BPL hosts DNA Testing for African Ethnicities Program on Wednesday, February 21

Paul Boncella, BPL's map conservator, is hosting a Black History Month program, DNA Testing for African Ethnicities, in person and online via zoom in the Central Library on Wednesday, Feb. 21. 

What: DNA Testing for African Ethnicities

When: Wednesday, February 21 |11:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m.

Where: BPL Central and online via Zoom 

 Workshop Presenter: Paul Boncella, map conservator of the Birmingham Public Library 

About the program: DNA ethnicity testing may seem like a simple and efficient way to trace your ethnicity. But do you know the differences between all the testing kits and what they offer? Paul Boncella examines the current state of the science behind ancestry kits, lists the possibilities for African ethnicity testing, and explains what the various products deliver. This program is open to all patrons and held both at the Central Library and online via Zoom.  Click here to register to participate online. No registration is required for in-person attendance.

Birmingham, Ala.- Paul Boncella, map conservator at the Birmingham Public Library since 2012, has a passion for educating library patrons. Over the past few years during BPL’s celebration of Black History Month, he has touched on parts of Birmingham’s dark racist past, including how the government used laws to segregate black and white homeowners. 

Last February, Boncella shared tips on a African-American book volume BPL's Southern History Department has to help Blacks look into their family history. 

In a recent interview, Boncella talked about the February 21 DNA Testing for African Ethnicities lecture with BPL’s PR Department.

BPL: The difficulties of finding information on loved ones who were enslaved is an issue many Blacks face. Talk about some of the ways your workshop will address helping them in the search for ancestors. 

Boncella: They will be shown why and how they now can connect to the populations of their native African ancestors more precisely than was possible just a few years ago. Also, they will be introduced to resources that will enable them to explore the people and cultures associated with those genetic connections. 

BPL: What are some of the topics you will cover during this virtual event? 

Boncella: The fundamentals of DNA testing for ethnicity, the three types of tests used for it, the quality and outcomes of tests for African ethnicities at selected companies, and how to make the best and fullest use of the test results.

BPL: What specific need in the community does this program fulfill? 

Boncella: Many people hope that DNA testing will identify specific places in Africa that their distant ancestors called home, but almost none of them know for certain which DNA tests can provide them with a genuine connection to Africa and which ones are a waste of money. They will gain that information here. 

BPL: How did you identify the need for this topic as part of our Black History Month programming? 

Boncella: Whenever I answer inquiries about DNA test companies that specifically target people of African ancestry, I realize that only an expert has the means to make an accurate assessment of their products. Really, you cannot just Google this stuff. 

BPL: What do you hope viewers of this virtual lecture learn? 

Boncella: I will be satisfied if they come away knowing how to choose DNA ethnicity products that can reveal authentic genetic connections to African populations.

BPL: Anything else to add? 

Boncella: The genetic genealogy community in general has neither pointed out flawed approaches to DNA testing for African ethnicities at some companies nor drawn attention to significant advances toward that end at others. I intend to do both here.