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!”

Genealogy No Longer a Fad…

Tue, Aug 10, 1915 – Page 7 · The Washington Times (Washington, District of Columbia) · Newspapers.com

BlackProGen LIVE! Ep 95: Birthright: Who Has the Right to Tell My People’s Stories?

“Should there be a stipulation on who has the right to tell certain stories? Is it dependent on the role certain groups play within the historical event landscape? Episode 95 will tackle this difficult topic.”

Watch Live tonight!

The Lynching of Reuben Sims

Mr. Reuben Sims is the only documented lynching victim in Baldwin County, Alabama between 1877 to 1950.

Since he was the “only one” I wanted to try to find out a little more about the circumstances surrounding his lynching. Mr. Reuben Sims’ lynching made it in to newspapers across the country.

Below are some articles I found relating to Mr. Reuben Sims’ murder.

Fri, Apr 29, 1904 – 4 · The Prattville Progress (Prattville, Alabama) · Newspapers.com

 

Fri, May 13, 1904 – Page 2 · The Atmore Record (Atmore, Alabama) · Newspapers.com

 

Sun, Aug 28, 1904 – 15 · The Montgomery Advertiser (Montgomery, Alabama) · Newspapers.com

 

Thu, Nov 3, 1904 – 3 · The Baldwin Times (Bay Minette, Alabama) · Newspapers.com

Afro-American Realty Company

 

Wed, Jul 27, 1904 – Page 3 · The San Francisco Call (San Francisco, California) · Newspapers.com

Trinity Chapel A.M.E Church

Photographed by me

Trinity Chapel A.M.E. Church is located in Bay Minette, AL. According to the little cement block on the front, the church was founded in 1883. My Great Grandfather Scott Cox was a member of the Trinity Chapel A.M.E.

 

Photographed by me

Trinity Chapel A.M.E. Church Sat, Aug 5, 1961 – 7 · Alabama Citizen (Tuscaloosa, Alabama) · Newspapers.com

BlackProGen LIVE! Ep 94: Back Home: Travel to Our Mother Countries

Watch live tonight!

“Visiting our ancestral locations is a deeply transformative experience. In this episode, learn the ins and outs of planning a trip, what to expect, and how to incorporate the experience into your genealogy project.”

Reasons to buy a Ford

Found this 1919 Ford ad in The Citizen-Patriot newspaper.

The Citizen-Patriot
Atwood, Kansas03 Apr 1919, Thu

A Scorcher Bits the Dust

Greensboro Telegram
Greensboro, North Carolina09 Aug 1897, Mon

I know what scorcher means today but in the 1890s and early 1900s scorcher meant another thing when it came to bike riding.  At first I didn’t understand why this 1897 article of an African American female falling off her bike was considered newsworthy.  Then I decided to google scorcher and bicycles and I found out the term scorcher was used to describe a cyclist who rode fast and reckless through the streets and someone who put other riders, pedestrians and motorists at risk of crashing. I did some more digging and found an article of a cyclist who was involved in a bicycle chase with a police officer.  Scorchers were considered a big problem across the county, there are countless articles on newspapers.com about scorchers and how they were a menace to society (lol), some cyclists were even arrested.

The Morning News
Wilmington, Delaware03 Jul 1896, Fri  

 

Don’t worry I be a scorcher.

 

Me in my cycling gear