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"Genealogy Roadshow" host and author of "The Family Tree Toolkit," Kenyatta D. Berry looks into genealogy, ancestry, and family history as well as what it means to have enslaved ancestors, and interviews experts in the field. The music for episodes 1-76 is "Good Vibe" by Ketsa, and 76+ is by Rheme via Pixabay.
78 Episodes
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Send us a text Exploring the Life and Legacy of Charles W. Chesnutt Guest: Dr. Tess Chakkalakal Host: Kenyatta D. Berry In this episode, Kenyatta D. Berry speaks with Dr. Tess Chakkalakal, a scholar of nineteenth-century African American and American literature, about her new book A Matter of Complexion: The Life and Fictions of Charles W. Chesnutt. Together, they explore Chesnutt’s remarkable career as one of the earliest African American fiction writers to achieve mainstream publication, a...
Send us a text In this relaunch episode of Conversations with Kenyatta, host Kenyatta D. Berry and producer Caitlin Howle introduce the podcast’s powerful new direction—spotlighting stories systematically erased from history and amplifying marginalized voices. Drawing on her extensive research and her own family history as a descendant of enslaved individuals, Kenyatta shares the inspiration behind this shift. Together, they explore the challenges of uncovering erased histories, the role of s...
Send us a text In this episode of Conversation with Kenyatta, host Kenyatta D. Berry welcomes back author Gail Lukasik to discuss her latest book, What They Never Told Us: True Stories of Family Secrets and Hidden Identities Revealed. Gail shares poignant and often heart-wrenching stories from the book, including tales of individuals discovering their true parentage and racial identities, and the profound emotional and psychological impacts of these revelations. The discussion delves i...
Send us a text On this episode of Conversations with Kenyatta, Kenyatta D. Berry, author of The Family Tree Toolkit and host of PBS' Genealogy Roadshow remembers the past 75 episodes of her podcast through a retrospective interview - that looks at her favorite guests, as well as examines what she wants for the future of her show. Conversations with Kenyatta features Kenyatta D. Berry. Music for episodes 1-76 is "Good Vibe" by Ketsa, Music for episodes 77+ is “Rheme – Afrobeat x African ...
Send us a text In this episode of Conversations with Kenyatta, Kenyatta D. Berry sits down with Dr. Ed Ayers, a distinguished historian with a deep focus on the American South. They delve into Ed's childhood in East Tennessee, his educational journey, and his serendipitous path to becoming a historian. Ed shares his fascination with integrating social history to include everyday people, and his groundbreaking work on 'The Valley of the Shadow' project. They explore how technology has r...
Send us a text In this episode of Conversations with Kenyatta - Kenyatta D. Berry interviews Dr. Marcia Chatelain, a historian and professor who recently transitioned from Georgetown University to the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Chatelain discusses her profound journey from a childhood love of reading to her career in history and teaching. She examines the backlash against teaching accurate history, focusing on the political weaponization of history and its impact on education. The co...
Send us a text In this episode of Conversations with Kenyatta, host Kenyatta D. Berry sits down with historian and author W. Caleb McDaniel to explore the fascinating intersection of history, storytelling, and the enduring quest for justice. McDaniel, an award-winning author and professor at Rice University, shares insights into his journey as a historian, author, the impact of influential teachers, and the compelling story of Henrietta Wood—a formerly enslaved woman who took an unprecedent...
Send us a text In this episode of Conversations with Kenyatta, Kenyatta D. Berry, author of The Family Tree Toolkit and host of PBS' Genealogy Roadshow talks with historian and author Dylan C. Penningroth about his background, upbringing, and his journey towards becoming a historian. Penningroth shares insights from his book Before the Movement: The Hidden History of Black Civil Rights' shedding light on how family stories and court cases inspired his research. They discus...
Send us a text On this episode of Conversations with Kenyatta, Kenyatta D. Berry host of PBS' Genealogy Roadshow is joined by Daniel Brook, author and Historian. Kenyatta and Daniel explore the unique civil rights histories of Charleston, South Carolina, and New Orleans, Louisiana. The conversation delves into why Charleston and New Orleans diverged from other Southern cities during the Civil Rights Era, attributing it to their long-standing traditions of racial mixing and complex social str...
Send us a text In this week's episode of Conversations with Kenyatta -Kenyatta D. Berry, host of PBS' Genealogy Roadshow and author of The Family Tree Toolkit - is joined by Steve Luxenberg, author and associate Editor of the Washington Post. Steve's story is fascinating - as an adult, he found that his mother had kept a family secret - that she had a sister who was committed to an asylum and then died. He never knew anything about his aunt and delved into finding out more about her in...
Send us a text In this week's episode of Conversations with Kenyatta - Kenyatta D. Berry, author of The Family Tree Toolkit and host of PBS' Genealogy Roadshow is joined by Dr. Manisha Sinha, who shares her journey from India to the United States to study and teach US history. This interview delves into Dr. Sinha's perspective on slavery, enslaved individuals, and talks about her latest book, published in March 2024 - The Rise and Fall of the Second American Republic: Reconstruction, 1...
Send us a text This week on Conversations with Kenyatta, Kenyatta D. Berry author of The Family Tree Toolkit and host of PBS' Genealogy Roadshow is joined by Victor Luckerson, an author and journalist. Victor and Kenyatta talk about his love of research and his new book Built from the Fire: The Epic Story of Tulsa's Greenwood District, America's Black Wall Street. He also talks about his work as a journalist, including his time at the University of Alabama and calling out racial dispa...
Send us a text On this week's episode of Conversations with Kenyatta, Kenyatta D. Berry, host of PBS' Genealogy Roadshow, and author of The Family Tree Toolkit is joined by Rachel J. Webster, a professor of creative writing, and author of Benjamin Banneker and Us: Eleven Generations of an American Family. The two discuss what it means to find that you descend from a famous individual in history, what it means to discover Black ancestry in your lineage when you've thought to have a pred...
Send us a text In this week's episode of Conversations with Kenyatta, Kenyatta D. Berry, author of The Family Tree Toolkit and host of PBS' Genealogy Roadshow is joined by Pulitzer Prize Winner, author, and historian, Dr. Jefferson Cowie. The two discuss his latest book Freedom's Dominion: A Saga of White Resistance to Federal Power, which won the Pulitzer Prize in History, his research, and so much more. ABOUT DR. JEFFERSON COWIE (as taken from Vanderbilt.edu) Jefferson Cowie's work in...
Send us a text This week on Conversations with Kenyatta, Kenyatta D. Berry, host of PBS' Genealogy Roadshow and author of The Family Tree Toolkit is joined by author and historian Gregory May. The two discuss his work and his books and research for his latest - A Madman’s Will which tells the story of one of the largest and most controversial private emancipations in United States history. About Gregory May Gregory May is a historian who writes about the early American rep...
Send us a text On this week's episode of Conversations with Kenyatta, Kenyatta is joined by Dr. Lynn Hudson, historian and professor. The two discuss the immigration of Black individuals because of Jim Crow, Black inidivudals and the Klu Klux Klan in Los Angeles, and O'Day Short. Conversations with Kenyatta features Kenyatta D. Berry. Music for episodes 1-76 is "Good Vibe" by Ketsa, Music for episodes 77+ is “Rheme – Afrobeat x African Instrumental x Reggae Beat,” via Pixabay. L...
Send us a text On today's episode of Conversations with Kenyatta, Kenyatta D. Berry, host of PBS' Genealogy Roadshow, and author of The Family Tree Toolkit is joined by Cassandra Newby-Alexander, an author and historian whose contributions to history have helped pilot some of the most important research on Black individuals, and the enslaved, as well as extensive work in the state of Virginia. Conversations with Kenyatta features Kenyatta D. Berry. Music for episodes 1-76 is "Good Vibe" by Ke...
Send us a text This week's episode of Conversations with Kenyatta, Kenyatta D. Berry, author of The Family Tree Toolkit and host of PBS' Genealogy Roadshow is joined by Sarah Allen, an author, journalist, and executive producer of Showtime's #STAND documentary, where the two met and collaborated. This episode looks at the behind-the-scenes of Sarah's career, and how she has come to be one of the most versatile journalists out there. Conversations with Kenyatta features Kenyatta...
Send us a text This week on Conversations with Kenyatta, Kenyatta D. Berry, author of The Family Tree Toolkit, and host of PBS' Genealogy Roadshow is joined by KB Barcomb. The two discuss military records, military history, and how WWI and WII can aid in the lens of discovering family history. ABOUT KB BARCOMB - KB Barcomb specializes in conducting WWI and WWII research through the lens of family history. A retired Army officer, she focuses on the context of military records so as to ...
Send us a text On this week's episode of Conversations with Kenyatta, Kenyatta D. Berry, author of The Family Tree Toolkit and host of PBS' Genealogy Roadshow is joined by Alec Ferretti, professional genealogist and board member of the Association of Professional Genealogists. The two discuss Freedom of Information Act Records, what Alec does for his own family history, and how he came to be a genealogist. Conversations with Kenyatta features Kenyatta D. Berry. Music for epi...
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