Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
This is a new thing I'm doing on Wednesdays where I answer your DNA related questions and include your photo reveal!!
In this episode of our Wednesday reaction series, we’re looking at four incredible DNA stories that challenge everything these families thought they knew. From a custom law passed in the Republic of Texas to the hidden Mediterranean history of "Little Palermo" in New Orleans, these reveals show how our genetic records often tell the stories our ancestors couldn't.
0:00 - Introduction: Reacting to Your DNA & Photo Reveals
1:06 - Jennifer's Reveal: The Extraordinary Ashworth Family History
3:14 - The Ashworth Act of 1840: Fighting to Stay in Texas
5:56 - Newton Knight & the Mississippi Insurrection
7:17 - Becca's Reveal: Navigating Louisiana Creole & Sicilian Heritage
9:21 - Little Palermo: Sicilian Immigration in New Orleans
11:14 - Kenisha's Reveal: Understanding European DNA in Black American Results
13:48 - The Genetic Record: History of the Enslaved in the Family Tree
14:43 - The "One Drop Rule" & The Racial Integrity Act of 1924
17:56 - Michael's Reveal: Maltese Ancestry & The Mystery of the Doorstep Baby
19:44 - Migration Between Malta & Sicily: A Shared Genetic Story
21:22 - Arab Sicily: 300 Years of Hidden Mediterranean History
23:21 - Closing Thoughts: How to Submit Your DNA for Future Episodes
It's totally free to submit your information, but paid Patrons go to the front of the line!
Join Patreon here:patreon.com/NYTN
Submit your DNA info here: https://forms.gle/eRd5LDCr9YLuakeF9
SOURCES
Jennifer (Ashworth Act & Newton Knight):
Muir, "The Free Negro in Jefferson and Orange Counties, Texas," Journal of Negro History 35(2), 1950 (JSTOR)
Bynum, The Free State of Jones, UNC Press, 2001/rev. 2016
The Ashworth Act, Republic of Texas, Dec 12, 1840 — Portal to Texas History: texashistory.unt.edu
Kanesha (African American DNA & one-drop rule):
Bryc et al., "The Genetic Ancestry of African Americans, Latinos, and European Americans across the United States," American Journal of Human Genetics 96(1), 2015 — free on PubMed Central
Davis, Who Is Black? One Nation's Definition, Penn State Press, 1991
Racial Integrity Act of 1924 (Virginia) — Encyclopedia Virginia
Michael (Arab Sicily, Sicilian Jews, Malta):
Metcalfe, The Muslims of Medieval Italy, Edinburgh University Press, 2009
Houben, Roger II of Sicily: A Ruler between East and West, Cambridge University Press, 2002
Zeldes, The Former Jews of This Kingdom: Sicilian Converts After the Expulsion 1492–1516, Brill, 2003
Becca (Louisiana Creole & Sicilian New Orleans):
Ralph & Coop, "The Geography of Recent Genetic Ancestry across Europe," PLoS Biology 11(5), 2013 — open access
64parishes.org for Louisiana Creole identity and Italian immigration
Full sourced deep-dive available for Patreon members: patreon.com/NYTN
✅Join me OFF of Youtube
patreon.com/NYTN
💚💚Get you $50 cash back @ Rakuten rakuten.com/r/DANIEL9771
☕Send me a coffee!: ko-fi.com/nytn13#linkModal
nytonashville.com
► 👕 NYTN Merch: nytonashville.com
▶Download the first section FREE of my "Be a Good ancestor" course here:
nytonashville.com/shoplola/be-a-good-ancestor-course-digital-download-videos-bjks6
FOLLOW ME 📸
► YouTube: / @NYTN
► Facebook: / facebook.com/findinglolafilm
► Website: nytonashville.com
► X: / twitter.com/ImFindingLola
OTHER VIDEO PLAYLISTS
► Melungeon + Redbones: youtube.com/watch?v=LyLd8rizXCQ&list=PLvzaW1c7S5hS0duqgK5mkBh_9aqIpbooI
► "Who Counts as..." Series in the US: youtube.com/watch?v=yUbLF-tgbB0&list=PLvzaW1c7S5hRisWeiK9K5E8X7asZdz4X1
► Mexicans youtube.com/watch?v=IwJyAwnx39Y&list=PLvzaW1c7S5hSU0OWM1p4QUln0iBpI77wf
► Enslaved Ancestor stories youtube.com/watch?v=uAxyz0q0A4s&list=PLvzaW1c7S5hQxDnyRTah5wYRX9b4FSrqR
► My family story of white passing : youtube.com/watch?v=SQp7jeNp_yg&list=PLvzaW1c7S5hQcox9CjaJWA7QKTYXw9Zn2
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Come join me on a new docu-series that explores identity, racial tensions in the South during the 20th century, and the unique experiences of those who historically called Louisiana home.
My name is Danielle Romero, and all my life, I have romanticized Louisiana.
Growing up in New York, it represented a place where I could step back the sepia-toned life of my great grandmother, Lola Perot, who died before I was born.
Now, it was time to go back to Louisiana--although I had no idea what the truth would be or what questions to ask---who was Lola really? Who were we?
*Amazon links are affiliate links. If buy something through these links, we may earn affiliate commission. Thank you for supporting this project!
This is a new thing I'm doing on Wednesdays where I answer your DNA related questions and include your photo reveal!!
In this episode of our Wednesday reaction series, we’re looking at four incredible DNA stories that challenge everything these families thought they knew. From a custom law passed in the Republic of Texas to the hidden Mediterranean history of "Little Palermo" in New Orleans, these reveals show how our genetic records often tell the stories our ancestors couldn't.
0:00 - Introduction: Reacting to Your DNA & Photo Reveals
1:06 - Jennifer's Reveal: The Extraordinary Ashworth Family History
3:14 - The Ashworth Act of 1840: Fighting to Stay in Texas
5:56 - Newton Knight & the Mississippi Insurrection
7:17 - Becca's Reveal: Navigating Louisiana Creole & Sicilian Heritage
9:21 - Little Palermo: Sicilian Immigration in New Orleans
11:14 - Kenisha's Reveal: Understanding European DNA in Black American Results
13:48 - The Genetic Record: History of the Enslaved in the Family Tree
14:43 - The "One Drop Rule" & The Racial Integrity Act of 1924
17:56 - Michael's Reveal: Maltese Ancestry & The Mystery of the Doorstep Baby
19:44 - Migration Between Malta & Sicily: A Shared Genetic Story
21:22 - Arab Sicily: 300 Years of Hidden Mediterranean History
23:21 - Closing Thoughts: How to Submit Your DNA for Future Episodes
It's totally free to submit your information, but paid Patrons go to the front of the line!
Join Patreon here:patreon.com/NYTN
Submit your DNA info here: https://forms.gle/eRd5LDCr9YLuakeF9
SOURCES
Jennifer (Ashworth Act & Newton Knight):
Muir, "The Free Negro in Jefferson and Orange Counties, Texas," Journal of Negro History 35(2), 1950 (JSTOR)
Bynum, The Free State of Jones, UNC Press, 2001/rev. 2016
The Ashworth Act, Republic of Texas, Dec 12, 1840 — Portal to Texas History: texashistory.unt.edu
Kanesha (African American DNA & one-drop rule):
Bryc et al., "The Genetic Ancestry of African Americans, Latinos, and European Americans across the United States," American Journal of Human Genetics 96(1), 2015 — free on PubMed Central
Davis, Who Is Black? One Nation's Definition, Penn State Press, 1991
Racial Integrity Act of 1924 (Virginia) — Encyclopedia Virginia
Michael (Arab Sicily, Sicilian Jews, Malta):
Metcalfe, The Muslims of Medieval Italy, Edinburgh University Press, 2009
Houben, Roger II of Sicily: A Ruler between East and West, Cambridge University Press, 2002
Zeldes, The Former Jews of This Kingdom: Sicilian Converts After the Expulsion 1492–1516, Brill, 2003
Becca (Louisiana Creole & Sicilian New Orleans):
Ralph & Coop, "The Geography of Recent Genetic Ancestry across Europe," PLoS Biology 11(5), 2013 — open access
64parishes.org for Louisiana Creole identity and Italian immigration
Full sourced deep-dive available for Patreon members: patreon.com/NYTN
✅Join me OFF of Youtube
patreon.com/NYTN
💚💚Get you $50 cash back @ Rakuten rakuten.com/r/DANIEL9771
☕Send me a coffee!: ko-fi.com/nytn13#linkModal
nytonashville.com
► 👕 NYTN Merch: nytonashville.com
▶Download the first section FREE of my "Be a Good ancestor" course here:
nytonashville.com/shoplola/be-a-good-ancestor-course-digital-download-videos-bjks6
FOLLOW ME 📸
► YouTube: / @NYTN
► Facebook: / facebook.com/findinglolafilm
► Website: nytonashville.com
► X: / twitter.com/ImFindingLola
OTHER VIDEO PLAYLISTS
► Melungeon + Redbones: youtube.com/watch?v=LyLd8rizXCQ&list=PLvzaW1c7S5hS0duqgK5mkBh_9aqIpbooI
► "Who Counts as..." Series in the US: youtube.com/watch?v=yUbLF-tgbB0&list=PLvzaW1c7S5hRisWeiK9K5E8X7asZdz4X1
► Mexicans youtube.com/watch?v=IwJyAwnx39Y&list=PLvzaW1c7S5hSU0OWM1p4QUln0iBpI77wf
► Enslaved Ancestor stories youtube.com/watch?v=uAxyz0q0A4s&list=PLvzaW1c7S5hQxDnyRTah5wYRX9b4FSrqR
► My family story of white passing : youtube.com/watch?v=SQp7jeNp_yg&list=PLvzaW1c7S5hQcox9CjaJWA7QKTYXw9Zn2
--------
Come join me on a new docu-series that explores identity, racial tensions in the South during the 20th century, and the unique experiences of those who historically called Louisiana home.
My name is Danielle Romero, and all my life, I have romanticized Louisiana.
Growing up in New York, it represented a place where I could step back the sepia-toned life of my great grandmother, Lola Perot, who died before I was born.
Now, it was time to go back to Louisiana--although I had no idea what the truth would be or what questions to ask---who was Lola really? Who were we?
*Amazon links are affiliate links. If buy something through these links, we may earn affiliate commission. Thank you for supporting this project!
