Derek Jeter


I watched the latest episode of the series. I enjoyed it until they showed the make-up percentages. Billie showed 100% European, big ole surprise there...not. Rebecca Lobo found out she had some Ashkenazi Jewish in her, that was interesting. And then Derek on his search he found out his I believe great-great grandfather was mulatto on his African-American side, therefore European blood on that side of the family. Yet they didn't show his percentage at the end of the episode. His would have been most interesting to see.

reply

It's my understanding that the extent of the details shown to the audience require the approval of the participants. Whether you like it or not, if Derek Jeter did not wish the actual percentage numbers to be divulged and would not sign a release to do so, then we don't get to see it. You may have noticed, if you watch the series, that several of the celebs shown don't always reveal the their entire DNA sheet. It's up to them and DNA should be definitely be up to the person, not the audience. In the episode with Ken Burns his DNA percentages weren't shown or discussed at all. Only the fact that his DNA proved he was related to the author Robert Burns and Abraham Lincoln. If it's that important to you personally, you can extrapolate from the info presented that Jeter is more than 50% European since both his mother and a great+++ grandparent was also white. And less than 50% Sub-Saharan African. Anna Deavere Smith asked where in Africa her family was from and that was answered. The fact that she also has European descent was not even discussed and no percentage sheet was presented on camera. I'm at peace with granting them some privacy on such a personally revealing program.

reply

None of the celebrities have asked not to have their admixture percentages shown. There can only be so much included in each episode and so that precludes sharing everything found during the research process.

reply