With support from the University of Richmond

History News Network puts current events into historical perspective. Subscribe to our newsletter for new perspectives on the ways history continues to resonate in the present. Explore our archive of thousands of original op-eds and curated stories from around the web. Join us to learn more about the past, now.

Video of the Week: Powerful New Ad Features Multiethnic Descendants of America’s Founding Fathers


A new powerful and inclusive ad for Ancestry.com features 29 direct descendants of America’s Founding Fathers, many of whom are people of color.

The ad, which was made by creative agency Droga5, is part of a Fourth of July campaign in which Ancestry.com recreated John Trumbull’s historic “Declaration of Independence” painting. The company identified descendants who represent a variety of ethnic backgrounds to recite the document, showing just how much the country has evolved since the declaration was created by seven white men in 1776.

The research team for Ancestry.com reportedly spent hours tracking down and validating the identity of descendants, according to AdWeek. The campaign, which officially kicked off on Thursday, will run through July 13. 

“In addition to the DNA research they are known for, Ancestry has an incredible genealogical database,” Droga5′s Executive Creative Director Tim Gordon told HuffPost. “Droga5 wanted to create something that used their huge archive to celebrate 4th July.” ...

Read entire article at Huffington Post