How Genealogy Is Used To Track Black Family Histories

1A

NPR

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4.3 • 4.5K Ratings

🗓️ 20 June 2023

⏱️ 31 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Our names are important to us. They tell us who we are and often, who we come from.

So imagine suddenly discovering the last name you've always carried... might not actually be the name you should have.

For Black Americans, genealogy can fill in the blanks left by the legacy of slavery and racism in the U.S. Services like the Freedmen's Bureau and Slave Voyages provide free access to records and documents to help with that search.

We talk about the power of genealogy in fostering knowledge and connection for Black Americans.

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Our names are important to us.
0:10.6	They can tell us who we are and often who we came from.
0:13.9	So imagine suddenly discovering the last name you've always carried might not actually
0:18.9	be the name you should have.
0:20.8	Alex Nieson began looking into her family's history after discovering her great grandfather's
0:25.4	name was different from their family name.
0:28.3	Our research to discover the story of her great grandfather's name to Curtis Cemetery's,
0:33.1	courthouses and archives in South Louisiana.
0:37.0	The whole idea of tracing your history through your name, it just doesn't take that long
0:43.5	before you get to the generation where whatever name it is that your people were going
0:49.6	by was imposed on them.
0:53.0	While much of the US is recognizing that history and its impact on the nation with the celebration
0:57.8	of June 10th yesterday, some Americans are looking for history closer to home.
1:02.7	The legacy of slavery and racism left many gaps for African Americans looking to trace
1:07.2	their family history and genealogy is helping fill in the blanks.
1:11.7	After the break, Alex joins us to talk about her search for answers about her family's
1:16.0	history.
1:17.0	We also speak to the genealogists who helped Alex with that research.
1:20.3	I'm Jen White.
1:21.3	You're listening to the 1A podcast where we get to the heart of the story.
1:24.7	You've got a lot to get into you to stay with us.
1:31.5	This message comes from NPR sponsor Indochino.
	...

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