Category Archives: Uncategorized

When Robert B. Wilks and Melissa Gray married on November 29, 1888

In our family, several births, deaths and marriages took place in the month of November. In 1888, two teenagers — Robert B. Wilkes and Melissa C. Gray — married in a simple ceremony in Greene County, Missouri. The hard-to-view document includes the signature witness of our Great-Great Grandfather’s father, Peter Wilkes. He gave permission forContinue reading “When Robert B. Wilks and Melissa Gray married on November 29, 1888”

Aid for Genealogists: Frazine K. Taylor African American Research Scholarship

The Frazine K. Taylor African American Research Scholarship (application due by 1 March each year) — open to anyone committed to expanding their knowledge of African American genealogical research. The Frazine K. Taylor African American Research Scholarship (application due 1 March each year) was established on 7 June 2018 by Deborah A. Abbott, PhD, in honor of Frazine K.Continue reading “Aid for Genealogists: Frazine K. Taylor African American Research Scholarship”

Celebrate Veterans Day by saluting your family history

An excerpt from our November 2021 e-book Introduction Welcome to the fourth in a series of our e-books that highlight the unique genealogy of African Americans. Do you know how many of your ancestors were in the military? We didn’t realize until the documents were released a few years ago that revealed our African AmericanContinue reading “Celebrate Veterans Day by saluting your family history”

Follow @ GoodGenesGen on Twitter and learn more about our Ancestry

Clark College was founded on Sept. 19, 1869, shortly after the end of the Civil War by a religious organization that later became the United Methodist Church. Several historically black colleges and (renamed later) universities were created in the 19th century. These HBCUs were joined by a healthy grouping of HBCUs founded between 1900 andContinue reading “Follow @ GoodGenesGen on Twitter and learn more about our Ancestry”

It’s here: November 2021 Good Genes Genealogy’s Family Ties that Bind

Thank you, one and all, for encouraging us to continue publishing our monthly e-books. The latest one is just published on our Lulu Publishing website … soon it will be available on worldwide distribution. Get your copy now!

#55 Spooky stories, haunted houses and Black people

Ancestor Comedian Richard Pryor had a funny bit about Black people in horror movies. He said that Black people would enter a haunted house and hear a ghostly voice say, “hello.” Pryor said the likely answer would be “goodbye.” Pryor’s funny gag lines were prior to the current-day horror films where Black actors are amongContinue reading “#55 Spooky stories, haunted houses and Black people”

#54 Check out views on “makeup” pay, respect for women

Gwen McKinney is a podcaster, writer and thinker. Check out her podcast (see it in her own words/voice) and join the conversation. FYI: German Holocaust survivors in the U.S. and abroad, receive regular reparations from that government. Also, South Africa, Canada, Austria and France provide financial restorative justice. From Gwen: Proud to share our latestContinue reading “#54 Check out views on “makeup” pay, respect for women”

#52 Let the church say, “Amen” to Negro Spirituals

NEGRO SPIRITUALS AND WORK SONGSDuring slavery and afterwards, workers were allowed to sing songs during their working time. This was the case when they had to coordinate their efforts for hauling a fallen tree or any heavy load. For example, prisoners used to sing “chain gang” songs, when they worked on the road or someContinue reading “#52 Let the church say, “Amen” to Negro Spirituals”