A Statement of Non Support for Board of African American Genealogy (BOAAG)

30 Sep 2020

This September, an entity registered with the Oklahoma Secretary of State as the Board of African American Genealogy (BOAAG) announced its formation via the world wide web. This entity has accumulated roughly 11,000 followers on Facebook, published a website, and run advertising campaigns on social media all in order to raise public awareness about their existence. 

 While BOAAG styles itself as a certifying body, there are a number of questionable facts and activities regarding this entity that have caused serious concern within the genealogical community and industry. It is for this reason that this statement of fact has been compiled and published for the better education of the public, the genealogical community (both enthusiasts and professionals) and others. This statement of fact is compiled as a means of documenting for the public record several questionable practices and policies and the lack of the BOAAG’s observation of normative genealogy industry practices and standards.

Within its very name, BOAAG styles itself as a board endowed with powers and authority to certify African American family heritage and historical research. While its stated purpose may appear to be well-meaning at first glance, we charge that this entity has been deceptive in its claimed mission. Several people, including many noted genealogical professionals, have made written inquiries to them regarding its credentials and that of the individuals who comprise its board. These inquirers did so without any conflict of interest (financial or otherwise) and only wished to educate themselves since BOAAG was presenting itself to the genealogical public as a new potential partner in raising the prominence of African American genealogy.

Unfortunately, the response to these direct inquiries has been cumulatively described as evasive, deceptive, and even antagonistic — at times making claims that parties who raise questions about the entity are “posting factually incorrect information” and that messages, comments, and reviews are “being saved as evidence of slander.”

There exist several documented incidents wherein BOAAG has falsely claimed formal association between itself and several noted genealogical professionals and speakers without their knowledge or consent. Claims include insinuations that these professionals and speakers are either on their board or have endorsed their entity, perhaps in order to convince the public of the self-proclaimed legitimacy of BOAAG as a genealogical and business entity. Several of the individuals who have been falsely represented are signatories to this document. They wish to register their sincere outrage at being falsely represented and inform the public that they, along with other individuals who have endorsed this document in no way, shape, manner or form are associated with, nor do they endorse the entity known as the Board of African American Genealogy, nor any of its affiliated bodies or activities.

Furthermore, additional ethical issues have been noted as causes of concern regarding this body and are as follows:

1. The Board of African American Genealogy (BOAAG) is registered in the state of Oklahoma as a FOR PROFIT business entity but has been deceptively representing itself to the public in a manner that could lead the casual observer to believe that it is a registered non-profit. Although there have been claims of a non-profit foundation affiliated with BOAAG, these claims are questionable. To put it simply, this is NOT a non-profit organization, it is for profit and registered as such with the state of Oklahoma.
2. While they solicit applications from the public, there is no publicly available information regarding the identities of the individuals that comprise their board, with the exception of Mr. Jason C. King, an Oklahoma resident and alleged member in good standing with the Oklahoma Bar Association.
3. The Board of African American Genealogy (BOAAG) has been openly soliciting applications from the public which, when completed according to their requirements, would contain sensitive, personally identifiable information, without informing the public or potential applicants of how said information would be stored and used with its for profit business status.
4. There is no information regarding the identities of all the individuals on their review board, nor is there any genealogical accreditation and/or experience they claim to hold. At the time of this writing, BOAAG has failed to publicly identify exactly who will review these documents once submitted. Basically, there is no transparency.

It is for these reasons that the genealogical professionals named below wish to register our professional concerns with the public so that they can be better informed of the nature and activities of the Board of African American Genealogy (BOAAG). We are calling for BOAAG to do the following:

1. cease its deceptive practices and to cease in falsely claiming endorsement and affiliation with any of the aggrieved parties whom they have knowingly misled the public to believe have endorsed their organizational activities.

2. make public a true and accurate list of its certification board.

Currently, the genealogy industry has several well known and respected professional bodies and while there is space for more, it is unfortunate that due to BOAAG’s questionable practices, we must state our opposition to this entity in its current form, due to said current questionable practices.

Sincerely,

Nicka Sewell-Smith

Kenyatta D. Berry

Brian Sheffey

Donya Williams

Sarah Cato

Alex Trapps-Chabala

Ja’el Gordon

Toni Carrier

Melvin Collier

Shannon Christmas

James Morgan, III

Bernice Alexander Bennett

Angela Walton-Raji

Shelley Murphy

Ellen Fernandez-Sacco

Renate Yarborough-Sanders

Andre Ferrell

Beth Garison-Wylie

Ressie Luck-Brimmer

Tierra Cotton-Kellow

Teresa Vega

Tasia Cox

Linda Buggs-Simms

Muriel D. Roberts

Additional Signatories Since the Initial Publishing of This Statement

Gaynell Brady

Mike Birdsong

Yvette Porter Moore

Edward Adams

Regina Waters Calloway

Tanisha L. Watson

Rebecca Hockaday

Robin L. Hughey

Dena Chasten-Ellis

Patriva Mack

Linda Harms-Okazaki

Ted Schmitz

Baschki Robertson

Vicky Daviss-Mitchell

Jennifer Campbell

Cynthia Johnson

Pat Richley-Erickson

Renee Ruffin Merrill

Tammy Ozier

Wendy Anderson

X.Q. Roberts

Vera Moore

Ivy Walker

Tammy Hagens Howell

W. Samuel Williams

Frances Owens Haywood

Cynthia Henderson Frierson

Sheri Anderson

Samulyn Holt

Edna Delores Perry