AfricanAncestry.com Helps NFL's Michael Bennett Find His African Roots

Michael Bennett Takes a Historic ‘Stand’ for His African Roots

Defensive Lineman Partners with AfricanAncestry.com to Discover African Roots in Sierra Leone, Senegal and Bioko Island (Equatorial Guinea) During A Time of Social Action

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--From taking a knee, to community movements, people of color in America are finding ways to speak out and stand-up. Seattle Seahawks’ Pro Bowl defensive lineman Michael Bennett has turned to his African roots to better understand who he is by knowing where he’s from in Africa.

    Thanks @mosesbread72 for taking a stand for your roots with us. #Senegal #SierraLeone #BikoIsland #DoYouKnow?

AfricanAncestry.com, the pioneers of genetic ancestry tracing for people of African descent, announces today that Bennett’s maternal ancestry traced to the Mandinka people of Senegal and the Mende people of Sierra Leone. His paternal ancestry traced to the Bubi people of Bioko Island (Equatorial Guinea). He joins fellow athletes Trevor Pryce, Tina Thompson and Richard Dent with ancestral roots in Sierra Leone or Senegal.

“There’s an undercurrent of change on the rise in the Black community about a variety of things such as social injustice, blatant racism and cultural identity. It feels like a present-day version of the Black Power Movement,” said Dr. Gina Paige, president and co-founder of African Ancestry. “Bennett’s ancestral reveal is one of the most monumental we’ve done because of this time in our history and what he represents,” added Paige.

Known for his outspoken activism on and off the field, Bennett has long since supported connections to Africa, including his STEAM program with iamthecode.org for girls in Africa and the U.S.

“Thanks for changing my life,” signed Bennett on a special Seahawks jersey to Paige.

For more information on Michael Bennett’s ancestry, contact Nichole Taylor at taylor@taylorcommunicationsgroup.com and visit www.AfricanAncestry.com.


ABOUT AFRICAN ANCESTRY
Founded in 2003, African Ancestry Inc. (AfricanAncestry.com) pioneered African lineage matching in the United States utilizing its proprietary DNA-database to more accurately assess present-day countries of origin for people of African descent. African Ancestry’s products include the MatriClan™ and PatriClan™ ancestry tests and customized memorabilia and informative resources. African Ancestry is Black-owned and headquartered in Washington, DC. For media inquiries, contact taylor@taylorcommunicationsgroup.com.

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