One of the main tenants of creativity and leading a creative life is experiencing the interdependence of all things everywhere. Nothing could be more telling of this truth than the myth of “pure” races. The curiously creative human organism first arose in Africa, some 150,000 years ago, then migrated north, south, east, and westwards, developing curious traits needed to thrive in the various climates they discovered.
In this interview on NPR’s Talk of the Nation, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. reveals amazing discoveries of the genetic makeup of so-called superficial races. With his outward appearance as an African American, his testing of his own genes revealed a genetic makeup that was over 50 percent white European.
This is a fantastic look at the Ground of Creativity playing itself out at the genetic level, crossing our made-up boundaries of who we think we are and who we perceive others to be. Here’s the synopsis:
For more than thirty years, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. has been an influential public intellectual with a distinct style who makes complex academic concepts accessible to a wider audience.
Gates — known widely as “Skip” Gates — may be best known for his research tracing the family and genetic history of famous African Americans. He writes that throughout his career, he’s “been deeply concerned with and devoted to tracing roots.”
Now, his most influential writings on race, politics, and culture appear in a new volume, The Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Reader. NPR’s Neal Conan speaks with Gates about the new compilation, as well as his more recent work tracing the genealogical roots of influential Americans.
And if you want to listen to the full 30 minute interview, go to the NPR Media Player here.