Two-part Program to Explore African American Family History
The W. E. B. Du Bois Center for Freedom and Democracy (formerly Clinton Church Restoration) will present a two-part virtual program on African American family history and genealogy within and beyond the Berkshires. Dr. Kendra T. Field, the Du Bois Freedom Center’s historian-in-residence, will lead the series to be held via Zoom on November 9 and 16 from 6-7 p.m.
In her article “The Privilege of Family History,” published last month by the American Historical Review, Field explores the evolution of the discipline and practice of African-American family history across several centuries. Despite the exclusion of many African American voices and stories from the formal archive of American history, especially during slavery and its aftermath, “their voices and stories survived,” Field writes. “Privately, they survived behind closed doors—in the whisperings of grandmothers and grandfathers, in the sharing of food, beads, and cloth.”
She highlights the work of Frederick Douglass, W. E. B. Du Bois, Carter G. Woodson, Zora Neale Hurston, and many other lesser-known individuals who engaged in a diverse range of historical, genealogical, archival, and memorial family history work in the early days of the field.
In the first program, on November 9, Field will give a talk on Du Bois’ little-known work as a family historian and genealogist. Entitled “W. E. B. Du Bois and the Work of Family History,” Field will address Du Bois’ efforts to document and memorialize his known and unknown forbears, beginning in Great Barrington.
In the second program, a genealogy pop-up on November 16, local community members, including former parishioners and descendants of the Clinton A.M.E. Zion Church, are invited to bring their own genealogical and family history interests, stories, and ongoing work into the conversation. The focus will be on the particular challenges and opportunities of African American genealogical work. Field will be joined by professional genealogist and retired Tufts University Humanities Research Librarian Connie Reik; they will share genealogical and historical resources, facilitate the exchange of stories, and offer guidance as desired. No prior experience or materials are required to attend — whether you have a document, a treasure trove, or just a name or idea, all are welcome.
These programs are free of charge but reservations are required. Please email admin@duboisfreedomcenter.org to reserve your space — don’t forget to mention which date(s) you plan to attend.
This series has been made possible in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Sustaining Humanities through the American Rescue Plan in partnership with the American Historical Association.