Running head: ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY OF ONE'S FAMILY OF ORIGIN

Ethnographic study of one's family of origin

Kelly Talbert
Wayne State University
SW 3510

Professor Ruhana
March 05, 2014
Ethnographic study of one's family of origin
I must begin by saying this is one of the most interesting assignments that I have been
given. I now appreciate the assignments inquiring how we the students were progressing with
gathering our information.
In this Ethnographic paper you will see the origin of my family, our culture, and ethnicity.
I will supply you with the necessary information you need to understand my wonderful family
and our educational value.
The migration of my maternal family consists of African Americans, Caucasian, and
Native American. We have Mulatto, defined as the first-generation offspring of a black and a
white person (Merriam-Webster, 2014). Bi-racial, defined as having parents from two different

races (Merriam-Webster, 2014). Also, Multi -racial, defined as composed of, involving, or
representing various races (Merriam-Webster, 2014). During the research I kept coming to a dead
end because our family could not confirm slavery for our African American Heritage. According
to the Historians in my family Sandra and Sheila we were free.
In my quest for information I can begin with my Great great grandparents; Etta Lucy
(Simpson) Ray (multi-racial) and Ber Ray (Mulatto), owned a barber shop in Livingston, and
Cookeville, Tenn. (Middle Tennessee). Out of their union they had seven children; Lillie Mae,
William Jesse, Emma Lou Ann, Vera, Albert Robert, Myrtle Lee, and David Henry. The first
born, Lillie Mae Ray (multi-racial) is my Great grandmother; she married Emmet Copeland Sr.
(bi-racial) (Native American and African American) a farmer, who owned a large portion of farm
land in Livingston, Tenn. Out of their union they had nine children; Robert, Ozell, Estell, Elise,
Clara, the twins Isabelle, and Wadell, Emmet Jr., and Kathleen. My Grandfather is one of the
twins, Wadell Copeland born October 29, 1916. Wadell (multi-racial) married Elease (mulatto),
out their union they had two children Charles Wadell (uncle) and Sandra Isabelle (mother).
Wadell was the patriarch of our family.
Education and being a provider was very important to Kellys grandfather. He quit school
in the tenth grade to get a job and send his twin sister Isabelle Copeland to college. Thanks to
Wadell, Isabelle was the first in our family to graduate from college, Tennessee A&I with her
degree in education. Isabelle returned to Livingston, Tenn. to teach in her community.
Grandfather, soon left Tennessee after the Great Depression to go north to Highland Park,
Michigan where he and his male siblings received jobs at Ford Motor Company (plant). Kellys
mother Sandra was the first one to be born here in the north. Kellys Mother graduated from high
school early at the age of sixteen, Sandra dreamed of becoming a doctor. Kellys uncle

ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY OF ONE'S FAMILY OF ORIGIN

graduated from high school and was career Army; he retired a sergeant (deceased). Sandra went
to community college following high school. Sandra was a young bride (twice) and divorced
(twice) mother of three girls Karen Marie, Kristin Elease, and Kelly Alice. This side tracked her
plans of college briefly; she first became a paramedic and finally a registered nurse, BSN.
Kellys grandfather did not want his children or grandchildren to work for the plant. The
rule in our home was after high school you are to attend college or work. We all followed our
mothers pattern and went to college for maybe a year, and worked. Kelly and her sisters all
have one child (boys); they each are eleven years apart. Kelly is the baby who followed her
mothers pattern of being married young and twice. Her son is from her first marriage.
Kelly and her sisters boys have broken the cycle of a break in education, thus far
Karens son is a high school graduate, and has a Bachelor in Arts, Kellys son has graduated from
high school and is currently in college to earn a Bachelor in Computer Engineer and his minor is
Music. Kristins son is in elementary school; he will continue the cycle of change and attend
college directly after high school like his cousins before him.
Kelly and her sisters have also, continued their college educations. Karen is pursuing her
Doctorate in Education (Nursing), Kristin is pursuing her Bachelor in Computer Science and
Kelly is pursuing her Bachelor of Social Work.
Our family is Christian Methodist AME., The Methodist branch of Protestant religion
traces its roots back to 1739 where it is developed in England as a result of the teachings John
Wesley (About.com, 2014).
The illness that is prominent in Kellys family is Cancer: Pancreatic and Lung. Lung
Cancer is what took seven of Grandfathers sibling, and when he died he became the eight one
taken from this horrible disease, April 6, 1992. This was our crisis, He meant the world to us, and

ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY OF ONE'S FAMILY OF ORIGIN

to watch our mother and grandmother endure the loss was heart breaking. We all took turns to
care for him in his final days. It had been a blessing that Sandra (mother), Karen (sister) were
nurses, and Kelly was a certified educated nursing assistant, this allowed Grandfather to receive
his care at home and pass there surrounded by family.
Ironically, the oldest surviving member of my family was Grandfathers twin sister
Isabelle Copeland. Isabelle actually died of natural causes January 8, 2014, which was amazing.
This cultural history allowed Kelly to discover at an early age she wanted to help people,
when she graduated from high school she was going to college for Criminal Justice. Previously
stated she married and had a child young placing a break in education. Kelly eventually went
back to school and earned two Associate degrees in Criminal Justice Generalist, and Liberal Arts.
Kelly is currently blessed to attend Wayne State University School of Social Work, because
education was a value and a blessing. Success is the goal; Kelly has a great desire to help her
peers and community. She is certain that with the help of her education this can and will be
accomplished. All of us tend to take for granted the way people in our community do things.
When we travel the distant places our assumptions about our own social life and its cultural
practices may be challenged (Ashford & LeCroy, 2013, p. 10).

ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY OF ONE'S FAMILY OF ORIGIN

References
About.com.2014.Retreived from http:// en.about.com.
Ashford, J. B., & LeCroy, C. W. (2013). Human behavior in the social environment a
multidimensional perspective (5 ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.
Biracial. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved March 5, 2014, from http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/biracial
Mulatto. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved March 5, 2014, from http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/mulatto
Multiracial. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved March 5, 2014, from http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/multiracial
Douglas, S.I. & Booker, S. Interview. February and March 2014