Who Do You Think You Are?

Last night I watched the final episode of the new genealogy series, "Who Do You Think You Are?" As you may recall that is the new spin-off show of the the British series that documents the ancestry of national celebrities.


Last night's show featured the African American film-maker, Spike Lee. It was an excellent show. Spike with the help of several genealogists was able to uncover and trace his family back to the slavery era. He learned that one of his maternal great-great grandfathers, Mars Woodall Jackson had Georgia roots and that he was formally owned by a Plantation Owner bearing the surname Woodall. He also discovered that after slavery, his grandfather changed his surname from Woodall to Jackson. Additionally, he retrieved land records documenting the ownership of 80 plus acres in Georgia. A very moving moment came when Spike visited and set foot on the actual land that his ancestor owned and farmed. It was a very poignant moment for him as well as myself when he collected red clay dirt to take back home as a reminder of who he came from. This was especially meaningful to me as I too come from the Red Clay Dirt land of Louisiana. Irony presented itself with Spike learning of his ancestor, Mars Woodall Jackson because it was also the name of the main character in his first film. The idea for the name came from his grandmother and benefactor, Lucinda Jackson but he just learned the full history of its origin.


Later in the show, Spike traced another ancestor by the name of Wilson Griswald who was owned by a slaveowner bearing the same name in Griswaldville. It turned out that he was one of the largest slaveowners in the area. Legal documents suggest that Wilson was a skilled slave who highly valued by his slaveowner. Spike learned that Wilson worked in a firearms factory in Griswaldsville where weapons were manufactured, primarily by slaves, for the Confederate Army. The factory was destroyed during the Civil War by none other than General Sherman and his army since it was the largest producer of guns for the Confederate Army. Again, it was a stirring moment when a historian handed Spike Lee an actual gun produced in the factory. Unfortunately, all records of Wilson Griswald after the destruction of the weapons factory disappear. Hence, it is not known whether or not he was killed in the factory or taken captive by Sherman's army since there is record that 5 Negroes were captured and taken with his company.

The show ended with a reunion between Spike and a white descendant of the Griswald slave owner. The pair appeared initially uneasy during their meeting but came to a meeting of the minds that slavery was a terrible atrocity.

Anyway, it was a very enjoyable finale show. I says kudos to "Who Do You Think You Are" and Ancestry.com for doing such a great job presenting the ancestry of the celebrities who appeared on the show during the season. Another awesome show was the episode that presented the ancestry of football-great, Emmitt Smith.

If you missed the show or any other episodes, you can go to http://www.hulu.com/ to watch it.

Family Search Labs-Newly Added/Updated Sites

Great news! A couple of days ago, Family Search Labs Records Search added and/or updated a myriad of records for multiple states. These include death, marriage and birth records for Louisiana, North Carolina, Arkansas, Kansas, Ohio, Maine, Nova Scotia, Hawaii, Arizona, Florida, Oregon, New York, Maryland and many other states. Please pass along this information to people who you know are doing research in the states with newly updated or added documents. Happy hunting!

Who Do You Think You Are?

NBC has a new show on called "Who Do You Think You Are?" The show is an American spin off of the 6 year old British show that traces the ancestry of national celebrities. In each episode, a celebrity goes on a journey to trace his or her family tree.

The premier show featured actress, Sarah Jessica Parker. She traced her ancestor with the surname Hodge from Cincinnati, Ohio to El Dorado County, California in the Gold County. She also traced an earlier ancestor, Elwell back to Salem, Massachusetts and discovered that she was part of the infamous Salem witch trials. I actually visited Salem, Massachusetts several years back and viewed some of the victims graves. It was quite eerie.

In general, I like the show and I am glad that there is now a Genealogy program that will hopefully encourage individuals to trace their family history.

My only criticism is that the show seemed unnecessarily "scripted." The reactions of Ms. Parker to finding out about her ancestry seemed unnatural and exaggerated and her words seemed as though they came from a cue card. It was clear that the show was trying to relay to the audience reasons why they would want to trace their ancestry, but from my almost 20 years of experience in Genealogy, people are naturally excited when they find out about themselves and the message comes across more clearly.

However, as mentioned, I still think the show is wonderful and I am looking forward to future episodes.

Black History Salute to Ron Brown

In honor of Black History Month, I would like to remember Ron Brown who was the first African-American to be appointed to the Cabinet post of Secretary of Commerce. As well, he was the first black to serve as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

He was born in Washington D.C. but his family relocated to Harlem, New York. He was well educated having attended Hunter College Elementary School, Rhodes Preparatory School and Middlebury College in Vermont.

He later joined the Army in 1962 serving in South Korea and Germany. He married his sweetheart, Alma Arrington. After his honorable discharge from the service, he joined the National Urban League and enrolled in Law School at St. John's University where he received his degree in 1970. He spent twelve years with the Urban League as Deputy Executive Director, General Counsel, and Vice President of the Washington bureau.

He concurrently became involved in politics and worked on Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s presidential campaign in 1980. He was appointed chief counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee under the chairmanship of the Senator.

In 1981 Mr. Brown joined Patton, Boggs & Blow, becoming the first African-American partner at this prestigious firm in the nation’s capital.

He died on April 3, 1996, while on an official trade mission, the Air Force CT43 with 34 other people when the plane crased into a mountainside in Croatia.

He was a true African American Hero so in honor of Black History Month, I am paying tribute to Ron Brown.

Black History Salute to Caesar "C.C"Antoine

In honor of Black History Month, I would like to pay tribute to a little known black hero, Caesar Carpenter "C.C." Antoine. He was Louisiana born and bred in New Orleans and came from "good stock." His father fought at the Battle of New Orleans and his mother was of African/West Indian heritage and the daughter of a captured African Chief. His mother purchased her own freedom and amassed a small fortune for her time which enabled the family to live as free blacks. Their wealth also afforded Antoine a quality education at the best private schools where he became fluent in English and French.

In New Orleans, Antoine established and ran a successful grocery business. However, after the Civil War broke out and the Union captured and occupied New Orleans, this proud young nubian joined the Union Army. He quickly rose to the rank of Captain in the one of the nation’s first all-black regiments, the Louisiana Native Guards. He also recruited former slaves to serve in Company I of the Seventh Native Guard which he organized at Brashear which was 85 miles from New Orleans.

After the Civil War, Antoine moved to Shreveport, Louisiana where he purchased land for farming and and went back into the grocery business.

However, he soon answered a call to serve his Country during Reconstruction in an effort to make life better for his family and other newly freed African Americans. His first political office was that of a Delegate to Louisiana’s Constitutional Convention in 1868 which set the parameters of Louisiana’s Reconstruction-era state government. With black voting rights established under the protection of federal troops, Antoine served Louisiana as State Senator between 1868 and 1872 and Lieutenant Governor from 1872 to 1877. In 1876 he was briefly Acting Governor. Antoine’s tenure in office ended soon after the Compromise of 1877 which withdrew federal troops from Louisiana, allowing the Democrats to return to power.

Antoine enjoyed a life that former slaves and blacks had previously only dreamed of. He had a nice house, investments in the railroad and lottery, raised race horses and co-owned the semi-weekly newspaper called "Louisiana" with Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback, the nation's first black Governor of a U.S. state. Antoine also served in 1880 as the president of the Cosmopolitan Life Insurance Company.

C. C. Antoine died in September of 1921 in his house on Perrin Street at the age of eighty-five. He is buried in Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery in Shreveport. In 1982, an 8-acre park was dedicated to him.

So in honor of Black History Month, I would like to salute this very accomplished Louisianan, Caesar "C.C"Antoine. I thank God for you C.C. May He bless you and pray that he blesses you richly in the Afterlife!

Black History Month Tribute to God the Father

In honor of Black History Month, I would like to pay tribute to God, the father. The reason is pretty obvious to me but for those of you who it is not so apparent to, please let me explain.

First of all, I thank God for protecting and allowing the many African men, women and children to make it safely to America even though it was under less than desirable circumstances. I thank God for giving them the strength and courage to endure the brutality, hard labor and conditions that they experienced at the hands of their capturers. I thank Him for comforting them when their hearts longed for their homeland and their families so far away. I also thank God for giving them the will to keep a positive attitude even under dire circumstances and for putting a song in their hearts, minds, and mouths, i.e. hymms and spirtuals to give them peace and joy in their souls even in the midst of a hostile environment.



FACT-An estimated 645,000 slaves were kidnapped and sold into slavery in the United States. The slave population in the United States had grown to four million by the time of the 1860 Census.



I also thank God for working through people like President Abraham Lincoln, abolistionists, former slaves, Union Officers and soldiers both black and white and giving them the courage to stand up against what in the heart of hearts was not right and for being willing to lay down their lives for it. I also thank him for the many African American men, women and children who were allowed to experience freedom.

FACT-Approximately 180,000 free and runaway African-Americans comprised 163 units of the Union Army and served during the Civil War. Many others served in the Union Navy.

I would also like to thank God for giving the newly freed slaves the courage and desire to pursue and fight for their right to education, careers and to better themselves and the lives of their families amidst racial prejudice and intimidation. I thank him for allowing the former slaves, their descendents and others of african origin to enjoy prosperity and to obtain their goals of becoming doctors, lawyers, educators, professional athletes, musicians, heads of corporations, policiticians and anything else they desire to be!

I thank God for allowing a son of Africa, the nation from which our ancestors were brought to serve as a lowly slave-to become the head of the Nation, President of the United States! I thank God for President Barack Hussein Obama! Isn't it wonderful how God has a way of turning things around?

God is Good! Praise his name. He has been a strong force in the lives of African Americans since their arrival on U.S. soil. So in honor of Black History month, He receives all my praise, honor and Glory! Can I get a hallelujah and amen?

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14

Genealogy Workshop at St. Paul's Baptist Church

There is an upcoming Genealogy Workshop at St. Paul's Baptist Church. St. Paul's has always been a place where members of the African American community can come for worship and fellowship. However, the church also offers a variety of resources to the community in order to provide assistance and enrichment in other areas of their lives.

With that said, St. Paul Baptist Church is hosting its first Genealogy Workshop on Saturday, October 3, 2009 at 8:30 to 12:00 pm. The workshop will feature a Keynote Speaker as well as several local Genealogists, including myself, Karen Burney, Linda Bradley and Annette Madden who will be teaching beginning, intermediate and advanced classes in Genealogy. These classess will teach attendees skills and techniques that will enable them to reconnnect with their ancestral pasts including some of their slave ancestors.

This workshop serves a as a milestone, not just in Sacramento but for African American churches throughout the country. The church has always been a refuge for Africans Americans since slavery. It is only fitting that the church is allowing its present members to trace their roots and reconnect with their ancestors many of whom also relied on the church in their lifetime. In doing so, St. Paul is setting a precedent for African American churches throughout the Country.

Due the overwhelming interest and response, the classes are already at capacity. However, I wanted to do a story on the event so that it might spark interest in future seminars as well as encourage other churches in the African American community to host similar events.