This collection prioritizes resources created by and for Black researchers. For updates and additional resources, connect with the Black genealogical community through the organizations listed below.

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Recommended Reading

• "Black Roots" by Tony Burroughs Comprehensive methodology for beginners
• "Finding Your African American Ancestors" by David Thackery - Practical research strategies
• "African American Genealogy Research" by Dee Parmer Woodtor - Deep-dive methodology
• "Healing While Researching" guides by Dr. Ayana Flewellen - Archaeological approaches to family trauma
• "The Warmth of Other Suns" by Isabel Wilkerson - Great Migration context for family movement patterns </aside>

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Leading Black Genealogists

• Tony Burroughs - Author of "Black Roots: A Beginner's Guide to Tracing the African American Family Tree"
• Nicka Sewell-Smith - Specializes in enslaved ancestor research, founder of Family Tree Maker
• Bernice Bennett - Expert in Southern Black genealogy and DNA analysis
• Kenyatta Berry - Host of "Genealogy Roadshow," author of "The Family Tree Toolkit"
• Melvin Collier - Specialist in pre-Civil War Black genealogy
• Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. - Harvard's Hutchins Center, "Finding Your Roots" host </aside>

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Primary Sources for Enslaved Ancestors

• Freedmen's Bureau Records (FamilySearch & Ancestry) - Post-Civil War documentation
• Slave Narratives Collection (Library of Congress) - First-person accounts
• Plantation Records Database - University archives with enslaver documentation
• FamilySearch African American Research - Free LDS-sponsored resources
• National Archives - Black History research specialists </aside>

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DNA Databases

• African Ancestry - Specialized African DNA matching
• 23andMe African Diaspora Project - Community-focused genetic research
• DNA analysis guides by Roberta Estes - Technical DNA interpretation for Black families </aside>

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Community Support

• AfriGeneas - Long-established Black genealogy forum and database
• BlackProGen - Professional genealogists' collaborative community
• Facebook Groups: "African American Genealogy," "Descendants of Enslaved Communities" </aside>

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Important Things To Keep In Mind

• This work often involves processing trauma - Seek community support and professional help when needed
• Records can be scarce by design - Systematic erasure was intentional; gaps don't reflect failure
• Community knowledge is invaluable - Oral histories often contain information missing from official records
• Research is an act of reclamation - You're restoring narratives that were deliberately hidden </aside>