Reflections on Sarah Rector

Her name was Sarah Rector.  She was a young black girl born in Indian Territory on March 3, 1902.  Her parents were Joseph and Rose Rector, all of  Taft, Indian Territory. Her story is similar to that of Danny Tucker another black child born in Indian Territory. He, like Sarah had a humble beginning, and he, like Sarah would make headlines for sudden wealth acquired by oil rich land.

Early in her young life, Sarah received a land allotment like all who were members of the Creek Nation. Like thousands of blacks once held in bondage by  the Five slave-holding tribes, (Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek and Seminole Nations) she and her family members received land allotments prior to Oklahoma statehood.  It was a general practice that Freedmen often receive land considered to be of less value for farming as did citizens declared as Indians By Blood, and Inter-Married Whites.  However, the story changed when oil was discovered on her land allotment, near Taft, Oklahoma.

In 2010, Angela Walton-Walton authored a blog titled “Remembering Sarah Rector, Creek Freedwoman.”The narrative of Sarah Rector has been recounted by numerous individuals, and the public will soon have the chance to delve deeper into this subject matter with the release of the upcoming film titled “Sarah’s Oil.”

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Reconnecting Creole of Color Lineages in Southwest Louisiana

How do Creole of color families in Southwest Louisiana rediscover and reconnect their shared histories? In this episode, my guest Alex D. Lee guides listeners through community-driven methods for tracing lineage—blending DNA results with courthouse and notarial records, oral histories, and collective memory. Together, we explore the first steps families can take to begin their search, how to navigate challenges like name changes and migration, and how collaboration within communities can transform research outcomes. We also reflect on the ethics of sharing stories that reveal painful truths about race, identity, and enslavement—and how families can safeguard their histories while honoring those who came before.

Alex D. Lee is a genealogist and public historian who specializes in African American and Creole of color lineages across Louisiana and the Gulf Coast. Through Alex Genealogy, Alex helps families reconstruct ancestral stories using archival records, DNA results, and community oral histories, translating research into accessible narratives, educational programs, and heritage tourism. Alex partners with nonprofits and cultural institutions to preserve cemeteries, curate family reunions, and bring overlooked histories to the forefront.

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The Sound of What's Not Said

When a descendant of an enslaved person reaches out to the family of the enslaver and receives no reply, what does that silence mean?
Is the descendant of the enslaver obligated to respond—and if so, how?
Does silence protect, deny, or refuse?
Can healing happen without acknowledgment?

The Sound of What’s Not Said invites us to confront the weight of silence between descendants of the enslaved and enslavers—and to consider what reconciliation requires when one side chooses not to speak.

Charles F. Holman, III has been a genealogist for more than half a century. Genetic Genealogist CeCe Moore from the show “Finding Your Roots,” has called Charles “a pioneer among Black Americans researching their family ties to before the Civil War.”

He is a graduate of the University of Michigan, and became one of the youngest lawyers in the history of Michigan. His choice of law as a profession was rooted in the path chosen by his maternal great grandfather, a formerly enslaved man who became one of the first lawyers of color in his state.

As an Assistant United States Attorney Charles won national recognition from the US Attorney General and the Director of the FBI for successfully prosecuting persons who burned black churches in the South.

Charles' work in civil rights has been fueled by his interest in uncovering his ancestors' lives in early America. He views himself as standing on the shoulders of those who came before him. He has reunited with long-lost cousins whose families were separated due to slavery. In addition, he met white cousins who descend from those who enslaved his black ancestors.

In the summer of 2024, the Washington Post featured Charles in a front-page article highlighting his groundbreaking research which proved that before his paternal great-great-grandfather became a conductor on the Underground Railroad, he and his family had been enslaved by the ancestors of Presidents Bush.

Charles is a member of the National Genealogical Society, the Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage and the Sons of the American Revolution.

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Today’s episode is featuring Frederick Murphy of History Before Us.

Frederick Murphy is a Filmmaker, Documentarian, Traveling Storyteller, Preserver of History and Mental Health Therapist. 

Frederick Murphy has dedicated his career to exploring the intricacies of race and culture in America through a compelling and evocative lens. His work delves deeply into communities of color experiences, shedding light on historical and contemporary issues of racial identity, social justice, and cultural heritage. With a keen eye for storytelling and a commitment to authentic representation, Murphy's films provide a nuanced perspective on the struggles and triumphs of marginalized communities. His dedication to this genre not only educates and informs but also fosters a greater understanding and appreciation of the rich tapestry of American culture, making his contributions both significant and transformative in the cinematic landscape.

https://historybeforeus.com

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They Had Names:A Digital Archive

Looking for enslaved or free ancestors in coastal Georgia? The TheyHadNames.net digital project has transformed thousands of Liberty County probate records, deeds, and court cases from 1786-1865 into a searchable database—revealing individual names and stories of enslaved people rather than just property listings. Whether your roots trace to coastal Georgia or anywhere else in the South, the They Had Names project demonstrates specific record types and research strategies that help break through those stubborn family history roadblocks. 

Stacy Ashmore Cole created the award-winning "They Had Names" digital project in 2018 after discovering her own family's connection to enslavement in Liberty County, Georgia. The project has earned the AAHGS Jean Sampson-Scott Meritorious Achievement Award, the Humanitarian Award from the Liberty County Martin Luther King Jr Observance Association, and the Georgia Historical Records Advisory County Award for Excellence in Documenting Georgia's History. Stacy has served on the boards of the Liberty County Midway Museum and the Georgia Genealogical Society, and is a past president of the Coastal Georgia Genealogical Society.

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Today's episode will focus on the Creek Freedmen, News from Oklahoma with Angela Walton-Raji.

Creek Freedmen are descendants of African-Americans who were enslaved by the Muscogee Creek Nation and granted freedom and citizenship under an 1866 treaty with the U.S. government. A 1979 Muscogee Nation constitution limited citizenship to those "by blood," leading to decades of disenfranchisement for Freedmen. However, in July 2025, the Muscogee Nation Supreme Court struck the "by blood" requirement, ordering the nation to enroll Freedmen and restoring their legal citizenship, which was a landmark victory for the community.  

Angela Walton-Raji a native of Fort Smith Arkansas is known nationally for her genealogical and historical research and work. In 1991 she located her family records among the Freedmen of Oklahoma and discovered a plethora of records reflecting families from both western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma. That put on her a trajectory that launched a second career as a specialist in Black and Indian records from the greater Fort Smith region. This has placed in her the genealogy community as a unique specialist in the more then 20,000 people classified as Indian Freedmen who were both in Oklahoma and many who relocated to western Arkansas.  Today, her specialties are Oklahoma Native-American records, Arkansas Black history, and Civil war history on the western frontier. Walton-Raji is the author of several books, the most recent being the Oklahoma Freedmen of the Five Tribes by the History Press.

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In this episode of Ancestors Footprints, host Bernice Bennett welcomes marketing executive turned genealogist Andre Kearns, Founder and CEO of Black Ancestries(https://blackancestries.com/), a company that provides professional genealogy research to help people of African connect with their past. Andre shares how a career pivot became a calling: to uncover, celebrate, and preserve, the lost lineages of people of African descent. Through his innovative approach, blending research expertise, historical context, and emotional storytelling, Andre is building a new model for Black genealogy. He reflects on his own family discoveries, the emotional journeys of his clients, and how tracing lineage can be a radical act of legacy-building.

Andre Kearns is a respected genealogist, author, and speaker, and the Founder & CEO of Black Ancestries, a firm dedicated to helping people of African descent uncover and connect with their family history. With degrees from Morehouse College and Harvard Business School, Andre blends analytical rigor with compelling storytelling to make genealogy both accessible and deeply meaningful.

Over the past 20 years, he has conducted in-depth research on African American lineages, specializing in tracing ancestors through slavery and beyond. He has traced his ancestry back to as early as 1619 and the first Africans to arrive in colonial Virginia. Andre is an active leader in national genealogical societies and frequently presents at conferences, libraries, and cultural institutions. His forthcoming book, Finding Cornerstone Stories: Uncovering Inspiration in Your Family’s History (February 2026), reflects his mission to inspire families by reconnecting them with their past.
 

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Striking the Balance: Challenges interpreting free Black communities with Guy Weston.

 In this episode, we will discuss the importance of acknowledging Black achievement in a discipline that is frequently dominated by loss and suffering. 

Guy’s current work encompasses research and public history initiatives to raise the profile of Timbuctoo, NJ, where his fourth great grandfather purchased land in 1829. These have included interpretive signage in Timbuctoo, coordination of a curriculum development project in collaboration with local teachers, and preservation efforts for the Timbuctoo cemetery, where the oldest gravestone is dated 1847. He currently serves as Managing Director of the Timbuctoo Historical Society and is a Visiting Scholar at Rutgers University and. He has contributed articles about his research to Afro American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) Journal, AAHGS News, National Genealogical Society Magazine, and New Jersey Studies. He maintains a website at www.timbuctoonj.com.


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At the Feet of the Elders” by Darius Brown is a journey into the heart of African American ancestry in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Set against the backdrop of the Civil War and the collapse of slavery in Beaufort County, this book traces the author’s own lineage from Africa through enslavement to freedom. Using archival records, oral history, and genetic genealogy, Brown reconstructs the lives of his ancestors with care and reverence, offering a moving tribute to resilience and a blueprint for uncovering lost family stories.


Darius M. Brown is an award-winning author, genetic genealogist, and historian dedicated to uncovering African American heritage through family history. His acclaimed book, At the Feet of the Elders: A Journey into a Lowcountry Family History, explores the rich narratives of South Carolina's Lowcountry. With over eight years of experience in genealogy, Mr. Brown specializes in tracing the histories of enslaved African Americans in the Lowcountry, reconstructing the enslaved communities at prominent plantations such as Old Fort, Otaheite, Blue Mud, and Blake Plantations across Beaufort, Charleston, and Colleton Counties. His meticulous research connects personal histories to broader historical narratives, bringing untold stories to light.

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Today's episode features A'Lelia Bundles, the author of Joy Goddess: A'Lelia Walker and the Harlem Renaissance. A'Lelia Bundles discusses her book "Joy Goddess," which chronicles the life of her great-great-grandmother Madam CJ Walker and great-grandmother A'Lelia Walker, correcting historical misconceptions by portraying A'Lelia as a significant supporter of the arts during the Harlem Renaissance rather than merely a socialite spending her mother's money. A'Lelia shares her decades-long research journey that began with family stories and evolved to include extensive archival research, emphasizing the importance of using primary sources and historical context in understanding the vibrant Black middle-class social scene in 1920s Harlem. The conversation highlights how A'Lelia Walker helped expand her mother's beauty business, hosted influential interracial gatherings at her home "The Dark Tower" and Villa Lewaro, and became an important but often overlooked figure in the cultural flowering of the Harlem Renaissance.


She is the founder of the Madam Walker Family Archives, the largest private collection of Walker photographs, memorabilia and ephemera. A’Lelia worked in network television news for thirty years, first at NBC News where she was a producer for news and magazine programs, and then at ABC News where she was a World News Tonight producer, Washington, DC deputy bureau chief and director of talent development. She is a former vice chair of Columbia University’s Board of Trustees and former board chair of the National Archives Foundation. She is a member of several boards that reflect her interests in history, journalism, political activism, social justice, the arts, and historic preservation including the March On! Festival, the Schlesinger Library on the History of Women at Harvard Radcliffe Institute, Woodlawn Conservancy, GANGGANG, BIO (Biographers International), Indiana Landmarks, Columbia Global Reports and Indianapolis’s ReThink 65/70 Coalition.

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Today’s episode will focus on a new show called Back to the Frontier on HBO Max where three American families are taken out of their 21st-century comfort zones and sent back to the frontier, where they must learn to live like their predecessors with no modern amenities. The families face challenges but also gain valuable lessons about the importance of hard work, gratitude, and family togetherness.

Joining me today are Stacey and Joaquin Loper - the only African American family that chose to participate in this potential life changing adventure for eight  weeks. I had an opportunity to meet Stacey, Joaquin and their family which included two teenage sons and Joaquin’s mother Shirley in the 4th episode. 

Executive produced by Chip and Joanna Gaines, the reality series Back to the Frontier, from the Magnolia Network, recently premiered on HBO Max. These  three American families as they leave behind every modern convenience to spend eight weeks living as 1880s homesteaders. The families are stripped of modern technology, electricity, running water, and contemporary tools and left to face the daily hardships of frontier life, which includes repairing shelters, raising livestock, growing and gathering food, and rationing their resources. While guided by historical experts, the series tests their resilience and adaptability while trying to survive in the authentic frontier lifestyle of the 1880s.




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Today's episode will focus on Enslaved.org, an innovative online digital history project that through datasets that contributors have created by extracting information from historical sources, it documents the lives of hundreds of thousands of named enslaved individuals in mainland North America and the larger Atlantic world.The project's database and partnerships, including with FamilySearch, enable scholars and genealogists to study and trace the histories of enslaved individuals, while also highlighting the importance of making historical data accessible to diverse audiences.

At Michigan State University, Walter Hawthorne is a professor of African, Atlantic, and Digital History; director of Enslaved.org; and an editor of the Journal of Slavery and Data Preservation. He has published books and articles about Atlantic slavery and received grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and Mellon Foundation for the creation of online digital projects that allow anyone with a computer and internet connection to explore the history of slavery.

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Edisto Gullah Geechee People of Orangeburg, South Carolina

In this  episode,  Roderick Gass, Vice President of the Gullah Nation of North America, will discuss the Edisto Gullah Geechee people of Orangeburg, South Carolina, and their cultural heritage. He also explores the work of Lorenzo Dow Turner, the Father of Gullah studies, and delve into various aspects of Gullah Geechee culture, including language, traditions, and genealogy. The conversation also covers the impact of DNA testing in connecting with relatives and preserving family history, as well as the importance of organizations like the Gullah Nation of North America and the Orangeburg Historical Society in advancing and preserving Gullah Geechee culture.

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 Preserving History with Our Stories with Marion Woodford Simmons

This episode will demonstrate how ordinary people can preserve community history by documenting and preserving their memories, memorabilia and ephemera. Through her work, Marion Woodfork Simmons continues to bridge the gap between past and present, ensuring that every story—no matter how small—is preserved and celebrated.

Marion Woodfork Simmons is an award-winning community historian, family historian, and the founder of Woodfork Genealogy LLC, a firm dedicated to helping individuals and communities preserve their histories. With a passion for collaborating with others to preserve their personal and collective legacies, she transforms oral histories, photographs, and memorabilia into compelling community l history books and memoirs such as Excellence Without Excuses: A Music Teacher’s Odyssey (2024) and Memories of Union High: An Oasis in Caroline County, Virginia 1903-1969 (2011).
 
Her extensive work in local history preservation has earned her numerous accolades, including recognition from the Board of Supervisors of Caroline County, Virginia, the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) with the Paul Edward Sluby, Sr. Meritorious Achievement Award, and the Annual Caroline Historical Society Award. These honors reflect her deep commitment to documenting and preserving the rich cultural narratives that shape communities.

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Genealogy in Reverse: Finding the Living - A Practical Guide for all Genealogists

Genealogy often feels like a treasure hunt, and genealogists, like treasure hunters, run into “dead ends” all the time.  One important method for getting back on track is to look for living relatives who can fill in the gaps in our family stories. With step-by-step guidance, methodologies, and practical examples, Genealogy in Reverse. Finding the Living will give you the tools and confidence to find and make meaningful connections with living family members. This process, known as reverse genealogy, involves creating a detailed family tree, identifying relatives down both ancestral and collateral lines, and using modern tools to track them down.

Author Cheri Hudson Passey is a professional genealogist, instructor, writer, speaker, and owner of Carolina Girl Genealogy, LLC. She uses her skills to identify and locate the next of kin, along with YDNA and mtDNA candidates, for the families of World War II soldiers who are listed as missing in action.

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Dr. Antoinette Harrell, a genealogist, family historian, and local historian in Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes, is renowned for her pioneering work in uncovering the peonage system that persisted in the Southern United States long after the abolition of slavery. She has been instrumental in helping countless families trace their ancestry and has brought national attention to hidden histories through her research and documentaries. Her dedication to preserving African American heritage has earned her numerous accolades and recognition from historical societies and academic institutions. She is the author of Images of America: African Americans in Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes and the founder of Untold History Foundation, LLC. Tangipahoa Parish has been the site of some of her recent efforts, such as the placement of historical markers.. 

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The Power of Collaboration

Collaborative Genealogy is a powerful, yet underused tool when it comes to building a family tree. With it, people can grow their trees farther than possible when working alone.

 Emmaline MacBeath is a genetic genealogist and a children’s author under the pen name Emmaline Rose. She specializes in African-American genealogy and the use of DNA to identify unknown family. Connecting people to their family stories and to each other is what lights up her days. She leads both the Adoption Angels and US Black Heritage Projects at the family tree website WikiTree

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Overlooked: Early Black History in Minnesota

Long before the Great Migration, African Americans were already building lives and communities across Minnesota and the upper Midwest. Join professional genealogist Mica L. Anders as she uncovers the forgotten stories of Black pioneers, homesteaders, and entrepreneurs who helped shape the state from the 1850s through the 1890s. From Civil War veterans claiming land under the Homestead Act to skilled tradesmen establishing businesses, these resilient families carved out their place in Minnesota's history, but their stories were largely overlooked until recently.

Mica L. Anders is a professional genealogist specializing in African American genealogy with almost 20 years of experience. As the first-ever history fellow at the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum, she conducted pioneering research on early African American communities, earning the Minnesota Genealogical Society's Pioneer Award for her work.
With expertise in navigating pre-1870 research challenges, Mica combines rigorous historical research with storytelling to bring ancestors' stories to life. She also collaborates with museums to highlight underrepresented narratives and is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists.

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Learning Larkin, My Civil War Ancestor 

In this episode, Cherekana Feliciano will share her journey to search for her  Civil War ancestor, Larkin Woodruff's pension file. She will describe what she learned from those files and the amazing surprise discovery made along the pension file journey.  

Cherekana Feliciano is a genealogist, public history enthusiast and law school graduate. She has been conducting family history research for almost fifteen years. She currently serves as the President of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) – NJ Chapter.  She is one half of a genealogy podcast entitled, Speak On It! History and Genealogy Conversations with Janice and Cherekana on Spreaker.

Outside of her 9-to-5, she enjoys learning about history and conducting informal historical research, such as her project on African American cemeteries in New Jersey. She frequently presents on genealogy topics and conducts how-to workshops to help people with their research, particularly with African American research. She is the 2023 recipient of the Ida B. Wells Leadership Award from the Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage. She has a genealogy blog at https://curiousconjurerblog.wordpress.com/ and a YouTube channel called Curious Conjurer. She is a New York City native and Rutgers University (Douglass College) alumna. 

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The Trouble of Color: An American Family Memoir

Martha S. Jones grew up feeling her Black identity was obvious to all who saw her. But weeks into college, a Black Studies classmate challenged Jones’s right to speak. Suspicious of the color of her skin and the texture of her hair, he confronted her with a question that inspired a lifetime of introspection: “Who do you think you are?” Now a prizewinning scholar of Black history, Jones delves into her family’s past for answers to that very question in The Trouble of Color: An American Family Memoir.

In every generation since her great-great-great-grandmother survived enslavement to raise a free family, color determined her ancestors’ lives. But the color line was shifting and jagged, not fixed and straight. Some backed away from it, others skipped along it, and others still were cut deep by its sharp teeth. Journeying across centuries, from rural Kentucky and small-town North Carolina to New York City and its suburbs, Jones offers a lyrical, deeply felt meditation on the most fundamental matters of identity, belonging, and family. In telling this story, Jones confronts the limits of the historian’s craft, while finding immeasurable skill and understanding in the very thing she is searching for: Family. 

She immediately recognized an error in the historical record, when her grandfather David Dallas Jones—who for three decades served as president of the historically Black women’s college, Bennett College—was labeled “a white businessman”. She knew better. His father had been a free man of color, and his mother was born enslaved. In the case of an archivist who could not locate crucial family records, Jones knew even the most seasoned of professionals is no match for a motivated descendant when it comes to combing through the depths of the past. She ended up finding the information herself and it surged her forward on her journey to finding the truth within the stories her ancestors told about themselves and the tales that others crafted about them. In her excavation of race and family, Jones respectfully finds and corrects the record. Born from a preoccupation with the people she comes from, paired with a dual and complicated sense of self, THE TROUBLE OF COLOR is a story about discovery, family, and country. It tells adeeply personal story about being Black, white, and other in America—defying preserved wisdomabout slavery, racism, passing, Jim Crow, colorism, and civil rights.

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