BlackProGen LIVE 2020

There’s a lot going on the BPG world, so don’t miss out!

We’ve got two new flavors to keep people of color genealogy and family history research at the forefront!

Our first big announcement is about #CREWChat, the BPG hosted Twitter chat!

What’s a Twitter chat? Well, they are are discussions hosted by an account that pose questions or give out prompts around a central theme. Chat participants then tweet their responses using the designated hashtag. In this case it’s #CREWChat.

Each #CREWChat in 2020 will be focused on a particular movie or TV show where the prompts will be focused on how you can identify or track down the family history and genealogy of the characters. There are 17 scheduled!

Catch the first one on Tuesday, January 7 and be all about the movie The Color Purple! Released in 1985, this cultural mainstay stars Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Oprah Winfrey, Rae Dawn Chong, and more. Then, on January 21, we’ll be talking about about the hit movie Soul Food. #CREWChats take place at 8pm Central.

Be sure to: 1) follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/BlackProGen, 2) check out the attached images for the January 2020 and full schedule for the year and 3) to join us on Twitter on the designated days!

 

BlackProGen LIVE! Ep 100: Diamond Episode Special

LIVE Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019

We can’t believe we’ve hit 100 episodes! In this special, we’ll go behind the scenes on all things BlackProGen LIVE – from the origins of the panelists to how we get the show to you – and we’ll discuss our thoughts on the journey we’ve taken over the last five years.

 

BlackProGen LIVE! Ep 99: Researching People of Color Families in Isolation

 

People of color have often lived in communities where they were drastically in the minority. In episode 99, we’ll cover the ways you can unearth the story of your ancestors when it seems as though they were the only folks like them living in their community.

BlackProGen LIVE! Ep 98: Is this Legal? Understanding the Law and Genealogy

Watch Live Tonight!

 “What are terms of use and should we be concerned by them? What is legal when it comes to the use of genetic genealogy in law enforcement? When should researchers be concerned when it comes to the release of data? Episode 98 will tackle the law, genealogy, and staying safe and updated as things change.”

 

How many can you name?

How many of your eight great-grandparents can you name? I can say I can name all eight. Dock and Lilly, Mary Jane and Lonnie, Scott and Jessie, Georgiana and James L.

BlackProGen LIVE! Ep 97: In the Act: Genealogy and History in Popular Culture

Watch Live TONIGHT!

“Genealogy and history are en vogue in popular culture, largely due to the number of television programs that are themed around the topics. In episode 97, we’ll discuss the implications of the two converging into entertainment and the effects they have on the industry as a whole.”

 

How Do I Obtain My Ancestor’s Vital Records That Aren’t Online?

Vital Record: Also known as birth, death, marriage or divorce records.

 

I had a conversation with my friend the other day on how to go about obtaining a death certificate she wasn’t able to find via Ancestry.com Even though Ancestry.com and Familysearch.org have a multitude of records on their database there are still loads of records that have not be digitized and or put on their sites. For example states like Alabama don’t have their death certificates online, you are able to find and view the indexes but not the actual death certificate itself. So how do you find birth, death, marriage or divorce records that aren’t online? Check out a few options below I’ve used to get vital records.

1. CDC: (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) You will be able to see when each vital record started being recording in each state, how much it cost to obtain a copy, where to send your request. As well as a contact number and link their department of health website. (I’ve written many of letters and request to the Alabama Department of Health for death certificates)
2. Vital Check: Don’t feel like writing to the health department to get your ancestor’s divorce record? Well Vital Check is a faster option to order without the writing,  they even have an expedited shipping options to get your vital record.( I’ve used it and I found it to be a little pricer than just writing directly to the health department)
3. Go in person: Do you live in the same city, county, or state the ancestor(s) you are researching and trying to obtain the vital record for? Use the CDC link or google how to obtain vital records in person in your area. Depending how busy they are you might be able to get the vital record right there on the spot of course for a fee. (I  had to wait about and hour for my ancestor’s death certificate)
   

Diamond Episode of BlackProGen LIVE!

There is still time to share your feedback and enter for a chance to win some cool prizes. Click Here 

23andme Family Tree BETA

Have you taken a 23andme DNA test? Have you tested out Family Tree? 23andme Family Tree is fairly new function that has been added to the site.

I was playing around with my tree last night and I was able to connect the dots with a couple of my DNA cousins, but I am going to need a little more help from some of my DNA cousins to figure out our connection. I sent a few messages last night so hopefully they get back to me and are able to fill in some holes.

If you have tested it out the Family Tree let me know your thoughts.

BlackProGen LIVE! Ep 96: Ask Mariah: The Handwriting Edition

Watch live tonight!

“Can’t read the writing on a crucial document? Think you’re seeing one thing on something you’ve collected but you’re not sure? Send your handwriting conundrums to BPG and we’ll help you with them LIVE!”