Delve into the unique world of relations and connections being forged between the descendants of the formerly enslaved and descendants from the former slave holding family.
Welcome. Come stay a while
Nicka Smith is a professional photographer, speaker, and documentarian with more than 20 years of experience as a genealogist. She is the host of BlackProGen LIVE, a web show focused on people of color genealogy and family history.
Words and Sounds
Recent stuff on the blog
Genealogy, Family History, and the Fruit of Restorative Justice
Restorative justice is already happening. But how can genealogists and family historians contribute and make even more of a difference?
Black Face is America’s Problem
I found more than 200 references to the words darky, nigg**, pickaninny, etc. used in yearbooks from all across the United States.
BlackProGen LIVE! Episode 76: Reconstruction and the Aftermath Named Jim Crow
Reconstruction was a pivotal time in American history that often gets overlooked, especially in genealogy. During episode 76, we discuss how the law and shifting community dynamics affected our ancestors on both sides of the aisle and the resulting restrictions enacted as a response.
What I'm up to
2018 was filled with webinars, 5 trips to New York, a trip to California, Illinois, Kentucky, and more. Where will I be headed next? Wouldn’t you like to know? 🙂
BlackProGen is a group of professional genealogists who research and document African American families. We share research strategies, thoughts, ideas, experiences, and whatever comes to mind while working for clients and in our own research endeavors.
Out and About
Traveling to Benin
Hello mother land!
Check out this clip from my recent journey to West Africa with Kieron Graham who discovered his deep ancestral roots.
Play Video
A Visit with Uncle Al
A visit to New York
I had a ball getting to know Al Roker, host and weatherman on the morning mainstay, the Today Show. In this clip, I reveal his DNA results which guided his journey back to Africa.
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october 2018
Telling my ancestral story
I recently had the opportunity to meet/speak with some amazing young people from Ole Miss about a special issue of their school paper, The Daily Mississippian. The result was a story about my family’s ties to the “father” of their school.