| 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. |
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. |