The family reunion offers a great opportunity to exchange stories and connect the dots of Black history to your family tree. Some, however, may not be comfortable with topics such as slavery itself, the Jim Crow era, and others sensitive areas. You may be the only one in your family who cares about your ancestors' past, but don't let that stop you.
Our ancestors worked hard, fought for freedom, and even rebelled against their captors, but their stories are not taught in American schools. We should take it upon ourselves to tell our own story, rather than accept the story others choose to tell about us.
Your search may not be in this order. But, the following may help.
Find the genealogist in the family, and study your family tree. Focus on a certain place, and period of time. I chose to work on the period from the late 1700's to the early 1900's in North Carolina.
Find a truly compelling story, that has documentation from primary sources; letters, photos, artifacts, news paper articles & books, furniture, diaries, etc. And, please remember, you don't have to do this research on a relative. It can be any of our ancestors. Choose anyone you like. There are thousands of examples. Maybe someone you know of from your own neighborhood, town or state, or one of the ancient Black Kings of Egypt.
Locate, and visit, an African American/Black History Museum in your area, or state. If you don't know of a museum near you, go to, blackmuseums.org and check there.
Volunteer at public libraries and museums to work on Black History. You can be a volunteer on your time. One day a month, for a couple of hours a day is common.
Attend AfricanAmerican/ Black History Festivals to learn what others are doing, and share your own experience as well.
Hire African American Storytellers for any occaision. Puppeteers can offer a fun way to teach and enchant adults as well as children.
Hold an annual Kwanza Day at your home.
Bottom line, let's tell our own story to our children so they can pass it down and be proud of our struggle and accomplishments that they don't learn in school, or the nightly news.
Links: nabsinc.org, blackmuseums.org, akbarstories.com
Our ancestors worked hard, fought for freedom, and even rebelled against their captors, but their stories are not taught in American schools. We should take it upon ourselves to tell our own story, rather than accept the story others choose to tell about us.
Your search may not be in this order. But, the following may help.
Find the genealogist in the family, and study your family tree. Focus on a certain place, and period of time. I chose to work on the period from the late 1700's to the early 1900's in North Carolina.
Find a truly compelling story, that has documentation from primary sources; letters, photos, artifacts, news paper articles & books, furniture, diaries, etc. And, please remember, you don't have to do this research on a relative. It can be any of our ancestors. Choose anyone you like. There are thousands of examples. Maybe someone you know of from your own neighborhood, town or state, or one of the ancient Black Kings of Egypt.
Locate, and visit, an African American/Black History Museum in your area, or state. If you don't know of a museum near you, go to, blackmuseums.org and check there.
Volunteer at public libraries and museums to work on Black History. You can be a volunteer on your time. One day a month, for a couple of hours a day is common.
Attend AfricanAmerican/ Black History Festivals to learn what others are doing, and share your own experience as well.
Hire African American Storytellers for any occaision. Puppeteers can offer a fun way to teach and enchant adults as well as children.
Hold an annual Kwanza Day at your home.
Bottom line, let's tell our own story to our children so they can pass it down and be proud of our struggle and accomplishments that they don't learn in school, or the nightly news.
Links: nabsinc.org, blackmuseums.org, akbarstories.com
No comments:
Post a Comment