Here’s a brand spanking new DNA relative profile from Neville, a change management professional in DC, great artist and my 5th cousin according to DNA ancestry!

Read below to learn more about Neville (pictured below with his fiancé.)

TELL ME ABOUT YOU!

My name is Neville, I’m 32 years old and reside in the Washington, DC area. I work as a Coordinator for Pew Charitable Trusts within their Institutional Solutions Department (essentially Change Management). I spend a lot of my free time drawing.

WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN YOU GOT MY MESSAGE ASKING FOR YOUR FAVORITE SONG?

When I received your email, I wasn’t necessarily surprised that a DNA relative reached out. Honestly, I was more surprised that more people haven’t already done so. I guess with America’s history and the fact that a lot of my relatives are of European descent–there’s bit a reluctance on their part to reach out because of perceived guilt. I just find it just silly — we’re all six degrees of separation from knowing someone who is an asshole.

IT’S SO HARD TO CHOOSE ONE FAVORITE SONG. HOW DID YOU DO IT?

I chose “Footsteps in the Dark” by The Isley Brothers as my favorite song because it’s a great original song that has been sampled in almost as equally great a manner specifically by Ice Cube in “Today was a Good day” and Notorious BIG in “Big Poppa/True Playa”.

TALK ABOUT YOUR DNA ANCESTRY JOURNEY. HAVE YOU HAD ANY POSITIVE EXPERIENCES WITH THE PROCESS OR LEARNED ANYTHING INTERESTING? ANY TIPS YOU LEARNED THAT YOU’D WANT TO SHARE WITH OTHERS?

As far as my ancestry journey, I found it enjoyable. There’s just something to be said for knowing where you come from versus recounting stories of what others have told you. There was a long-standing belief that I had Native American DNA on my mother’s side when it actually turned out that it was on my father’s side. My fiancé (who also tried the service) was under the impression (due to oral history) that she was half Italian and half German but actually ended up being French, British and few other nationalities instead. I had a good laugh at her expense because people of European descent tend to be so “sure” of their ancestry.

Thanks so much Neville for sharing your story!