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Additionally, research indicates African ancestry stemming from unions formed in early colonial Virginia, where free or escaped African men intermarried with white women, creating a unique multiethnic population. This diverse genetic landscape encapsulates the realities of race in early America while underscoring the resilience of the Mangans as they navigated a tumultuous social climate.
The Cultural Significance of Identity Labels
Terms such as "Black Dutch" and "Black Irish" provided Mangan families a way to navigate their complex identities and avoid the harsher realities faced by those categorized as African American. This deliberate misidentification often provided access to education and land ownership, crucial opportunities that might otherwise have been denied.