by Lamar Tyler
As Ronnie mentioned we’re in Salt Lake City covering the RootsTech conference for BMWK. The connection between finding your roots and ancestry as an African American male in the middle of Salt Lake City, Utah is not something I would have imagined in any shape or form. Contrary to my initial thoughts that is exactly what happened.
I’ve always had an interest in my family history but what I didn’t have was the patience or time to do research. When tracking family came to mind, I just envisioned spending hours, days, weeks in the basement of the National Archives building pouring over microfilm looking for needles in a haystack. What I’ve found since being at the RootsTech conference is that advancements in technology over the past few years has made this task easier than ever.
During a break in between sessions I sat down at one of the many banks of computers to “fool around” with a family search on my own. Within the first 30 minutes I found something that I still find hard to believe. What I discovered was that my Grandfather’s name might have actually been his middle name. At least that’s what it looks like according to the 1930 census when he was 5 years old. I immediately called my Grandmother to ask her if she was aware of this and she had never known him by any other name so the first great mystery was unraveled.
Over a few more hours that same evening I was able to trace back multiple lines from my Grandparents back to descendants that were born around the 1830’s all using free services via FamilySearch.org. The significance of this is that this was the last generation born into slavery. To sit there and read names of those who came before you, of those who paved the way is a powerful thing.
In the African American community many times we lack our true history, knowing who we truly are for multiple reasons and I truly believe that this impedes our ability to reach our full potential moving forward. Researching your family history is an excellent way to gain that history back. I will warn you that it won’t always be as easy as it was for me. You most likely will hit a wall at slavery and that is when the real search begins through slave records, land deeds etc… “if” the state you’re searching in even kept good records.
Over the next few months we’ve decided to make family history a priority here on Blackandmarriedwithkids.com. We’ll be rolling out campaigns and efforts to get all of you involved in researching your history and we’ll do it as a group so that we each have a built-in support mechanism. We’ll report back here with our findings in hopes of encouraging even more to dig up the past in hopes of paving the way for better futures.
Stay tuned for more on this initiative and what I know will be exciting times ahead.
I was able to trace me roots back to the 1860’s via Ancestry.org a few years back but the scent went cold from there. Maybe now with these new advancements that you speak of I can dig further.
I like this! And I’m very happy for you Lamar. Count me in! I’m a big history buff.
I like this! And I’m very happy for you Lamar. Count me in! I’m a big history buff.
I began family research about 10 years ago.. we found a whole branch of family we didn’t know about. only 3 hours away. Also, found family history and actual locations– as well as a few age alterations! But this has been increasingly important to more and more family members. This absolutely grounds me and humbles me. So glad you’re making this a priority!
I like this. I used to hate parts of myself because I didn’t know my history. We did our family history years ago and it was liberating. Love this!
Glad you had a successful find! I’ll continue to follow along and if there’s any way i can help just let me know
Through talking to and recording conversations with older grandparents I have been able to trace back to relatives born around 1790. Pretty amazing and empowering. Looking forward to where the past will lead “us”.
Empowering is exactly the word
Empowering is exactly the word
I will be looking forward to this!
This is something I have always wanted to do – I look forward to searching my family tree! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Thanks Donna. Later this week we’re gonna post some tips for starting your search and stay tuned for our BMWK Family History Search that we’re going to do here on the site to encourage us all to dig into the past as a group.
Thanks Donna. Later this week we’re gonna post some tips for starting your search and stay tuned for our BMWK Family History Search that we’re going to do here on the site to encourage us all to dig into the past as a group.
This is powerful. I remember pouring over files and internet info 10 years ago before I changed my name. Your post inspired me to keep on diggin. It’s one thing to know who you are not…..it’s something totally different to know who you are .
You should revisit your work. One thing we learned is that you should keep digging every few years. There are new records being found, recorded andor digitized and being made available on the web every year. Basically if you hit a dead end on something 5 years back something may be available now that wasn’t available then.