Welcome back to this week’s podcast! You can reach me at AfricanRootsPodcast@gmail.com
I hope that you are enjoying spring, but we are still having changing weather and are even expecting a bit of snow this weekend. But spring is slowly settling in.
Spring events are now underway. I am looking forward to upcoming events–in May, the Family History Center in Kensington Maryland, in May. Hope to see some of your there.
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Yesterday I had a good day at the Historical Society of Baltimore County, in the monthly genealogy classes there. Yesterday, Noreen Goodson did her thing with her outstanding Introduction to Genealogy class.
She did a fabulous job—this was a great workshop. If you have not seen it before–then you really need to catch her session. Those of you in the greater Washington-Baltimore area, make note of her name. She was in her element yesterday and really outline some wonderful beginning steps for those just getting started!
Next week–I am excited to mention that I shall be teaching a class in Oella Maryland, the historical neighborhood of the African American patriot, Benjamin Banneker. Well, the Banneker Park and Museum will host a series of classes, and I am honored to be teaching a class there this coming Tuesday beginning at 10:00 am. I am honored to teach a class there, and look forward to it.
This week I have had a chance to explore my local area. Have you had a chance to explore the local area where you live? Many of us don’t live in the communities of our childhood. Well I have been learning so much more about the African American community of western Baltimore County of late. I have been inspired to look and embrace the local history where I now live.
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Today—2:00 pm—don’t forget to listen to Melvin Collier’s webinar., Confirming Enslaved Ancestors, Through DNA. You really want to catch this. I have seen him in action, and he will be inspiring. I like the fact that he creates a theory and then sets out to prove it. In this case he had some DNA matches, and was able to solve the mystery of a family separated by slavery and selling of slaves—an amazing story! So tune in today!
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MAAGI Offers DNA Track
Speaking of DNA—are all of those words a bit confusing? Centimorgans, triangulation, SNPS, autosomal tests, mitochondrial DNA. Well it can be confusing. To make sense of it all—you may want to look closely at the DNA track to get a handle of it all. This year at MAAGI, there will be a full DNA track, and even a chance to explore the emotional side of DNA. The new track on DNA will explore DNA in full–Shannon Christmas, Bernice Bennett, Nicka Smith, will break it all down for you. The emotional side is quite intense. Some are surprised when they see the result. And imagine the emotion for adoptees, finding blood relative for the first time. There is also emotion for others who are suprised to find an ethnic makeup that they did not expect. Some are expecting to find something else that they did not know was there. Sometimes family stories are confirmed, and others find out that a story is not what it was expected. Take a look at MAAGI which unfolds at the Genealogy Center at Allen County Library, July 12-14th 2016 in Ft. Wayne Indiana.
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Were your ancestors involved in a fraternal organization? Were they masons, or members of the Eastern Star? Or how about the Knights and Daughters of Tabor, or United Brothers of Friendship and Sisters of the Mysterious Ten? And Odd Fellows in the family? Have you seen an unusual headstone for ancestors? Well–they may have been, and last night on Bernice Bennett’s show, she featured two guests–Jari Honora, and James Morgan III. Both of them are more than knowledgeable about numerous groups in which our grandparents, and their parents were often involved. These groups are membership organizations that became the essence of their life apart from work and the daily routine. You can learn so much about the community where they lived. Both Jari and James laid it out for listeners. Studying Benevolent organizations can be so useful to your genealogical research. Last night’s show was so informative, so if you missed it, tune in and listen to the podcast. Bernice’s show airs every Thursday evening at 9pm on Blog Talk Radio.
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Question of the Week: Do you Know Any Family Stories?
I hope that many of you are doing more than collecting names. We have dozens of stories. Capture them, seek that information. Your friends and even relatives do not want to hear your list of names. They don’t really want to see your family history chart. They want stories. Were they enslaved? Then how did they become free? How did freedom come? Did they leave enslaved? Did they emancipate themselves? Find that story and tell it.
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Winding it down again for this week and I want to thank you for tuning in. You have choices on how to spend your time and I am grateful that you are there. Thank you so much for sharing your announcements, event, interviews and am always happy to pass them on to others. You are appreciated.
Please remember to continue to keep researching, keep documenting and to keep sharing what you find!
