Despite recently proclaiming their support for the African American community, Ancestry is planning on eliminating most small segment DNA matches to save money starting in August 2020. Due to impoverished conditions and enslavement, documents for our ancestors are few or nonexistent. Many African Americans are unable to confirm ancestors past 1880. Small segments play a critical roll in our research to identify and validate findings of enslaved ancestors. Don't eliminate this crucial element in aiding our research! 

Many prominent genealogist agree: 

• Elizabeth Shown Mills, “Culling Ancestry's gargantuan DNA database certainly will increase its efficiency—but the cost is one our field cannot afford. The stance that ‘small’ segments are too ancient and too problematic is a short-sighted stance in a field that is rapidly developing new methodology, new strategies, and new tools.” 
• Roberta Estes, dna-explained.com “Ancestry’s planned purge of smaller segments, 6-8 cM, is the exact place that African Americans (and mixed Native Americans too) find their ancestral connections. This community has few other options.” 
• Franklin Smith penned a guest post on Dana Leeds’ blog on how these small segments have helped with his conclusions for his enslaved ancestors.