Therapy Wine Bar are entrepreneurial colleagues whose businesses deserve our support.”
These business owners are not only sponsors of this event, but they are actual DNA participants. Each of them will learn about their African heritage “live” and in public. New York State Assemblyman William Boyland, Jr. will also learn what his lineage will reveal. “There’s another side that we don’t know about,” Butternut Market co-owner Ardenia Brown said with sheer anticipation. “From the revealing of my DNA, I’m many things, but who else am I?!! I will find out on Sunday!”
Presentations will take place at the studio space of House of Art Gallery at 2:00PM. Attendees will be able to purchase any African Ancestry test kit at a promotional rate. Butternut Market will also host a food tasting in front of House of Art, where the public will have a chance to sample various salads and products that will be sold when they open. The celebration will then continue at Therapy Wine Bar. The partners are hoping the three businesses will be able to reach out to everyone in the neighborhood and beyond. Ardenia Brown made a call to all drummers and dancers, to come and be apart of the event. “This will be a day of celebration,” she said. “We need to embrace with all the love joy and pain that our people have gone through. When we wake up, we’re waking up the ancestors inside of us.”
“We Are Africa” Road Tour in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn
Sunday August 15, 2010
Presentations at 2PM and 3PM
House of Art Brooklyn
373 Lewis Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11233
Reception (Immediately Following Presentation)
Therapy Wine Bar
364 Lewis Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11233
“We Are Africa” Road Tour on Facebook
“We Are Africa” Road Tour on YouTube
Has anyone signed up for the DNA testing? Did you feel comfortable about the process/results?
@ Melissa that’s also my question. And I am also wondering how much this magical kit costs? I guess they wow you with the presentation then hit you with the fee?
I’m not sure if this is the same company, but I looked at a similar opportunity and it was $300 for the test. The one I looked at required hair samples from both parents, which I found odd because, what if your parents have passed on?
I thought the presentatiion was quite impressive and I felt comfortable with the process (I submitted DNA at the House of Art).. I am stil awaiting the results.