Diversity & Inclusion Events

Location

Join the Lemon Project Genealogy Research Initiative for a workshop, "Transforming Oral History Into Documentation: The Early County Massacre" with genealogist Orice Jenkins on August 8 at 6 pm.

Most Black families have lore and almost mythological tales that seem too unbelievable to be true. Many of these stories involve racial violence and are passed down like a badge of honor, or hidden away in secrecy. How can genealogists research what is true and what isn't? After a conversation at a family reunion, Orice Jenkins began collecting nearly 600 pieces of evidence about a 1915 mass-lynching in Early County, Georgia. Six years later, his research has turned into a book, documenting the full picture of his relatives' experiences for the first time ever. Orice will provide insight on his journey discovering this information and evaluating the validity of the sources to create an accurate narrative for future generations. 

Orice Jenkins is a recording artist, genealogist, educator, and author from Hartford, Connecticut. He began researching his family history upon discovering that Whitney Houston’s grandparents were from his grandmother’s hometown of Blakely, Georgia. Since then, he has traced his ancestry back to 1756 in Central Virginia, uncovering the stories of several formerly enslaved Americans. Orice is a member of the Sons and Daughters of the U.S. Middle Passage and the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society. He has appeared on podcasts and radio shows such as “Research at the National Archives & Beyond” and his research has been featured in The Washington Post and television shows such as Finding Your Roots. Orice has also worked as a consultant for Dr. Matt Baker, the creator of UsefulCharts.com, collaborating on genealogy videos that have garnered millions of views on YouTube. Orice’s newest project is a book chronicling the family of Grandison Goolsby, a prominent farmer who was extrajudicially lynched in Early County, Georgia in 1915. The book will be released in July 2024 through The History Press, an imprint of Arcadia Publishing. Orice also publishes a blog called Chesta’s Children, and he serves as the Executive Director of a youth music program in Greenfield, Massachusetts.

Sponsored by: The Lemon Project: A Journey of Reconciliation

Contact

Jajuan Johnson, [[w|genealogy]]

This Event Appears On

• W&M Featured Events
• Diversity & Inclusion Events
• The Lemon Project Events