7 Things You Didn’t Know about Hakeem Jeffries’ RootsPOLITICAL GENEALOGY America’s highest ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries, recently made his presence known with his inaugural address in this role, a poetic A to Z inventory of values that inspires or schools, depending… Jan 11 23January 11, 2023Article at Medium
Michelle Obama’s Jumper Roots: Proving Your Freedom Over and Over AgainSome years ago, when Michelle Obama was a freshly minted First Lady, I spent eight months delving into her roots. One story unearthed by my research was featured on the front page of The New York Times, but there’s much more to be found in the other… Feb 24 21February 24, 2021Article at Medium
No Man Left Behind: Capt. Lawrence E. DicksonOn December 23, 1944, Tuskegee airman Capt. Lawrence E. Dickson went down in his P-51 Mustang in the vicinity of the Italian-Austrian border. A seasoned pilot, he was on his 68th mission and had received the Distinguished Flying Cross just months… May 27 19May 27, 2019Article at Medium
The Louisiana Roots of Leah Chase, Queen of Creole CuisineWe’re mourning our loss, but there’s a party in heaven because Leah Lange Chase has gone to join her ancestors, who are no doubt celebrating her arrival with a second line. Even in her mid-90s, legendary chef, restaurateur, activist, and patron of… Jun 02 19June 02, 2019Article at Medium
Philip Reed, The Enslaved Man Who Rescued FreedomThis is an updated version of an article that was first published in the May/June 2009 issue of Ancestry (pages 54–56), which has become freshly relevant for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is recent events at the U.S. Capitol.¹ In… Jan 10 21January 10, 2021Article at Medium
7 Things You Didn’t Know about Prince’s RootsIt’s still hard to believe that Prince Rogers Nelson — better known simply as Prince — is no longer with us, though his music and talent will linger forever. As today would have been his 60th birthday, it seems a fitting time for a modest tribute… Jun 07 18June 07, 2018Article at Medium
Finding Adelia, Val Demings’s Great-Great-GrandmotherFellow roots-enthusiasts know that when you research a family tree — even when it’s not your own — there are always one or two ancestors who call the loudest, and in this instance, it was Adelia. This is what I’ve been able to unearth of her… Aug 03 20August 03, 2020Article at Medium
Why Pharrell Almost Didn’t ExistEvery one of us is an amalgamation not only of all our ancestors, but of their decisions, and in 1831, Ambrose Hawkins was contemplating moving his family from America to Africa. Had he done so, his son Joseph would have been raised in Liberia… Aug 21 20August 21, 2020Article at Medium
5 Things You Didn’t Know about Amanda Gorman’s RootsWe were riveted. Even those who don’t “get” poetry understood on Inauguration Day because Amanda Gorman spoke for all of us. This self-described “skinny Black girl descended from slaves” made us gape at our screens in silence as she led us up “The… Feb 03 21February 03, 2021Article at Medium
Kanye, Meet Your Great-UncleDear Kanye, Like countless others, I was confounded by your recent comment about slavery being a choice, so I decided to explore your family tree (as a genealogist, that’s my instinctive response to many circumstances). Your sprawling roots extend to… May 10 18May 10, 2018Article at Medium
Correcting the Record of WWI Hero and Medal of Honor Recipient Sgt. Henry JohnsonA century ago, on the evening of May 14, 1918 while on post duty with one other soldier, Private Henry Johnson single-handedly repelled an attack of up to 24 German soldiers primarily through hand-to-hand combat. In doing so, he prevented the other… May 25 18May 25, 2018Article at Medium
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Revolutionary AncestorsIt makes perfect sense that someone who has as much respect for history as Lin-Manuel Miranda would be well acquainted with his roots, but I couldn’t help but be curious about them myself, so decided to climb the branches of his family tree. And what… Jun 27 16June 27, 2016Article at Megan Smolenyak
Men of the USS Monitor: Daniel Moore, African American Sailor and HeroThis is the fourth in a series about the sailors who lost their lives on the historic USS Monitor, which was launched and lost 150 years ago in 1862. History buffs and mystery lovers may enjoy the previous articles: USS Monitor: Could William Bryan… Jan 24 12January 24, 2012Article at HuffPost
WWI Hero Sgt. Henry Johnson Receives Long Overdue Medal of HonorAlmost a century after their service, Sgt. Henry Johnson* and Sgt. William Shemin were finally awarded the Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony for their heroics in World War I. Both had been overlooked previously, though Johnson, an African… Jun 08 15June 08, 2015Article at Megan Smolenyak
Memorial for Philip Reed, Slave Who Placed Freedom on the CapitolBack in 2009, I wrote about Philip Reed (note: most spell his name Reid, but I use the Reed spelling because that’s the way he spelled it), the one-time slave who was responsible for placing the Statue of Freedom on top of the U.S. Capitol. Though… Apr 17 14April 17, 2014Article at Megan Smolenyak
Michelle Obama’s Ancestors: The Great MixingThis is the third in a series about the ancestry of the First Lady. The previous segments can be found here: Michelle Obama’s Ancestors: Chicago Beginnings (part 1) Michelle Obama’s Ancestors: The Great Migration (part 2) Among the half million… Feb 03 12February 03, 2012Article at HuffPost
Michelle Obama’s Ancestors: The Great MigrationMichelle Obama’s Ancestors: Chicago Beginnings (part 1) The Great Migration was the mass exodus of millions of African Americans from southern states to industrialized cities in the North, mostly during the early decades of the twentieth century, and… Feb 01 12February 01, 2012Article at HuffPost
Michelle Obama’s Ancestors: Rebecca Jumper (aka Coleman)This is the sixth in a series about the ancestry of the First Lady. The previous segments can be found here: Michelle Obama’s Ancestors: Chicago Beginnings (part 1) Michelle Obama’s Ancestors: The Great Migration (part 2) Michelle Obama’s Ancestors:… Jan 25 12January 25, 2012Article at Megan Smolenyak
Michelle Obama’s Ancestors: LaVaughn JohnsonThis is the fourth in a series about the ancestry of the First Lady. The previous segments can be found here: Michelle Obama’s Ancestors: Chicago Beginnings (part 1) Michelle Obama’s Ancestors: The Great Migration (part 2) Michelle Obama’s Ancestors:… Jan 23 12January 23, 2012Article at Megan Smolenyak
Michelle Obama’s Ancestors: The Great MixingThis is the third in a series about the ancestry of the First Lady. The previous segments can be found here: Michelle Obama’s Ancestors: Chicago Beginnings (part 1) Michelle Obama’s Ancestors: The Great Migration (part 2) Among the half million… Jan 20 12January 20, 2012Article at Megan Smolenyak
