Speak On It!

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Genetic Genealogist Lisa A. Fanning, as she shares her powerful work with the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre DNA Identification Project. With over 30 years of family history research, Lisa has explored her deep Southern and Midwestern roots, focusing on the histories of enslavement, migration, and Tri-Racial Isolate communities. A descendant of Kate Anderson...

Join Janice Gilyard and Cherekana Feliciano for a conversation/interview with Dionne Patterson of UGR3DAY. Dee Patterson, also known as Conductor Dee, is the CEO and Founder of UGR3DAY Underground Railroad Experiences Inc. She is also an acclaimed storyteller and conductor of the Underground Railroad experiences. A historian, Dee is also a nationally certified cultural interpretive guide, a certif...

Join Janice Gilyard and Cherekana Feliciano for a compelling interview with Orice Jenkins as he recounts his visit to Blakely, Georgia, alongside descendants and cousins of the Early County Massacre victims. Orice will share their powerful experiences from a weekend of commemorative events honoring their ancestors. Orice Jenkins  is a recording artist, performer, educator, and genealogy researcher...

Join Janice Gilyard and Cherekana Feliciano for their interview with Dr. Denice Evans-Sheppard regarding Community History in Oyster Bay, New York (Long Island). She will share her connection via her ancestor, David Carll, a United States Colored Troop (US Civil War). Dr. Denice Evans-Sheppard recently earned a Doctorate in Education Degree from Molloy University on December 13, 2023. She currentl...

Join Janice Gilyard and Cherekana Feliciano for an interview with Cheryl Wills and Ethan West, descendants of Sandy Wills (U.S. Colored Troop). This is an update to two prior podcast interviews with Cheryl and Ethan and how their determination to confirm where their ancestor was buried and to do everything possible to make sure that he was honored and received a proper burial. The results of their...

Join Janice and Cherekana as they interview Ja'el (YaYa) Gordon for a conversation regarding protocols for contacting DNA matches. Louisiana native, Ja’el “YaYa” Gordon is a Professional Historian and Genealogist who specializes in interpreting antebellum history, genetic genealogy, Descendant group research, and conducting oral history interviews. Ja’el has over twenty years of experience as a re...

Join Janice Cross Gilyard and Cherekana Feliciano for an interview/conversation with Denise Griggs, author of the new book, I Know Who I Am On The Family Tree - A Children's Guide to Genealogy . Denise has been the family genealogist for over 35 years. With the help of family, cousins, Internet friends, and others, she has discovered ancestors from various continents and countries. Some countries...

Join Janice Gilyard and Cherekana Feliciano for our conversation/interview with Robyne Walker Murphy . Robyne is a nationally recognized art and social justice thought leader and cultural strategist. From 2016-2022, Robyne served as the Executive Director at Groundswell, a social justice youth development program that uses the transformative power of public art-making to ignite personal and societ...

Join Janice Gilyard and Cherekana Feliciano for an interview with Danielle Romero.  She is a storyteller and historian who started her YouTube channel, NYTN, to uncover her hidden Louisiana heritage and share the stories of her ancestors. Her work blends personal exploration with a passion for understanding American identity through history and genealogy. 

Join Janice & Cherekana  for a conversation with Joyce Willis, featured guest on Finding Your Roots/Viewers Like You.  Joyce is a native of Philadelphia PA. She attended the High School for the Creative and Performing arts and is a graduate of Temple University. She has been a civil servant for 11 years and has 1 beautiful daughter. Her interest in genealogy began as a child when she would hea...

Join Janice Gilyard and Cherekana Feliciano for a conversation with Chianta Dorsey - The Great Migration Griot. Chianta Dorsey is an archivist who is currently researching her family's history and their participation in the Great Migration. She received her Bachelor's in History from Xavier University of Louisiana, where she specialized in African American Studies. She hopes her Instagram page, th...

Join Janice Gilyard and Cherekana Feliciano for a conversation with Nubia Lateefa from The People's Porch. Nubia is a native Kentuckian, an independent archivist, and collector. She is the owner of The Peoples Porch, a collection of Black memorabilia and literary archives specializing in vintage and rare Black literature. Nubia will share her journey regardng curating Black archives that started w...

Red Clay Legacies is a project led by Mell Fisher, who believes that preserving the ancestry of others is her calling. Mell is an Ohio resident with family roots in Pikeville, Bledsoe County Tn., Muscogee and Harris County Ga, and Pemiscot, Mo. She grew up listening to her grandparents’ stories about their childhood and relatives. She felt like she had known them all her life despite the fact they...

Join Janice Gilyard and Cherekana Feliciano for a conversation with Orice Jenkins, Author of The Early County Massacre: Goolsby vs. The State of Georgia. In his book, Orice  tells the full story of Ulysses Goolsby and the massacre more than 100 years later, highlighting the relationships between the victims and survivors and emphasizing the noble accomplishments and sacrifices of Grandison and Mar...

Join Janice Gilyard and Cherekana Feliciano for a conversation with Mica L. Anders. Mica is a professional genealogist who focuses on African American family history and anti-racist genealogy. Her work combines artistic creativity, thanks to her MFA in visual arts, with in-depth historical research. She is passionate about bringing family stories to life through compelling narratives and visually...

Join Janice Gilyard and Cherekana Feliciano for a conversation with Joy Charles Kay regarding the Black American Heritage Flag.  Melvin Charles, an Elizabeth, New Jersey Native, co-designed the Black American heritage flag along with his friend, Gleason T. Jackson, in 1967. After the untimely death of Jackson, Charles continued to work tirelessly to make the flag a significant piece of living hist...

Join Janice Gilyard and Cherekana Feliciano for a conversation with Kimberly Knight of Black Indians NC and Frederick Murphy of History Before Us regarding their upcoming film, "Duality: A Collection of Afro Indigenous Perspectives." The film is a collection of personal reflections told by individuals of African and Indigenous ancestry who identify as Afro-Indigenous across America. Since Frederic...

Join Janice Gilyard and Cherekana Feliciano for a conversation with Dr. Vincen Alexander Davis regarding Transformational Genealogy. Vincent Alexander Davis, Ph. D., is a Saint Xavier alum, class of 2010. Before teaching, Davis was a longtime employee for Ricoh USA, Inc. for 19 years as site manager. During his employment with Ricoh, Davis returned to school, receiving an associate degree in mass...

Join Janice Gilyard and Cherekana Feliciano for a conversation with Darius Brown, Author of At the Feet of the Elders: A Journey into a Lowcountry Family History. Darius M. Brown is a Research Assistant (Genealogist) at the International African American Museum in Charleston, SC. He has more than 6 years’ experience in genealogy with an emphasis on researching enslaved African Americans in the Low...

Join Janice and Cherekana for a conversation with Tayyib Smith regarding the 7th Ward Tribute - Legacy Reclaimed. Tayyib Smith is a serial entrepreneur, founding partner. and chief strategist at The Growth Collective a partnership with the vision is to provide access to resources and capital that will elevate communities of color and generate wealth for neighborhoods victimized by systemic racism....

Join Janice & Cherekana for a conversation with Brian Sheffey, Director of the Center for Family History at the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina. He is also the founder of the popular African American Genealogy website Genealogy Adventures. He is the host of the popular African American genealogy, culture, and history television series Genealogy Adventures wh...

Join Janice and Cherekana for a conversation with Black Archaeologist, Dr. Brittany Brown. Dr.  Brown is from Jacksonville, Florida. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Florida with a major in Anthropology. While attending the University of Florida she completed her undergraduate fieldwork at Kingsley Plantation in Jacksonville, Florida. She earned her Master of Arts Brittany is...

Debbie-Ann Paige is a public historian specializing in community and local African American history and a professional genealogist.   She is co-president and a founding member of the Richard B. Dickenson Staten Island Chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) and an appointed member of the New York City Council task force created to examine monuments, statues, public...

Join Janice Gilyard and Cherekana Feliciano for a conversation with Lahnice Hollister regarding her ancestor, Dr. John A. McFall.  Lahnice Hollister has evolved from public school teacher to corporate manager. While researching her enslaved and freed South Carolina family, she re-discovered her passion for history and most importantly discovered the history not taught in school. Additionally, she...

Join Janice Gilyard and Cherekana Feliciano for a conversation with LaJoy Mosby, President of the Afro American Historical & Genealogical Society. Ms. Mosby currently serves as the National President of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc. (AAHGS). She also serves as the president of the Central Maryland Chapter of AAHGS. Ms. Mosby has been researching her ancestors from...