Hello and welcome back to the African Roots Podcast! You can reach me THIS LINK.

Welcome to this week’s podcast and to the last week in April! At long last spring is here, and days are beginning to feel more like spring!

Lots of things going on as everyone is gearing up for may, the conferences NGS, the SCGS Jamboree and here in the greater Washington area is the Family History Center Conference in Kensington MD, next weekend! I am excited and honored to speak at that event, and look forward to it next week. I will be presenting, “Mapping the Freedmen’s Bureau” and also a session on “Native  American Genealogy”.

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Last night’s episode of Bernice Bennett’s Show feature Dr. Craig Wilder who shared the findings from his book “Ebony and Ivy.” There are so many aspects to the history of slavery in America, and among them are the facts that many entities such as universities were not only built, but also sustained by slave labor. And when times required it, the sale of a slave brought about the funds required to maintain or repair a structure.

Listening to the show reminded me of the fact that we as researchers need to really read about the times in which our ancestors were enslaved, and how their labor was such an essential part of maintaining and sustaining the economy. There are many books that we should employ as essential tools to learning about the lives of our ancestors.

So. what is in  your library? Have you read in depth the works of Gutman,

“The Black Family in Slavery and Freedom?” Do we really have much information about the lives of those whose shoulders our modern 21st century stand? The show was an excellent one with a great discussion. As you know Bernice’s show airs every Thursday evening at 9pm on Blog Talk Radio.
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Speaking of reading—I am compelled to ask–how many of you know how to find information? I read a query earlier today when someone was asking about an ancestor—and wanted to know if they were related to a more famous person who had a similar last name. A simple google search on the well known historical figure would reveal details about their early life, and share info on their family and their geographic origin. I know it is easier to ask someone to tell  you is your ancestor is related to a famous figure. But, shouldn’t we all know how to find out basic information?

We as genealogists should especially know how to find out basic info, before asking the world, if your ancestor is related to a famous person in history. I saw such a post today, and was surprised and also disappointed, because the question came from a researcher with educational credentials and who also knows how to find data.  I guess that is why I was compelled to ask—how much do you read? What do you read? How do you read, and do you know what to read when a question emerges? We must all focus on not just the small story, but also the larger story and we must also learn how to obtain info when it is not known. Our use of media is not to ask others to tell  you, but to use published data to answer questions as we formulate them.

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Loudon County Virginia Records Saved!

A great story is coming out of Loudon County Virginia. Apparently some volunteers were given a tip about some records left in an old abandoned schoolhouse. Several boxes were found and they contain records that span almost 100 years, from post Civil War, through the age of segregation!

Well the records have been saved and thankfully will not be lost. The story is an amazing one found on Loudon Now. The records are actually school records with names long forgotten. Photos, letters and more have been saved. The story is an interesting one of not only history but of the process of preservation.

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A shout out today to a group in Tennessee called the Knoxville African American Diaspora Research Group that is located online as a social media group on Facebook. They are having an event this weekend. There are many genealogical and historical groups out there in the country with a focus on researching and sharing history. I was glad to see the name of this group appear, and hope that we will see more of them and learn about their projects and activities in the future.
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Well, time to wind things down this week. Spring is here–get out and enjoy the weather. Thank your for listening and thank you for sharing  your stories! Remember to keep researching, keep documenting and to keep sharing what you find!

 

 

Welcome back to episode 368 of the African Roots Podcast! You can always reach me HERE.

Well, this has been an amazing week—lost of ups and downs, and genealogical high points. I did manage to get to the Archives yesterday and comb through some Civil War pension files. This is always a treat, because I was going through files, some over 100 years old since they were last opened! And of course many of us are taking delight at the pending changes in American currency about to come about in a few years. Harriet Tubman lead the headlines most of the past few days, which should come as no surprise. But in addition there are other women whose faces will be on US currency in the future, including Eleanor Roosevelt, Marian Anderson, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony and others. It is not only about time, but clearly something that has warmed the hearts of many of us. In addition our Civil Rights leader Martin Luther Kings face will also adorn some bills as well. The announcement was one of those kinds of announcements that one was not only not expecting, but never would have believed that such names would have ever been considered. So–this was a week of many highs.

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I had a great time working with a Civil War Widow’s pension that was over 100 years old. I studied one file in particular that was that of a man whose actions in the Civil War saved lives. I plan to blog about him in the future. But beyond that—I feel energized by having the opportunity to comb through amazing records of these men who were true Freedom fighters.  I suggest that those who have a particular community of interest–that they undertake a Civil War projects and embrace it, and document it to tell the stories that have yet to be told! Truly amazing.

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Have you Thought of a Lineage Society?

Last night on Bernice Bennett’s show Shelley Murphy and True Lewis were her guests as they spoke about the process of joining a lineage society like the NSDAR – National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution. Also joining the group in the chat room was Michael Henderson a member of the SAR, who shared info with chatters as well. The discussion should inspire many to push through a point where many of us stop–that 1870 census. Some assume that if one’s ancestors were enslaved, then there is nothing else to find. Some of us in fact don’t even confirm the need to check to see if ancestors can be found in 1860. I recently conducted some research reflecting this  for a family in Maryland from the Eastern Shore. And in this particular case, it turned out that the family had a relationship with some of the Ross family of Eastern Shore Maryland. If you don’t know–Harriet Tubman’s name was Harriet Araminta Ross, from Dorchester County on the eastern shore of Maryland.  We should take inspiration from the show to push our research to the next level, and embrace so much much more of our history.

The discussion was a good one last night and you can dowload the podcast and hear it. Ms. Bennett’ Show airs every Thursday evening at 9pm on Blog Talk Radio.

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Rest in Peace Prince

Well, the low point of the week came yesterday when we lost a musical legend. Prince, the legendary guitar virtuoso, and man who crossed multiple musical genres, passed away at the age of 57. So sad to see a man of talent leave us too soon, and it is also sad to see one in the prime of life leave. But he left behind a legacy and he emerged from simply being himself, polishing and practicing his craft and sharing it with the world.

We should also be so inspired to take our own specialty–whether music, art, writing storytelling–and first commit to doing it, and then to polish, practice and then–take it to the world. Let us all be so inspired to leave our mark and leave our legacy! Rest in peace, Prince.

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Well, thanks again for listening. I appreciate hearing from some of you this week. Lots of things to make us all think and be reflected, grateful and to embrace life’s blessings. Thank you for communicating with me, and thank you for also simply being there and tuning into the podcast each week as well. As we move on to month’s end, let’s stay focused and recommit to our tasks. In the meantime, remember to keep researching, keep documenting, and keep sharing what you find!