Saturday we had our Road Tour event in Raleigh thanks to amazing hosts Dr. and Mrs. Palmer at the African American Cultural Complex. It was a small event filled with big surprises. For me personally, I was able to have more of my family see what inspires me to research the impact genetic ancestry testing on African Americans. Dr. and Mrs. Palmer learned about their ancestry—the Balanta of Guinea Bissau and the Fang of Gabon, respectively.

The biggest surprise however was hearing that African Ancestry has groupies. Okay they weren’t groupies—after all no one came to the event to through panties at Ralston’s camera.

But after missing the Charlotte event, they were dedicated enough to travel the two hours to Raleigh to participate in yesterday’s event. And it was inspiring to hear such a story. Traveling on the road for a week straight, you realize that each venue is completely different. Sometimes the audience seems engaged and then sometimes you aren’t sure if they got lost between “Hello” and “Welcome.” And even though the goal of the tour is to help you guys, it is a business and we too have quotas that we try to meet to ensure we’ll be able to do the tour again. Most of the time it works out, but every once in a while when it doesn’t, you find yourself questioning whether or not you made the right choice and sometimes start to agree with the people who called you crazy for having and pursuing this idea in the first place. But then when you meet Anne Lambert and Danny Byers who traveled from Charlotte just to join us on the Road Tour, you realize that regardless of the tribulations you encounter on the road, this tour does have a purpose and their no reason for us to give up now.

And don’t worry, we won’t.

The four of us are ready to end the first half of the “We Are Africa” Road Tour in Richmond tonight.

And I also want to let you all know that along the tour, Gina has been inspired for African Ancestry to have a new goal. While it is great to help the general African Diaspora, the new focus of the company is to give the children knowledge and pride in understanding our roots. Whether they are two days old or 21 years old like myself, it’s imperative that we give the youngest in our community the opportunity to know—especially when it’s available. It’s not fair for our boys and girls to have to pretend to be from a country in Africa when their peers know. I know that when I have children ten years from now, I want them to know. And that’s why I’m waiting for my results. What, however, will you tell your children—because as a person who grew up in the 1990s wearing kente cloth outfits, no number of African hairstyles or clothing is enough to overshadow being devoid of knowledge.

We want to change that and we hope you do too.

Last night’s event was held at Alabama A&M University at the Ernest L. Knight Center thanks to the University’s State Black Archives Research Center and Museum.

There were a few tables set up displaying information about genealogy–Terrence even had a display about his personal genealogical and genetic journey to trace his cultural heritage.

But at 6 p.m. the fun began and the only way to truly describe it was a family affair. It

Dr. and Mrs. Hugine

began with a traditional song of the Ga people in Ghana. Then, we unveiled the ancestry of President of Alabama A&M University Dr. Hugine and his wife Mrs. Hugine. Mrs. Hugine shared ancestry to people in Senegal, Guinea Bissau, and Sierra Leone but also discovered that she was also an African Ancestry cousin to Terrence in the audience. And Dr. Hugine learned about his roots with the Yoruba people in Nigeria by Gina, a fellow Nigerian.

The Scruggs Family

We also unveiled the ancestry of the Pastor of Huntsville’s First Missionary Baptist Church, Dr. Julius R. Scruggs. His wife and brothers accepted the results for the family (about half of the audience was a Scruggs!) and they learned that the family has cousins not only in Alabama but also across the Atlantic in the Central African Republic. The ancestors were truly reuniting kin both here and abroad.

Click here to view our photo album from Huntsville!

The Silhoutte Dance Ensemble opened the event with a powerful dance led by Kai Knight. Their performance added to the wonderful energy in the space.

Silhouette Dance Ensemble

After the African Ancestry presentation, African Ancestry Family Member Antoinette Harrell presented a brief video of her journey to Niger upon finding her Tuareg roots. The resemblance between her immediate family members and Tuareg women were uncanny.

AA Fam: Antoinette Harrell and Claudette Hurd

Among the countless highlights of the event was meeting long time African Ancestry Family Member Mtumishi St. Julien and our newest member, Chaela.

Chaela

Mtsumishi

We revealed the roots of our special guests which was almost as exciting as the reactions of the two winners of an African Ancestry Test Kit!

WDSU News Anchor Norman Robinson - Mende and Balanta!

WYLD-FM Sunday Journal Host Hal Clark and Family - Cameroon!

Click here to see more images from Day One in New Orleans. The Road Crew and I are looking forward to bringing the movement to 13 more cities!!! See you on the Road!

I have found three talented and inspired people up for an amazing adventure. Each of member of the Road Crew brings a unique interest, talent, and perspective to our journey along with a shared belief in the importance of knowing who you are.

Victoria Massie is a unique combination of aspiring geneticist and anthropologist. She’s a senior a the University of Rochester whose heart – after studying abroad in Malawi and Ghana – belongs to the African continent. Her internship at African Ancestry, as Road Dog #1, is part of her continuing effort to connect her love for Africa with an intrigue for the genome and contemporary issues facing American society. Her senior thesis is a research project focusing on the impact of genetic ancestry testing on African Americans. We encourage you to help with her research by sharing your experience with her. You can contact her at vmassie@africanancestry.com.

Ralston Smith is a gifted storyteller. We were fortunate to have Ralston join the African Ancestry family several years ago when he produced our first marketing video. His vision extends beyond the camera with a strong strategic plan for every project. Ralston will be documenting the Road Tour and posting video to Facebook and YouTube daily. Check out his blog and his website.

Kea Taylor is an amazing photographer. I was so excited when she said that she wanted to join us on the road. We get the benefit of her warm, creative spirit as well as her awesome still photos, which we’ll be posting daily from the Road. We’re all about promoting Black business so, Kea will be autographing copies of her new book, I Still Do – A Celebration of African American Weddings, on the Road Tour too.

Imhotep Institute Charter School

6201 N. 21st Street

Philadelphia, PA 19138

6 – 8 pm

Fmr. Mayor W. Wilson Goode, Sr.

Hon. Stanley Straughter

Join us at the Imhotep Institute Charter High School as we celebrate our roots and reveal the ancestries of Chairman Stanley Straughter, Former Mayor Wilson Goode, Sr., and other invited guests!

We also look forward to revealing the ancestry of State Senator Sandra Cunningham, the first woman to be elected to the State House from the 31st Legislative District.

Join us for an engaging and informative experience!

Afro-American Historical Society Museum

1841 Kennedy Boulevard

Jersey City, NJ 07305

6 – 8 pm

“we are africa” 2010 road tour – know where you’re from from ralston smith on Vimeo.

The Road Tour stops are set! Click on each city for details.

• New Orleans, LA – 8/1
• Jackson, MS – 8/2
• Huntsville, AL – 8/3
• Nashville, TN – 8/4
• Charlotte, NC – 8/5
• Raleigh, NC – 8/7
• Richmond, VA – 8/8
• Washington, DC – 8/11
• Baltimore, MD – 8/12
• Philadelphia, PA – 8/13
• Brooklyn, NY – 8/15
• Hartford, CT – 8/16
• Jersey City, NJ – 8/17
• Boston, MA – 8/19

We are excited that the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Art + Culture has partnered with us to bring a celebration of our historical, cultural, and genetic connections to Africa to Charlotte on Thursday, August 5th. Mayor Anthony Foxx has also agreed to join us for a reveal of his maternal roots!

USAGriot.com

USA Griot will be on-hand to offer information about genealogy too. Check back here or on Facebook to see who our cultural performers will be!

Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Art + Culture

551 S. Tryon Street

Charlotte, NC 28202

August 5, 2010

6:30 – 8 pm

]]> http://blog.africanancestry.com/2010/07/road-tour-update-8-charlotte/feed/ 0 http://blog.africanancestry.com/2010/07/road-tour-update-7-richmond/ http://blog.africanancestry.com/2010/07/road-tour-update-7-richmond/#comments Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:14:20 +0000 Gina Paige http://blog.africanancestry.com/?p=957 Yep. We’re taking We Are Africa to the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia! Many know Richmond as the birthplace of Black Capitalism. But did you know that Richmond was the largest source of enslaved Africans on the east coast of America from 1830 to 1860? This part of the city’s history is documented along the Richmond Slave Trail, a walking trail that chronicles the history of the trade of enslaved Africans from Africa to Virginia until 1775, and away from Virginia to other locations in the Americas until 1865. (source: www.virginia.org) 

African Ancestry Family Member Dr. Shawn Utsey has made sure that Richmond is well represented on the We Are Africa Road Tour 2010.

Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of African American Studies,

the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, and the Library of Virginia will co-host the Road Tour. We are also honored to have the African Connection Network on board to help provide a diverse perspective.

Franklin Military Academy

701 North 37th Street

Richmond, VA 23223

August 8, 2010

4 – 6 pm

Join us for an engaging afternoon with an African Ancestry presentation, performance by Elegba Folklore Society, and heritage reveals of Virginia State Delegate Delores McQuinn and Dr. Maureen Elgersman Lee.

Virginia State Delegate Delores McQuinn

Dr. Maureen Elgersman Lee, Director, Black History Museum and Cultural Center of VA

Don’t forget! Bring your friends and family! And tell those who can’t make it to follow us here on the blog or on Facebook.