List: African American Genealogy | Curated by Megan Smolenyak

Feb 10, 2023
14 stories
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African American Genealogy
Megan Smolenyak
7 Things You Didn’t Know about Prince’s RootsIt’s still hard to believe that Prince Rogers Nelson — better known simply as Prince — is no longer with us, though his music and talent…
Jun 7, 2018
3
Jun 7, 2018
3
Megan Smolenyak
Philip Reed, The Enslaved Man Who Rescued FreedomThis is an updated version of an article that was first published in the May/June 2009 issue of Ancestry (pages 54–56), which has become…
Jan 10, 2021
Jan 10, 2021
Megan Smolenyak
No Man Left Behind: Capt. Lawrence E. DicksonOn December 23, 1944, Tuskegee airman Capt. Lawrence E. Dickson went down in his P-51 Mustang in the vicinity of the Italian-Austrian…
Feb 16, 2019
1
Feb 16, 2019
1
Megan Smolenyak
7 Things You Didn’t Know about Hakeem Jeffries’ RootsAmerica’s highest ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries, recently made his presence known with his inaugural…
Jan 11, 2023
4
Jan 11, 2023
4
Megan Smolenyak
Tracing Barack Obama’s Roots to Moneygall, IrelandTombstones in Ohio made all the difference
Mar 24, 2021
Mar 24, 2021
Megan Smolenyak
Kanye, Meet Your Great-UncleNotes from a genealogist
May 4, 2018
2
May 4, 2018
2
Megan Smolenyak
Hidden Link between Michelle Obama and Meghan Markle in Jonesboro, GeorgiaDamn, Jonesboro, Georgia! What’s in your water?
Mar 7, 2019
Mar 7, 2019
Megan Smolenyak
Correcting the Record of WWI Hero and Medal of Honor Recipient Sgt. Henry JohnsonA century ago, on the evening of May 14, 1918 while on post duty with one other soldier, Private Henry Johnson single-handedly repelled an…
May 25, 2018
4
May 25, 2018
4
Megan Smolenyak
The Louisiana Roots of Leah Chase, Queen of Creole CuisineWe’re mourning our loss, but there’s a party in heaven because Leah Lange Chase has gone to join her ancestors, who are no doubt…
Jun 2, 2019
Jun 2, 2019
In
Age of Awareness
by
Megan Smolenyak
Why Pharrell Almost Didn’t ExistEvery one of us is an amalgamation not only of all our ancestors, but of their decisions, and in 1831, Ambrose Hawkins was contemplating…
Oct 3, 2016
Oct 3, 2016
Megan Smolenyak
Finding Adelia, Val Demings’s Great-Great-GrandmotherFellow roots-enthusiasts know that when you research a family tree — even when it’s not your own — there are always one or two ancestors…
Aug 3, 2020
Aug 3, 2020
Megan Smolenyak
5 Things You Didn’t Know about Amanda Gorman’s RootsWe were riveted. Even those who don’t “get” poetry understood on Inauguration Day because Amanda Gorman spoke for all of us. This…
Feb 3, 2021
2
Feb 3, 2021
2
In
An Injustice!
by
Megan Smolenyak
Michelle Obama’s Jumper Roots: Proving Your Freedom Over and Over AgainSome years ago, when Michelle Obama was a freshly minted First Lady, I spent eight months delving into her roots. One story unearthed by…
Feb 24, 2021
Feb 24, 2021
Megan Smolenyak
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Revolutionary AncestorsUncovering a dramatic multiracial love story in the “Hamilton” creator’s past
Nov 25, 2018
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Nov 25, 2018
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