Carolinas Free People of Color DNA Project focuses on accurately chronicling the genetic lineage of those historically classified as free persons of color (FPOC) who resided in North Carolina and South Carolina prior to the American Civil War. Descendants of such individuals may today self-identify as members of any ethnic group. Our project is open to those with a documented ancestor in your straight maternal (mtDNA) or paternal (yDNA) line who resided in the Carolinas and was listed in government records as a free person of color prior to 1860.