Delighted to announce i’ll be presenting a talk tomorrow: Spanish Colonization: shaping family histories via Zoom for the Tom’s River Branch of the Ocean Park Library in New Jersey.
I’m honored to appear on the roster with filmmaker Walter Alomar and Mary Garin. Alomar’s film, Colonization is Extinction (2018) speaks to the history of Puerto Rico, sterilization programs on women, radiation and the bombing of Vieques and the island’s resilience in the face of modern day colonialism.
A special thanks to Deborah Blackwell, and to Guy Weston for the opportunity to present here!
Thrilled to learn that I was awarded a Phyllis Wheatley Award for my article, “Not Yet Completely Free: Gradual Emancipation, and Moses Williams’ Family, Philadelphia 1776-1833.” from the Sons and Daughters of the US Middle Passage (SDUSMP)! The article is in the AAHGS Journal v.43 Winter issue.
Silhouette of Moses Williams, Cutter of Profiles, 1802
Appreciate those people who have read various drafts, made suggestions or discussed issues with me; thanks to Guy Weston and the AAHGS Journal, for accepting the article for the journal, and to LaJoy Mosby, who invited me to be part of discussions on it. To Dean Krimmel, a deep appreciation of having the opportunity to talk about Williams; also to Nancy Proctor of The Peale Baltimore for encouraging my research on him and including me among a group of scholars and artists who continue to research him.
Deep thanks to Bernice Bennett, for having me on her new podcast, Ancestor’s Footprints. She gave me an opportunity to share what I learned about the Williams family and how they dealt with the terms of gradual emancipation in Philadelphia. Looking forward to Faye Anderson’s project of having a memorial marker installed in Philadelphia so more people can learn about Moses Williams. May his legacy and that of his family continue despite any attempt to erase or obscure this history.
So happy to announce i’ll be talking about my recent publication in the Winter 2025 issue of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society Journal, “Not Yet Completely Free: Gradual Emancipation and the Family of Moses Williams, 1776-1833.”
I’ll discuss the 1780 Gradual Emancipation Act in Philadelphia, part of the lesser known history of Northern slavery. By tracing the family histories connected to the silhouette artist and museum artisan and assistant Moses Williams (1776-ca 1833) one can catch sight of the challenges experienced by African descended and multiethnic Free People of Color in their emancipation process in this city. Williams was among the children of John and Phylis Williams, a couple held in bondage until 1786. He worked in the Philadelphia Museum of Charles Willson Peale from his childhood to adulthood and was manumitted about 1802.
Shamele Jordon will present on the heritage of Green Book locations in New Jersey, and Mary Belcher and Guy Weston will discuss recovery and reclamation of Black cemeteries in Washington DC and Flushing New York.
I’m so excited to say i’m one of the genealogists who’ll be participating in this event. I’ll be zooming in & chatting with Kenyatta Berry, former host of Genealogy Roadshow, LaJoy Mosby, President of AAHGS and guests about how to get started with genealogy– even if you haven’t started before. Let’s get into it!
About the event: Ties of the Black and Brown communities in DC go deep! Chuck Brown is the father of go-go, but did you know about the music’s Latin influence? We’re excited to announce a first-ever event in a celebration of similar and shared heritage, history, and identity. Plus—discover how to unlock the secrets of your own ancestry with renowned genealogists LaJoy Mosby, President of AAHGS, Dr. Ellen Fernandez-Sacco, with special guest Ms. Kenyatta Berry, former co-host of the “Genealogy Roadshow” will also be here!
Verbal Gymnastics is bringing Playback Theatre (where storytelling and art meet community) to the party, so get ready for some amazing and interactive improv! We’ll also have the DC Office of the Medical Examiner onsite to highlight Black and Brown missing persons cases. Learn how genealogy is used to solve crime! So come on out—there’s something for everyone!
Date: Saturday, June 15
Time: 1pm – 5pm
Location: Episcopal Church of the Atonement (5073 East Capitol St SE) and 52nd St SE
Admission: Free and Open to All
Highlights Include:
Live Music: Go-Go, The Lilo Gonzalez Band, and More!
DJ Buddah!
Free Food!
Cultural Performances!
Game Truck!
Giveaways!
Parking:
Street parking and parking lot at Guiding Light Baptist Church (1 51st St SE)
About The Majani Project:
Organized by the Majani Project, a Black youth-focused genealogy nonprofit located in Ward 7, in collaboration with Genealogy Adventures, the premiere Black online genealogy show, this event aims to introduce youth and adults to genealogy to honor the ancestors, unravel family history mysteries, and connect with your roots.
