Exploring My Cultural Heritage: Pieces of the Puzzle

Daily writing prompt

What aspects of your cultural heritage are you most proud of or interested in?

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Someone once said that our heritage is the puzzle pieces that make us up today.

If that’s the case, then I’m a ten-thousand-piece puzzle box with a couple of dozen pieces missing. Or worse, there are pieces that came from a different puzzle.

In my constant research into my family tree, I’ve discovered some interesting things:

• The first Franklin on record was a woman who was half Cherokee and half Black. That was clear back before this was place was even a country and occurred in North Carolina. Where did he and she come from?
• The Muniz’s came from northern Spain. They arrived almost fresh off the boat in the 1840s. A number of the women passed away from a cancer that is found in those of Jewish decent. Some of them have Jewish genes. The question is, where does this connection come from? Were my great ancestors underground Jews. Did they change their name and lost connection with their past during the various inquisitions that happened back then?
• The Malouff’s were supposed to have arrived here around 1900. Why do I find reference to them in newspapers earlier than that.

Like I said. Some of the pieces are missing completely. And others came from a different box.

Untangling all that is fun.