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

I have had an amazing week, and have been running to Washington, for events, for a filming project, and to visit with a group of ladies from all over the country who are celebrating an event in Washington DC together. These are ladies with a good sense of history and fans of historical fiction writer, Beverly Jenkins. There are the ladies celebrating “Diva Daze” when this group of avid readers and history minded women meet, travel together and fellowship with each other. I was able to give them a brief presentation on family history so I am giving a shout out to them. These ladies have a sense of history and it was great to say hello to old friends and to meet some new ones, so a shout out to them.

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Well this time of year I always describe as a season of “freedom”. I am in the middle of preparing to look at this year in particular. This is a milestone year. The sesquicentennial celebration of the end of the Civil War, the abolishment of slavery, and the beginning of freedom is underway. The Grand Review Parade will occur on Sunday, and if you are in or near the nation’s capital, try to catch this event. There are a number of events unfolding at the African American Civil War Museum. A number of things from Civil war to civil rights will be celebrated this weekend. I hope you will be able to take advantage of some of the events this weekend. Bring your cameras and take in things and enjoy!

I wonder how many of you have been able to attend a celebration of freedom. This is the opportunity to see in a spectacular way a real celebration of the freedom for a people! Why has it not been celebrated until now? I always ask the question all the time, “have you found your ancestor’s story of freedom?” We need to try to tell that missing part of the story. How did they become free? We are still very uncomfortable as a nation with slavery. Some are uncomfortable with the fact that their ancestors had slaves. Some of us are also not happy to think of their enslavement. But it is time that we find that one moment of joy–of true joy–when bondage ended. So today 150 years later,  we celebrate! Let’s not forget and honor them.

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A shout out to everyone in St. Charles Missouri this weekend in attendance for the annual NGS Annual Conference. I know that many friends from St. Louis are there, and attending workshops and enjoying the exhibit hall. So I hope that all are enjoying things and learning a lot from others as well.

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Note that in a few days the schedule for the annual AAHGS Conference will be posted. Speakers have been notified this week, and we are all eagerly awaiting the final schedule so that registration will unfold.

In early June, the SCGS Jamboree will  unfold at the Marriott hotel in Burbank California. I hope that many will be able to make it there as well. I am preparing to travel, tweaking power point presentations, and looking forward to seeing everyone from California to Alabama, for Samford. I love the chance to meet other other researchers, and from whom I learn so much. From them I am inspired to write, to read, and to grow. I love being a part of this exciting community.

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“Full drive” describes the status of those who are in preparation for MAAGI, July 7 – 9 this year. Two tracks have been merged –the technology track and the professional track have merged into a writer’s track. Many professionals are writing in a variety of ways from books to blogs, and more. There is still room for a few more to register and be a part of this amazing event.

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Archie Moore

I must mention the name of a good friend, and colleague from Arkansas, who was a historian, preservationist, and leader, Archie Moore. Mr. Moore has done so many things for so many of us in the community and he passed away unexpectedly this week.  Mr. Moore was a special person and was extremely active in the circle of historians and preservationists in the state of Arkansas. His death still has many of us in shock, and in deep sadness. I saw him last month in Arkansas and he was so kind to me during my stay and showed me so much while I was there.  His focus and dedication were important as was his humor and good spirit of preservation and kindness. Rest in peace, Archie Moore, God Speed dear friend. You will be missed and shall not be forgotten.

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I know that this weekend the Memorial in May annual conference is unfolding in Oklahoma this weekend. PAAC has been working with the Quapaw tribe of Oklahoma. This is a unique collaboration between and African American preservation group and a Native American tribe. This collaboration is admirable to know about, and their being hosted in Quapaw, Oklahoma is history making. May you continue and may your actions be appreciated.

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I have been following several groups on social media such as Search Squad on Facebook which is such an interesting group. But I have been following another story that might require DNA testing to matchi mothers and children. I am referring to the story where mothers in St. Louis were told their children had died, when in reality, they had not–they had been stolen and given to others for adoption. I hope that in this case still unfolding that DNA will help to match children with parents and maybe sibling to sibling. Mothers are so special, so we hope that mothers will find their long lost children.

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If you missed Bernice Bennett’s show last night. You have heard me talking about US Colored Troops. Well, she had two guests last night who shared their own family stories that they gleaned from Civil War pension files. Their stories were really great to hear and the lesson of course is the rich data from which one can learn rich family history. Her guests were Tonya Hull and Antoinette Broussard! You can always catch Ms. Bennett’s show every Thursday evening at 9pm eastern time, on Blog Talk Radio.

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Well, I am winding down for another week. Thank you all for your messages, events and stories that you have shared and also a simple thank you for listening. I always and humbled by you all and appreciate your being there. I hope to see some of you this weekend along the parade route in Washington DC! In the meantime have a great week and remember to keep researching, keep documenting, and keep sharing what you find.

Hello and welcome back to the African Roots Podcast! You can reach me at AfricanRootsPodcast@gmail.com.

I hope  you are all doing well and I hope that people in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas are safe, as I know that there are some serious things with severe weather taking place this week. Please stay safe and we should all say prayers for family and love ones in that part of the country.

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The Grand Review Parade is coming!

I hope that if you are in Washington DC area on May 17th, consider attending the Grand Review Parade. From 6 to 10,000 marchers will be able to see a Grand Review of Civil War soldiers. I hope to be there along the parade route, to give honor to my own USCT ancestors. This will be the great time to honor those brave men of the United States Colored troops. I am quite excited to seeing the Grand Review will consist of. I was excited to celebrate  freedom in Arkansas, and now look forward to seeing a celebration of Freedom in the nation’s capital.

This will be impressive and memorable and if you are in Washington at that time—be there! The parade will unfold from 12:00 to 4:00 pm!

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Slave Sites at Monticello to be Rebuilt

Thanks to a $10 million dollar grant the story of the enslaved people who lived at Monticello will be a part of the official tours. You may recall that last week I mentioned that now historical sites where old plantation mansions still stand, are now incorporating much ignored history into their tours. They are now telling the much ignored story of the enslaved people who lived and worked and maintained those estates.  I mentioned several from Louisiana. Well one of the most famous estates of them all, Monticello has now rebuilt slave quarters that used to be present. There was an opening several weeks ago, the unveiling of these cabins took place, and many descendants of the more than 100 enslaved men, women and children, were in attendance. This is part of an effort to tell the fuller story of what happened at this famous home of Thomas Jefferson, one of the founding fathers.

Now many us of already know the story of Jefferson and his relationship with Sally Hemmings, but what is not known as widely, is the story of the rest of the enslaved population. How did they live?  What were they forced to do on that estate? Now this is a costly undertaking, and this took placed because of a $10 million dollar gift to Monticello from philanthropist David Rubenstein. At the unveling, he announce an addition gift of the same amount, to rebuild other slave sites along Mulberry Row at the plantation.

Over the years, the grounds were changed, but now they are working to put the roads back on the grounds were the enslaved people lived. A weaver’s cottage will be put back as well as a storehouse and stable. For more information, click HERE.

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Funeral Home To Share Obituaries

Genealogists with ties to Faquier County VA, have had some good news. Joynes Funeral Home which serves the African American Community of Fauquier Co. VA. They are providing a new service: you can send your E-mail address & they will send notification of all obits as they are published. This is a wonderful service to obtain updates from this funeral home when a  new obituary is posted. What a wonderful tool to use for those conducting community based research. With many small close knit areas almost the entire community is related by blood or marriage. Check your communities to see if other firms are providing this service as well.” Website for Joynes Funeral Home:http://joynesfuneralhome.com/obituaries.php

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Freedmen’s Bureau Records to be Indexed

Good news is forthcoming from Family Search. They have been digitizing the critical records from the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands. The end of the Civil War changed the lives of millions of once enslaved people forever. The Freedmen’s Bureau records have been digitized. Partnerships have been formed between Family Search, the Smithsonian, AAHGS, and we now have an enormous task, to get these records indexed. The official announcement will come up during Juneteenth weekend, where more details about the indexing initiative will be unfolding. So do join the effort to make these records available.

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African American Track at Genealogy Jamboree

Well, next month, I shall be joining Bernice Bennett, Michael Henderson, Nicka Sewell Smith, Judy Russell, Crista Cowen as speakers in the African American Track of the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree. I will be on two panels and will also be speaking about Civil War nurses, matrons, laundresses and cooks. Take a look at the program for this track and for the Genealogy Jamboree in general. This sounds quite exciting and I am honored to be joining these wonderful speakers. The speaker line up is most impressive, and I hope that all in southern California will be attending the event.

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After the Jamboree, I will be seeing many of your at the Samford University IGHR. I have the honor of speaking in the track for the Five Civilized Tribes track. Here is info on the track.

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Last night’s episode of Bernice Bennett’s show featured Dr. Blaine Bettinger. He spoke about DNA standards, which I think are better described as guidelines for DNA text consumers. Interesting discussion with the guest unfolded. Note that Ms. Bennett’s show airs every Thursday evening at 9pm on Blog Talk Radio.

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Time to bring things to a close for this week! Have a wonderful week of research, and remember to keep researching, keep documenting and to keep sharing what you find!