Discovering Black heritage: Stories of inspirational, surprising journeys we want to tell

Black History Month has often signified a period in which America collectively — at least for a month — formally recognizes the contributions Black people have made within the confines of this country.

While civil rights movement figures fighting for equity, and even the horrors of slavery have functioned as an introduction to Black history for most, individual legacies go well beyond textbooks and documentaries.

For millions of Black Americans, such discoveries — personal in nature — need years of examination, research and struggle to reach the starting point. Everyone can identify on some level the desire to know who they truly are and where their own story begins.

The Marshall tale, as far as I’ve gleaned from records compiled by a dogged cousin who’s spent most of her adult life digging into our history, goes back to Lexington, Mississippi, in the 1840s.

There, Granderson Marshall Sr., a landowner who owned 700 acres — a rare boon for a Black man in the deep South at the time — established a legacy that lived on through the likes of F.D. Marshall, a civil rights worker whose name is forever etched on a wall of the Civil Rights Museum in Jackson, Mississippi.

And the tale continues through James William Marshall, my great-grandfather, who built a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home on 10 acres in rural Holmes County where we’ve held family reunions for nearly 40 years.

The “from whence we came” mantra — championed by my researcher cousin — became a charge to remember our rich family history, all the sacrifices and struggle that made it all possible to continue the standard set by those who laid the foundation.

In that vein, on Feb. 27, The Charlotte Observer will attempt to candidly document the rigorous ancestral exploration campaigns of Black North Carolinians who want to understand what makes them whole and who was responsible for it along the way in our Reimagined Print edition. Journalists will also highlight individuals and families who’ve successfully uncovered what had been hidden and what they’ve tried to keep intact.

We’ll address how to trace ancestry beyond the commercialized online products, note challenges people face in the process and offers tips and solutions. You’ll also hear people share gripping stories about their personal experience. The event, “Tracing Black roots: The process, challenges and emotional journey of exploring ancestry,” will be held on Thursday, Feb. 24 at 7 pm. Find more information and stream the virtual event at https://bit.ly/3gBcImz.

Today, an intersection of a Holmes County city street features a sign that reads “Marshall Rd.” It is a constant reminder of where we’ve come from and our family’s lasting impact.

But not everyone — particularly African Americans — can easily draw back to the past. Millions face challenges not only documenting their own family histories but knowing where to begin to find answers to lifelong curiosities.

The journey can be rewarding, uncertain, complex and surprising on the road to self-discovery.

These are important conversations and stories that have long been ignored and need to be told.

Kendrick Marshall is The Charlotte Observer’s Service Journalism Desk editor.

Want to go?

When: Thursday, Feb. 24, 7 p.m.

Where: The virtual event will be streamed live on the Observer’s Facebook and YouTube pages, and on its homepage.

More information: https://bit.ly/3gBcIm

This story was originally published February 13, 2022 at 6:00 AM.