From Census Records to Global Justice

For over twenty years, Shawna and I have been avid genealogy researchers — committed to uncovering the stories, names, and lives of those who came before us.

There is nothing quite like the moment when someone sees their parent as a child on a U.S. Federal Census…
or holds their grandparent’s marriage certificate for the first time…
or discovers their great-grandfather’s WWII draft card.

In those moments, you see it — joy, hope, pride, and connection.
A realization that we come from somewhere… and someone.

But this work is deeper than discovery. It is about truth.

Recent global news reminds us just how important this work truly is. Under the leadership of Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, the United Nations passed Resolution A/80/L.48 declaring the transatlantic slave trade the “greatest crime against humanity.” This historic vote, supported by over 120 nations, recognizes not only the brutality of the past but its enduring impact on generations today. Notably, three countries — Argentina, Israel, and the United States — voted against the resolution, while 52 countries abstained.

This moment is more than symbolic. It affirms what many of us already know through our research — that our ancestors’ lives, labor, and sacrifices shaped the world we live in today.

Every census record… every document… every story uncovered…
is part of a much larger narrative that is finally being acknowledged on a global stage.

At Finding Deep Roots, we don’t just research names.
We restore dignity.
We reconnect families.
We honor truth.

And now, that the world is beginning to recognize just how important that work is, we can’t wait to see what’s next!

#FindingDeepRoots #UNResolution #A80L.48 #TransatlanticSlaveTrade #WeBuildForests