The sad historical truth is that they were ashamed of their African ancestry and that is why they came up with the ridiculous constructs to explain who they were. The courage of their ancestors, had as its only counterpoint, the harsh and violent times they lived in. The fact they could not be proud of it, considering that many of these people descended from good, proud and honest free and enslaved fore bearers, is the real tragedy. Even sadder, is that many will not even allow DNA to put all of it to rest.