WATCH TODAY: Tracing Family History
In honor of Juneteenth - an observance celebrating the abolition of slavery - WITF's Toward Racial Justice digs into tracing Black ancestral roots
a WITF feature
About this Event
For people of color, the process of tracing genetic and ancestral roots can be difficult, painful and often filled with false leads and dead ends. Before the Civil War, slaves were excluded from many public records and families were often torn apart due to the slave trading process.
With legacies of slavery and institutional racism, many records are either incomplete or nearly impossible to access. During this discussion, hear from genealogists and other experts as they offer solutions and resources to trace Black family histories, as well as why racing family history is critical to healing the deep-seeded wounds instilled in our nation’s backbone.
Toward Racial Justice digs into tracing Black ancestral roots, Thursday, June 10 at 7pm, live on WITF’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.
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Panelists include:
Dean A. Henry — Owner, Family Pearl LLC & Member of The African American Genealogy Group's Executive Committee. View his bio
Debbie-Ann Paige — Co-President, Staten Island Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society. View her bio
Dr. Gina Paige — Co-Founder & President, African Ancestry, Inc. View her bio
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Share your personal experiences or ask questions that we can address during this conversation. Email us at discuss@witf.org or share your story using #RacialJusticePA.
Our goal is to elevate underrepresented voices with special emphasis on giving young people a platform to discuss their views. Race and racism are uncomfortable topics. Our objective is to help serve as a catalyst for change by bringing people together to discuss possible solutions and inspire collective action.
We look forward to having you join this virtual conversation on Thursday, June 10 at 7pm on WITF's YouTube Channel andFacebook page
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The entire series will be live streamed and recorded so those unable to attend can watch, listen and share. Visit witf.org/racialjustice to watch past conversations and find additional resources.