Uncle Nicholas Johnson was in my Backyard My father’s great-grandmother, Jane Parrott Ealy of Leake County, Mississippi, was born around 1829 in Lunenburg County, Virginia. Her enslaver, Rev. William Parrott, transported Jane, along with h…

A shocking case and a reminder of the power of DNA when merged with genealogy: rootsrevealed.com/2026/04/04/u...

Weaving Through a Highly Endogamous Web Over five years ago, I noticed something both intriguing and unexpected: my family shared DNA with people with immediate roots from Washington County, Alabama—despite my family having no known gene…

rootsrevealed.com/2026/03/24/w...

Building a Genealogical Case with DNA: Samuel Tanner of Texas Recently, an eye-opening DNA cousin appeared among my mother’s matches on Ancestry.com. She shares 23 cM with my mother and shares even more DNA with my mother’s sister and brother – 36 cM and 43 c…

This case illustrates how DNA and genealogy can converge to reconnect families separated by slavery. rootsrevealed.com/2026/02/20/b...

I discovered something amazing after watching Finding Your Roots this week. Read more here: rootsrevealed.com/2026/02/05/a...

Was Matilda—the Ancestor of Appalachian Coal Miners—My Ancestor’s Long-Lost Sister? In 1996, I learned that my mother’s great-grandfather, Edward Danner of Panola County, Mississippi, was a Civil War veteran who served in the 59th Infantry of the United States Colored Troops. Edwa…

Discovering ties to Appalachian coal miners with DNA! rootsrevealed.com/2026/01/17/w...

Never Giving Up: The Power of Persistence in Genealogy Genealogy requires diligence, patience, persistence, strategy, and above all, hope. For many family lines, answers do not appear quickly or easily. They rarely come from a few computer clicks, and …

Don’t give up. rootsrevealed.com/2026/01/06/n...

One reader shared the following about From Fragments to Foundation. See order link at RootsRevealed.com.

A Master Class in Genealogy < Reclaiming Kin % Robyn recommends and provides brief highlights from Melvin Collier's new book, From Fragments to Foundation.

Incredibly grateful for this book review! reclaimingkin.com/genealogy-bo...

A BOOK Review: From Fragments to Foundations Uncovering a Buried History of Tragedy and Triumph by… forward by Robyn Smith

Incredibly grateful and surprised to get this great book review! jacqueline-laughlin.medium.com/a-book-revie...

I voted early. Virginia, we know what to do, right! 🧢

See RootsRevealed.com

Overjoyed to share that my new book is officially available! More than just my family’s story, it’s a teachable journey—revealing how to uncover hidden roots, trace life before and after emancipation, and use DNA as a powerful genealogy tool. Purchase here: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FXMLH15...

Coming soon!

Occupy Democrats shared this.

Exciting news! My new book is coming in mid-October. For more info: rootsrevealed.com/2025/09/19/c...

Multiple HBCUs under lockdown after receiving threats amid rising campus security concerns At least six historically Black colleges enacted lockdowns after receiving threats, amid heightened concerns following recent campus violence at Utah Valley University.

Meanwhile, on HBCU campuses, lockdowns after bomb threats and though I'm sure this won't interest most media types, it is worth noting: abcnews.go.com/amp/US/multi...

Actually, Slavery Was Very Bad The president’s latest criticism of museums is a thinly veiled attempt to erase Black history.

I debated writing this. It can feel tempting, upon encountering yet another instance of this administration’s racism, to let it be. How many ways can you say the same thing over and over again? And yet we have to write it down, if for nothing else, so those who come after us know we were against it.

I have no clean words for this. As much as you’ll try, we won’t ever allow our history to be hidden or Orange-Felon-Rapist-washed. 😡

Trump got impeached the first time after trying to get Ukrainian prosecutors to smear his Democratic rival.

Now he’s using a U.S. prosecutor to try and get Ghislaine Maxwell to smear a bunch of Democrats.

Same corrupt criminal, same playbook.

Breaking Down that Ugly 1870 Brick Wall: Tracing Your Enslaved Ancestors You’ve traced your African American ancestry back to the 1870 U.S. Census, only to hit what genealogists often call the “1870 brick wall.” You’ve read books and articles about slavery i…

Here are 8 great steps to researching enslaved ancestors. rootsrevealed.com/2025/07/17/b...

Our Elders Are Passing I’ve had this poem saved on my computer since 2001. It highlights the vital role of oral history and the importance of interviewing our family elders. Their memories and stories are priceless. Sinc…

Sharing a nice poem I’ve had on my computers since 2001. rootsrevealed.com/2025/07/10/o...

Looking forward to presenting “When DNA Corrects Genealogical Mistakes” on May 13 to the Afr Am Genealogy Group of Philadelphia: aagg.org

I do as well.

Congratulations!

These past 3 weeks have been genealogically fabulous. Found my 3x great grandma’s Virginia origins. She was sold 2 Mississippi. Documented her enslaved parents. Learned that they were born c 1780. Found her siblings and descendants. Thanks to DNA and AI by FamilySearch. #DNA #genealogy

Genetic testing firm 23andMe files for bankruptcy | CNN Business Gene testing firm 23andMe said on Sunday it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in order to facilitate its sale, after years of struggling to find a sustainable business model.

Gene testing firm 23andMe said on Sunday it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in order to facilitate its sale, after years of struggling to find a sustainable business model.

www.cnn.com/2025/03/24/t...

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“They Were Born in Africa”: Was This Correct? An incredible discovery surfaced when I found another genetic group (or genetic network) among my mother’s sister’s DNA matches. They were discovered when I saw that Cousin A below shar…

Powerful research by Melvin Collier @rootsrevealed.bsky.social which identifies another Irish-born slaveholder George Brownlee in Abbeville, SC rootsrevealed.com/2025/03/13/t...

“They Were Born in Africa”: Was This Correct? An incredible discovery surfaced when I found another genetic group (or genetic network) among my mother’s sister’s DNA matches. They were discovered when I saw that Cousin A below shar…

Africa was recorded as both of her parent's birthplace! Was she correct? rootsrevealed.com/2025/03/13/t...