What Does It Mean to Be Mexican?

Blanca is originally from Mexico City and has always identified as Mexican.

But when she moved to the US at the age of 16, she realized not everyone saw her that way.

To change the conversation about identity, Blanca took an AncestryDNA test as part of the DNA Discussion Project.

We were fascinated and asked her a few questions to learn more about her story.

What was the biggest surprise about your AncestryDNA test results?

My biggest surprise? I want to say Africa, but we all come from there. Maybe the 4% Jewish?

 

Do you feel like others have ever tried to define who you are? 

The way I heard it, I didn’t look Mexican. There was a bit of a clash between how I thought of myself and how others saw me.

In Mexico we have a lot of different backgrounds, we just don’t talk about it. And to be confronted, that was new.

Will you now define yourself differently?

I now have a lot of new information to make me and my family richer.

It’s cooler to know what being Mexican means. It gives new meaning to what I’m going to describe myself as.

What will you discover about your ethnic mix? Take an AncestryDNA test and find out. 
 
 


 

Past Articles

Can DNA Make You See Yourself Differently?

All of her life, Kimberly had wondered about her ethnic mix. She had a lot of unanswered questions before taking a DNA test. It turns out, Kimberly’s story is really unique. She shared more about her background and what drew her to take an AncestryDNA test as part of the DNA Discussion Project in a Read More

Do You Really Know Everything About Who You Are?

Yemisi thought she knew everything about her background. But an AncestryDNA test surprised her. We were excited to learn more about Yemisi’s story and what prompted her take an AncestryDNA test as part of the DNA Discussion Project. Here’s what she shared with us in a short interview: You were a little thrown by your DNA Read More

The Stories Behind the DNA Discussion Movement

At West Chester University, Dr. Anita Foeman isn’t just teaching a class. She’s leading a movement, one AncestryDNA test at a time. Meet some of her students. Amari Blanca Bushra Devonte Kimberly Michael Mona Yemisi   The students and their stories are changing the conversation about identity and race. Join the conversation today with an AncestryDNA test.   

Were These GoT Actors Born to Play Their Roles? Ancestry Research Revealed

On Game of Thrones, lineage is powerful and perilous. Family ties can get you killed. Now in its 7th season, the show continues to reveal secrets of its characters’ identities. It turns out, the actors on the show are descended from fascinating figures themselves, according to new research from Ancestry. These GoT actors have real-life Read More

AncestryDNA Test Named Best by The Wirecutter

In a recent report by The Wirecutter, Ancestry’s DNA test was named as “the best DNA ancestry testing kit.” The New York Times-owned The Wirecutter found that Ancestry’s product is the best DNA testing service for those who want to learn more about their ethnic roots or connect with unknown relatives. AncestryDNA Stands Out Above Rivals Read More

A Century of Women in the Workplace

How has the role of women in the workplace evolved over the last century? Ancestry pulled together census data for over 250 occupations from 1900 to 2014 to find out. Some of the trends may surprise you – starting with your own occupation, which you can pick in the drop-down below. The census data clearly Read More

What Over 5 Million People Learned When They Took DNA Tests

Millions of people around the world are taking DNA tests. What drives them? They want to learn more about themselves. They’re looking to feel more connected to their families – and make surprising discoveries about their past. Meet just a few of the over 5 million people who have already taken AncestryDNA tests. AncestryDNA test takers are finding new family Read More

How School Was Different in The 1800s

Every fall, children across the United States complain about returning to school. Little do they know how easy they have it. Things were a lot tougher for our ancestors in the 1800s. Here’s what it was like. A fireplace blazed in the winter. With no central heating, schoolhouses relied on fireplaces and, later, wood stoves Read More

Beyond The Windsors: Europe’s Other Royal Families

When it comes to monarchies, we hear the most about the British royal family, the Windsors. But if you’re looking for a family link to royalty, you might want to look further than England. And while these days, royals like Kate and William are well-known by their first names, if you’re looking for your own Read More