By: Jasmine Henry, Program Director, Justice For Greenwood
When I think about what it means to know who we are, I think about the stories our families carry. Some are passed down around the dinner table. Some live in the pages of a family Bible. And some get lost in the silences. Too often, our stories are scattered — torn apart by violence, by forced removals, and by the fact that our people were not always meant to be written into the record.
That’s why our Stories of Us genealogy workshops matter. The most recent session on “basic records” reminded us that even the most ordinary documents can open extraordinary doors. A census sheet. A marriage license. A property deed. For some, these may feel like routine papers. But for families with roots in Greenwood and beyond, they can be the first step in untangling a web of history and reclaiming what was nearly lost.
In our latest Stories of Us workshop, lead genealogist Angela Walton-Raji and co-panelist Gail Jackson walked the community through how to begin untangling family histories using basic records. Watch the full recap and take your first step toward reclaiming your story. Watch it here.
“Every family needs a historian — someone willing to carry the responsibility of keeping our stories alive. But this work is also about self-discovery. My hope is that these workshops encourage more people to take up that role, and to see themselves in the stories they reclaim.”
Jasmine Henry, We are Greenwood™ Program Director at Justice For Greenwood
And this is only the beginning. This month, we’ll gather again for Stories of Us: Census Records. We will break down the census records line by line, showing you how to read between the rows and uncover hidden stories about your family’s past, filling in the blanks of family histories and bring us closer to a complete story.
If you’ve ever felt the pull to know more about where you come from, we invite you to take the next step. Sign up for the October workshop and complete the genealogy intake form. Both are tools to help you begin your journey — to not only preserve your family’s story but also to understand your own.
— Jasmine Henry
To learn more or connect with the We Are Greenwood ™ program, visit JusticeForGreenwood.org/genealogy or email [email protected]
