Jones expects the tests to be finished in August. But already, he has detected DNA from several people that can be classified only as northern Indian or Middle Eastern*. Because participants were chosen with well-researched genealogies, Jones said the exotic DNA didn't come from recent relatives. Moreover, Jones said his research is showing that Melungeons are genetically similar, which could explain the incidence of sarcoidosis and FMF, and other diseases that are unknown among their Anglo neighbors. "The Melungeons reflect a wide range of ethnic input. But I think genealogically they are distinct as a result of them being isolated for so long," Jones said. This gets no argument from residents of Vardy, a farming community about 30 miles east of the Cumberland Gap. A majority of the 80-some families who live here now say they have Melungeon blood. "We always knew it," said DruAnna Williams Overbay, 59, whose family was one of the first in these hills. "We just never discussed it in public because of the stigma attached to being a Melungeon."
At the town's invitation, about 300 visitors toured the old Melungeon "haunt" in June. Many came to swap genealogies, looking for kin. Booksellers peddled an increasing canon of Melungeon titles, from family histories to fictional detective stories. Everywhere, people who would never admit it a generation ago were calling themselves Melungeon. "This really was the dream for me," said Kennedy, whose family has since come to accept the word Melungeon - some with pride. "Hopefully, we can all settle back down 10 years from now, and say this is no big deal. We come from a mixed heritage, that's all."
Copyright 1998-2006 2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. * The researcher Manuel Mira has made public this discovery in 1996. Northern India was settled in the 1500's by Portuguese.
page 1 - page 2 - page 3 - page 4 - page 5 - page 6 - page 7
