Discrimination against black Americans had consequences far beyond the polling
and work places. Forbidden to go to school during enslavement and facing unequal
opportunity (and racism) after the Civil War, most African American families did not
have the ability to write down their personal histories. Instead, they relied on family
traditions and oral histories, but many of these were lost when subsequent
generations moved to other places to seek out a better living. Therefore, the
knowledge of where one's roots were planted became faint memories.
And that is the biggest challenge for African American family researchers - where to
start? Following are a few pointers to help you in your research.
Probate Records
Probate records hide a great deal of clues as to one's ancestry. Slaves were divvied
up after the plantation owner's or farmer's death, either to family members or
creditors. Slaves were mostly mentioned by first name and given a brief physical
description, along with an assessed monetary value. These old wills are painful to
read, but are an invaluable tool in the search for ancestors.
Probate records hide in the County Clerk's office, so you'll need to know the county
from where your ancestors come. Wills and executor's documents are considered
public domain and can be viewed by anyone for no cost (though there's usually a fee
for copying).
Names
After emancipation, many African Americans in the South took the name of their
oppressors, simply because they had lost their African identity. They would also give
their children Anglo first names, often on the suggestion of the master or mistress.
Hence, a black man named James Smith would most likely have a white counterpart
bearing the same name.
Location
If your great grandparents came from the Oklahoma area, chances are high that your
ancestors hailed from the Mississippi Valley. The Choctaws, who came from the
Mississippi Valley, brought slaves with them as they settled into "little Dixie", the
southeastern corner of Indian Territory.
If your great grandparents came from Texas and thereabouts, you might need to
search in Tennessee, Arkansas, or Louisiana for further clues.
Ancient Ancestry
Americans of African descent consist of some of the 'oldest' Americans. As the
overseas slave trade was outlawed by 1807, no 'new' slaves could be imported, thus
by deduction almost all African American families can trace their ancestry at least to
the post-revolutionary war period.
and work places. Forbidden to go to school during enslavement and facing unequal
opportunity (and racism) after the Civil War, most African American families did not
have the ability to write down their personal histories. Instead, they relied on family
traditions and oral histories, but many of these were lost when subsequent
generations moved to other places to seek out a better living. Therefore, the
knowledge of where one's roots were planted became faint memories.
And that is the biggest challenge for African American family researchers - where to
start? Following are a few pointers to help you in your research.
Probate Records
Probate records hide a great deal of clues as to one's ancestry. Slaves were divvied
up after the plantation owner's or farmer's death, either to family members or
creditors. Slaves were mostly mentioned by first name and given a brief physical
description, along with an assessed monetary value. These old wills are painful to
read, but are an invaluable tool in the search for ancestors.
Probate records hide in the County Clerk's office, so you'll need to know the county
from where your ancestors come. Wills and executor's documents are considered
public domain and can be viewed by anyone for no cost (though there's usually a fee
for copying).
Names
After emancipation, many African Americans in the South took the name of their
oppressors, simply because they had lost their African identity. They would also give
their children Anglo first names, often on the suggestion of the master or mistress.
Hence, a black man named James Smith would most likely have a white counterpart
bearing the same name.
Location
If your great grandparents came from the Oklahoma area, chances are high that your
ancestors hailed from the Mississippi Valley. The Choctaws, who came from the
Mississippi Valley, brought slaves with them as they settled into "little Dixie", the
southeastern corner of Indian Territory.
If your great grandparents came from Texas and thereabouts, you might need to
search in Tennessee, Arkansas, or Louisiana for further clues.
Ancient Ancestry
Americans of African descent consist of some of the 'oldest' Americans. As the
overseas slave trade was outlawed by 1807, no 'new' slaves could be imported, thus
by deduction almost all African American families can trace their ancestry at least to
the post-revolutionary war period.
Researching African American Ancestry
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| A creole-style barn in Louisiana shows the pronounced African influence in southern architecture. |
| A street scene in Melrose, Louisiana, near the Cane River. |
| A mural on an Elm Street building in downtown Waco celebrates the achievements of black cowboys on the Chisholm Trail. |