BlackProGen LIVE - Dawn of a NEW Decade - 2020

Dawn of a New Decade 

The Season 6 schedule is OUT.

We're gonna be talking everything from the census to The Color Purple to the news. 

And you're gonna learn some stuff.
And you're finally gonna start your family tree or you're finally gonna come back to it. 
And you'll be glad you did.

We are pleased to ANNOUNCE 3 New Members as Panelists! Join me in welcoming Ressie Luck-Brimmer, Carmen White, Andre Ferrell, and Michael Willis to the panel!

It all PoPs off on Tuesday, January 7th! 


Honored and Blessed to be your Co-Host going into a New Decade for our 6th Season in 2020! I can't wait to see you ALL and give you the "Lowdown" on BlackProGen LIVE's upcoming Season! 

I want to THANK each and every one of you for Celebrating our 100th Diamond Episode!  on November the 19th. I was so overjoyed and grateful. So Thank you from my Heart! 

#CREWChat on Twitter

In 2020 BlackProGen will be focused on a particular movie or TV show where the prompts will be focused on how you can identify or track down the family history and genealogy of the characters. 

 There are 17 scheduled!

Catch the first one on Tuesday, January 7th, which is all about the movie The Color Purple! Released in 1985, this cultural mainstay stars Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Oprah Winfrey, Rae Dawn Chong, and more. 

Then, on January 21st, we’ll be talking about about the hit movie Soul Food.  

CREWChat takes place at 8pm Central on Twitter @blackprogen! Come in your pajamas, wine or water and snacks! 

NEW Series: History: Unscripted

History: Unscripted features your favorite panelists, and a guest, discussing pop culture and current events from a genealogy and family history perspective. 

While this series will still appear on the same YouTube channel, it’s pre-recorded to offer the best experience for general viewers and the C.R.E.W. History: Unscripted episodes are in addition to regular BlackProGen LIVE episodes – there are 25 total episodes for season six!

Be sure to catch the first H:U, set to post on Tuesday, January 28th, with special guest,  Author Anette King. 

Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel

Need Help with your Research in 2020? Submit your your case to ASK Mariah 

Ask Mariah Submission Form 

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: @BlackProGen

See you in January of 2020!

Happy New Year!

Printable PDF's are below! 

CREWChat Schedule for Twitter

Season 6 of BlackProGen LIVE's 2020 Schedule 

Genealogy Roadshow PBS William & Minty Ivey/Ivery

Meet Me in St. Louis.......

How I got on the show....

What Did you Find OUT? 

I think that's the MOST question I've been asked through all of this. This Summer, June 13th, 2014 they had Open Casting. I actually found the information floating around Google+. After pondering and thinking. I opened my Bible and read the 1st passage that I had opened up to. Read. Contemplated & Prayed. I don't take these things lightly. Like I said there is a Spiritual Component to me researching my Ancestors. 
 I knew it could be anything. Whatever it was I was gonna have to Accept it on behalf of my Family.  


I Got my laptop out and applied.  2 weeks later My point of Contact asked if I could do a interview? I said YeS! Thank Goodness. I practiced for a week and my DNA Cousin Shelley Murphy  Family Tree Girl!  click link. Hello Mother!

 She helped me out for a evening of conversation. She doesn't know it, but she knows now! We had wanted "Face Time" so it was perfect timing. 
My contact for the show, She emailed me details on the date and time. My interviewer made me so comfortable it was like a Great Conversation with someone you meet unexpectedly. 


It was the longest 3 weeks of my Life! I was wondering everyday and hoping they could find something. Did I say some off the wall thing? Was I boring? All kinds of thoughts ran in my head. Finally she called me back around July 23rd and said; Can you come to St. Louis in August? Sure; when? She replied we have taping on August 21st through the 23rd. During those 3 weeks, I'm waiting by the phone, checking email constantly through all this period. Making sure I didn't miss any calls or communication online. I had all 3 items with me at all times. Cell phone. Land line. Laptop. It was Hilarious and nerve wrecking! I was a bunch of nerves for a month. I only shared with a handful of people. I didn't want anyone to know I applied in case I didn't make it! I would only know!  So finally I broke down in a Whisper to her. Did I make the Show?  she says YEs!! We liked your Story and you made it!!!!! YEs you can tell Everyone your really gonna be on the Genealogy Roadshow!

You know I had to ask her like 3 to 4 times through the whole conversation. I had MaDe It! She said I was more than Welcomed and that I had 10 spots available for family and friends! 
YEs True! You made it! Your gonna be on the Genealogy Roadshow! You made IT!

My Application had been Accepted! I went BoNkeRs! I had never tried anything like this in my Whole Life. I too always wondered? How do they pick Folks for these shows? Well now I know! The process went without any hiccups. It was smooth I couldn't even attest to any other way it would go. 


My Experience was a Once in a Lifetime Dream.
It spoke so much as to who My True Roots was and I was Ecstatic for Her and for Me! 
Especially for my Family. 
This is who it was Truly for. It was all Done out of Love for my Family on all sides. They choose to pick Grandaddy Ike's people. 
Out of 100,000 applications between 3 Cities. New Orleans. Philadelphia. St. Louis. 

                My Ol'Slave Made it!

Who is William Ivey?

I have a Timeline of 64 years of his Life for 1817 to 1881 for all I know by documentation for 
Grandfather William Ivey. 

William Ivey was born in around 1817. I've seen as early as 1812. What was going in this Country where it says he was born in South Carolina?

The State of Alabama had Freed it's Slaves by  The 13th Amendment which was on February 1st, 1865. 

 1st Census that I can find William Ivey is in 1870. 

William and Minty Ivey became a family in or around 1850 when Minty first conceived child at the age of 15. A daughter named

Rosanna.

In 1853 William & Minty Welcomed and Praised God for their 1st Son. Issac "Ike" Ivery! He is who My Family honors every 2 years in Reunion.
 He was my 3rd Great Grandfather. A Slave......

This is where Genealogy Roadshow at St. Louis Union Station on PBS! comes in for my Family. 
Right under the St.Louis Historical Landmark at the Grand Union Station. Click here for more Information. 
"The Whispering Arch"". 
I can now tell that Whisper Secret out LOUD to you all!  

My question on application was? I needed to know was my Ivery's Slaves? Free Persons of Color? How did they attain their Last Name of IVERY? 


They find out William Ivey age 48.  He was my 4th Great Grandfather. A Slave...... Slaves! and Minty is with him. She was 31.  They were Married on....


Sunday! "November 5th,1865"

William & Minty Ivey Marriage License

Now just think for a moment......

It took them 15 years, 15 Years...15 years to be able to go to the Courthouse in Pike County, Alabama to legally get married. Only for the simple reason they were FREE! They were SLAVES in PIKE County, ALABAMA as we know of today. Genealogy Roadshow provided proof they were not Free People of Color. 11 other Couples got married that same day.  

Prior to their Marriage I'm sure since they had their 1st child in 1850 which is 15 years earlier I just know they "Jumped the Broom" on the Plantation! 

 By 1865 they had 6 children born to their union already. Including Granddaddy Ike! he was born in 1853. He was 12 years old when he saw his Daddy and Momma being married. 
I know what I was doing at the age of 12; so I can just "Imagine"!  I dream of me being there with watchful eyes, being happy and content. 

Bullock County, Alabama was formed December 5, 1866. Before that it's made up of parts of Pike and surrounding Counties. I've learned over time when the borders for the counties changed. 

In 1870 they were living in Ridgely, Bullock County, Alabama. Married for 5 years legally. Together for 20 Years total! William was 53. Minty was 35. 

 I can see where Granddaddy Ike was getting his youthful ways from!
 Granddaddy Ike was 70 in 1923 when his last child was born! 

William & Minty Ivey 1870 Census, Ala.

In 1880 William was 63. Living in Bullock County.
1881 he is still Living. I know from his daughter Isabelle (Belle) Ivery was marrying Charles Haynes on May 28, 1881. On the marriage license it states where were they married? It was wrote; the above parties were married by me on her Father William Ivey's Place. When I saw that! I was doing the Genealogy "Happy Dance". I just stared at that last LINE. He was still with us!

Look Below

Isabelle Ivey & Charles Haynes Marriage License

So we know until 1881 he was still here at the age of 64. After that his location remains unknown to me. I can't find them on 1900 Census for Bullock County, Ala. 

My Family has a great start on finding more about Grandpa William and Granny Minta. 

This was a Emotional Journey. A time of Reflection and Contemplation. When you do this for so long and you get this Item. It's Overwhelming. So much is lost and gone. We might never find it all. So when this happened for Us. This Document we received. It's truly treasured. 

 This Marriage License it might seem like a small thing....it is Not. It is my Family's Oldest Document now. That one piece of paper tells a Story for all of us Ivery's! It says who we are.  That We exist. We come from this Soil. This Land. We were Slaves. We were Free.  This is confirmation. With this Document I can go further.There is more Work for me to do. Along with Potential Slave Owners from the research papers Genealogy Roadshow gave me of what they researched. It goes to show you also how Important On-Site Research is necessary. You can't find everything Online. I will do it lovingly for as long as I can. This also gave me more Confidence. As long as I have been doing genealogy and I feel seasoned. I try to be as accurate as possible. Sometimes I get nervous.   This was a lesson that I was doing my research correctly. It confirmed to me I can do this. My work can be passed on. It was relief to have a 2nd pair of eyes looking at what I do and that they know I can appreciate what they do as Professionals. This is hard work. It takes time and so much patience. It's not for the weary. There are many joys! The sorrows come equally with it. 

It's about Perseverance and Preservation with Collaboration. 

So I advise anyone who comes to you with interest. Love in their heart and conviction. Please take the time to help them. To share with them. Commune with them. We can not do this work alone. It takes a Family like mine who patiently walks on this journey with me anytime I need answers. Pictures. Documents. Or just to talk. I Truly stress My True Roots does not do this Alone. 
We All have a Story. I'm just trying to TELL Mine, Ours. 


Many Thanks and Gratitude for PBS. Genealogy Roadshow. Mr. Krasnow. Kenyatta Berry and My Producer LaMonte! My Researcher LaDonna. You two know who you are! Lisa Landrum and all the behind scenes people like Josh and Mary! Ms. Kay Porter for extending a Invitation for Pre-Screening to my Family from Nine Network out of St. Louis! My Cousin James, Bea, John Kite. Mommie & Daddy. My Beloved Aunt Sallie Bea. She always said she knew my Heart from Looking into my Eyes. Family. Bug&Pidge, my Parents. My Fellow Blogger Community. Everyone was on this Journey with Me, no matter what or how we have come to know each other. I took ALL of you along with my Ancestors. You were all there in St. Louis with me in Spirit. So this is just as much as my Journey as it is Yours. 
 I look forward to working with Pike County Courthouse. A first for me. 

This has been a time. I'm grateful for all the opportunities and the chance to be accepted on the show to exhibit that you can find your Ancestors with a little work. I'm thankful they showed my Family as a Example. 

 It's been a long 9 months! To hold a Secret in confidence. I felt like I was gonna "burst" by the time February 10th came and it ALL happened during
 "Black History Month"!

I think I have come a long way.....
The St. Louis Union Station episode was February 1oth, 2015.
I'll always Remember and Cherish for being on Season 2 of Genealogy Roadshow on PBS. During Black History Month and near Grandaddy Ike's Birthday. It was meant to be!

Our Ol'Slave Granddaddy Ike Ivery whom my Family holds in high Esteem and Honor. He has earned his rightful place 162 years later! His Birthday is February 14th, 1853!
Happy 78th Heavenly Birthday! 

Granddaddy Ike & Me. 2009.

You ushered in a Great Birthday Gift to your Descendants! 
We; your Proud Descendants.We now have your Parents in their rightful Place to take us a bit further. 
We understand. WHY Family is so Important to you? Why you felt so compelled? Always keeping your 23 children together. What you learned from your Father and Mother that you carried the tradition on. It will Continue. So may it Be!

You were there Granddaddy Ike, that Day! as a Witness. Now this Marriage Licence will bear Witness to All. 

Sunday, November 5th, 1865!
One Early Sunday Mornin'!....
You were there....You were there. 

Lisa~ Kenyatta ~ Me

Girl Talk during Filming Break

Break from Filming

You can find ME at Twitter

  ThatGirl!@MyTrueRoots on Twitter

or

My True Roots on Facebook

More Info on Pike County


Thanks to my Friend and Filmmaker Susan! (click here) She has Supported me so much in this Journey. She can help you Preserve your Family History as well. Look below at Link at what she did for US!


My Family Documentary about Ike Ivery to Me



Dedicated to My 1st & Only Granddaughter: Jai ! 
& My Future Descendants. 
I hope I made you Proud. 


Leave me a NoTe or a Comment!
Let me know what you THINK!
2-10-2015 Originally Posted
Dear Heavenly Father, I'm so "Grateful". it's Flowing from my Heart.

I Thessalonians 5:18

 

In EVERYTHING Give Thanks: For this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus concerning YOU.

Family Heirlooms ✽ Sorbet Dish

I'm Collaborating with a Group of Women who are documenting their Family Heirlooms. I do find this Blog Prompt satisfying. It gives me a way to share with you some of my Memories. These are Heirlooms to me. They are items I actually got to pick out with my Siblings and say I will be the Gatekeeper of these items for our Parents and for us.  

My Parents who were born in 1918 and 1923. They knew the value of good home products. My Parents took Pride in owning their own home and the things they filled it with.  

I have this Blog where I can have them remembered and timestamped for my future Descendants. That's the part I love the most. They will actually have a first hand account of these items that meant so much to me growing up. 

They will know they had meaning to me. They won't have to wonder where did that come from Granny? What do you remember about them? What was their house filled with? All those questions little people ask and even as grown ups we are still asking those Questions.  

My Parents saved some of their Parents personal things. I loved hearing those stories about the Quilt and the Skillet and how they came about safeguarding them and what memory they had? What they want US to know as they passed them on. 

The reason I picked the Sorbet Dish was because it didn't go with anything in the kitchen. It just sat there on her 3 tier shelf attached to the wall. I don't even remember having to clean it or even remember it being moved. It sat in the far corner of the shelf . I'll have to try to find a photo of it that way. It looks like something from the 70's. It may have been a fruit cocktail bowl. I have no idea. Probably need to research that.....

In the meantime. 

Sorbet Dish

It was filled to the brim with pennies. It had a few buttons, a pack of matches probably for our gas stove we had forever and a few safety pins. That's it. It was the Keeper/Holder for that! 

It was bright and cheery and it was cute and I loved it. I wanted to keep it. Mom had knick knacks all over the house. I always knew what were my favorites. She kept things and I could see the meaning on the Why. 

Now that I'm grown I have that same glint in my eye on why I keep certain knick knacks. 

So since it's bright, orange and cheery sunburst didn't go with any of her other dishes, I decided it would go home with me. Now I keep it on display in all it's Glory in my China Cabinet. 

Wonder what Mom would make of that?

She'd love it. Glad I have her feel for knick knacks too. 

Books for my Descendants ~ Ike Ivery 9th Generation of Grandchildren

These are several "Books" I have Collected and Signed to leave my Grandchildren, My Unborn Readers. My Mother in Law who is lovingly called Nannie Rose started this Tradition with my Sons. So I will Continue. I also leave them a Monetary Gift in the Books. I warned my Sons to go through them all! 

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White 

I only have one Granddaughter so far. She is the LOVE I never knew I had within ME. Grandchildren have a Special place in your Heart. They are not in a Place as your Children. That 7 year old Grandbaby of mine, her being is an extension of Me. I see beyond my own Children and see my Future well into Time. She makes me mindful of what I have to do in my Genealogy work. As I'm getting older she is starting to develop interest. I know I have a companion now for Cemetery Hopping as well. She's a Genie in Training. 

Grandchildren Books

This means my Legacy will Go on.

My Son & His Daughter, Puddin'.

It's One of those Days where I get sidetracked from my Ancestors and have to remind myself of why I'm doing my Family History. 

Me & Puddin with SGT Audie L. Murphy. Arlington National Cemetery. 

after my  Geneabloggers Interview!: "May I Introduce To You".....got me thinking on the Reason why I do; what I do. 

Just another NoTe To MySeLf........

My True Roots Heart & Soul

February is Black History Month

The Heart & Soul of My True Roots.

I want you to know My True Roots Truth....

I want to Thank Everyone for "Liking" my Facebook page for "My True Roots". 

For all the courteous Follows on Twitter at ThatGirl!@MyTrueRoots 

It's so much Appreciated. 
I'm here to Reintroduce myself to Everyone.

My Ancestors are only a Whisper Away....

My Blog is about My Genealogical Journey. It has a component to it that is "Spiritual Work". Along with just Good Ol'Fashion research. 

It's out of Love and Honor, for whom shoulders I Stand on. 

It's their Home. A place for me to keep them Collectively in one place. Together. In Remembrance....

I have the "Triple Threat". 

I'm a Woman - I'm Black - I'm German.

I will Always Stand with the Women in my Lineage. They are the Cradle here. They survived so Much and have carried us through.  My Slaves who have survived the Middle Passage. They will always be defended. They had no Voice for way to Long. 

 My Europeans they are a half of whom I am. They are who I come from since before this Country was formed. They are all MINE. 

 Not standing up for Anyone of my Ancestors on My True Roots would be Denying a Piece of Me. Having Half Existence. I'm Whole. 
They are all of what I am Today. 
They all have a Safe Harbor right here. 


 I just didn't pick this Genealogy up and said Oh, I can do this in a "Secretarial" capacity, Career, Job or because I had some Organizational Skills.

Me and Daddy, 1977. 

As a Child, I got started with pencil and paper. I have been self taught with a lot of mistakes along the way. Making corrections from Fellow Bloggers in the Genealogy Community who are teaching me about sourcing, citations and Genealogical Proof and Standards. I'm still a work in progress.

Lewis Mementos

I think over the years since 1998. I've come to know I have "3 Stages" of My Own Personal Genealogy Trek.

•  Unwanted. Not of Importance.
•  Shunned 
•  Now Embraced

NOW!  It's my Responsibility as a  Person of Color, to continue and when asked.

 What part did you have in Building the Genealogy Community? 

What contributions have you made to preserve African American Stories?

I can show them my Blog.
They can also know that I have took a stand, so future Genealogist know they have a Place.

• It is my Responsibility for the unborn in my Family to have this body of Work.
• To let my Family know they have a Story. Their Lives Matter. All the ones that Came before Us and After.

So with that! 

•  I will Represent my Ancestors at my side at all Times.
•  I Stand with the Genealogy Community as a Whole. 
• I'm Coming to the Table with my Ancestors. 
•  Help Release the Names through Slavery!
•  No more Shame or Guilt

I'm giving you my Heart & Soul. 

I'm reaching my Hand out. I want you to take this Walk with Me. 
I so appreciate so many Bloggers,Family Historians, Genealogist that have came before me. 

This is where Dear Myrtle! comes in. She put her hand out and reached out to help others understand the plight of African American Research. While we are fighting and scrambling to be heard. She reaches many Voices in the Genealogy Community. 
Thanks to George Geder in getting the conversation going. My Blog Sisters Nicka Smith & for years on end, Luckie Daniels & AAGSAR African American Genealogical Slave Ancestor Research where you can see other African American Bloggers and many other's. I wish I could name them all for continuing the Conversation. Geneabloggers is another Blog Community where you will find a garden variety of information on topics in Genealogy from other Bloggers all over the World.  
We have agreed to keep pushing forward and have all Voices heard.

International Decade for People of African Descent 2015-2024

This is a quote from

 Legacy Tree Webinars! 

2015 also begins the International Decade for People of African Descent adopted by the United Nations. Here at FamilyTreeWebinars, we recognize and support this resolution, and reach out to ALL regardless of race, color, creed or national origin with support for researching family and documenting cultural inheritance. We will continue to strive to bring the finest genealogical education to you. They also have a NEW Freedom Webinar Series, taught by pre- and post-Emancipation era research experts, will both entertain, educate, and instruct about the history and the wealth of records that were created as a result of this great transition. Please go their SITE and REGISTER for these Exclusive Webinars! 

I need to come out strong with how I feel and let you know the Essence and the Foundation that My True Roots is built on. What I Stand for.

So there is no Doubt on what I care for. What needs to be done.

I don't want to fiddle faddle around with what My True Roots is about? 
Over the years I come to learn and realize what my Convictions, Integrity and Morals are when writing about my Ancestors and what this Journey has meant to me!

 How Honored I am being the Vessel for my Ancestors. I don't take this Family Historian title as Humbled as I am, that my family has bestowed upon me lightly.

Someone is gonna come after me to pick up where I left off. I had to lay the Purple Print blueprint on how they must go accordingly into the future on what was started for our Ancestors. 

They must always:

•   Place the Ancestors first
•   Do No Harm to the Living

This is a Blog Piece I contributed for  Worldwide Genealogy ~ A Genealogical Collaboration. 

TrueKeeper!  



Of which My True Roots!, is a Author among about 30 others for 2 years. It's Wonderful to be among US and Continental Writers under one roof.

TrueKeeper "Speaks" to some of  "My True Roots"  Essence. 

I'm delighted it's "Black History Month". I look forward to you all coming back and reading new Blog Pieces about my Family. 

Best Regards
See ya Soon in a few days. 

You can find me at Black Pro Gen LIVE  All Year!