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Days 9 and 10 | 24 Hours in Paris

2012-01-06T08:07:00.000-08:00

We were faced with quite a dilemma as Day 9 began. There had been miscommunication with the airlines regarding our group airline reservations. When initial travel arrangements were made, the summer schedule was in use and the time of our flight back to Paris was 11:59pm. We were now operating using the winter schedule which made the flight 12:04am the next day. This meant that there would be nearly 24 hours between our flight from Yaounde to Paris and our flight from Paris to Washington Dulles. I was excited. It meant that I’d get to spend almost a day in Paris, which is has been something that I always wanted to do. It was two trips in one.

Me and Regina took a stroll along Seme Beach before we left. This beach was adjacent to our hotel and had lush brown sand that was so self contained that it barely got on your shoes. This is a huge deviation from beach experiences I’ve had in the U.S. where you almost pack up all the sand on the beach with you as you leave.

There were many rocks and footprints strewn upon the sand as we headed to where the Seme River deposited into the Atlantic Ocean. The calmness of the area reminded me about my previous experience sitting on the shores of Bimbia. The water from the river was cold when compared to that of the Atlantic. It was almost as though the river was reflecting the sentiment of having to send it’s children (the enslaved) into that ocean.

Leaving Limbe became known as “the amazing race.” We were scheduled to travel through Douala which included a stop for lunch. On the way there, one of the buses broke down and all of it’s riders had to be distributed onto the other buses. As is customary in Cameroonian culture, we went to the house of a prince after we entered Douala to get our blessing to enter the area. There, a short libation ceremony was performed. When combined with the stop for sandwiches, this made the journey back to Yaounde rushed. It was a mad dash inside the hotel after we got to Yaounde.

Many in the group had taken smaller bags to Limbe and needed to repack in order to meet security requirements. There were bags strewn everywhere as everyone repacked and changed into clothes appropriate for the Parisian weather. Some had bought fabric and had clothing sewn and needed to facilitate fittings and pick up. The conference space we were located in looked like a wild market place.

During our closing program, we were given amazing paintings from local artists as gifts. Additionally, we were given ARP/Cameroonian flip flops, a towel, and t-shirt from CAC International. It was then time to head to the airport.

Following our flight from Yaounde to Paris, the delegation successfully navigated Charles de Gaulle Airport and dropped off our things at the hotel. A group of us took the Metro and headed into Paris proper to view the Effiel Tower and Notre Dame Church. The weather was extremely cold and a much of a deviation from what we had experienced in Africa the days prior. We enjoyed hot chocolate and meringues from a local cafe as we walked.

Me, at Seme Beach.

The trip had come to an end. ARP 2 was much different than ARP 1, but in good ways. My favorite portions of the trip were the land title ceremony, the trip to the North, especially our visit with the Lamidat, the late night dinner with music from The Richard Band, and our many laughs on the bus that we affectionately nicknamed “The Laugh Factory.”

I’m left with many questions though. Would there be an ARP 3, and would the ARK Jammers coordinate it? Is ARP 3 going to be geared toward another African nation? What will happen to Bimbia in the interim? I imagine that only time will answer these things.

For more photos, please visit ns2 photography on Facebook.

Delegation members from the Tikar people with
Dr. Rick Kittles of African Ancestry (center)

Day 8 | A World Apart - Returning to Bimbia

2012-01-05T07:53:00.000-08:00

Day 8 signaled a return to the slave port Bimbia, which is near Limbe, formerly known as Victoria. I knew returning to the site would be an emotional experience, but I was unprepared for what we saw once we actually got there.

The ARP 2 visit to Bimbia included a slave trade re-enactment and purification ceremony. During the re-enactment, local dignitaries noted key areas of the port and the fact that an anthropological survey has concluded that dried bananas were used to feed the enslaved that were housed there before their transportation to other countries in Africa, South America, or the United States. Additionally, they said that they’d identified figures that state that as many as 30,000 people moved through Bimbia and were held in 7 different camps there. Avline Ava, president of ARK Jammers, gave an emotional speech about her emotions regarding what had taken place at the site.

I took time away from the re-enactment to go and sit by the the ocean. It was something that I wanted to do while at the site during the ARP 1. A couple of the other people from the delegation did the same. Amongst the silence and peacefulness around us, we talked about the feelings the port conjured up for each of us. It made me think about how the beautiful had been turned into the ugly. If you saw this beautiful site 400 years ago, you’d be almost sure you’d never see your family again. Here I am sitting at this site, and I can enjoy it and leave freely.

The purification ceremony began the day prior and included water from a creek that runs through the site. Local chiefs blessed the water and poured it on the hands of each member of the delegation. The purpose of the ceremony was to connect us to the ancestors so that we, ourselves, could be free from bondage.

It was very obvious. Bimbia had changed. There were wood chips and sawdust everywhere. Burned tree stumps abounded. It was brighter in presentation. I’m unsure whether I like that. I saw the seeds of development in the area, which was good, but it had me concerned. The previous state that the site was in was more evocative, in my opinion. The tunnel that the trees formed as you walked towards the Atlantic Ocean was gone and now open air was around you as you looked out towards it.

Following the visit to Bimbia, the delegation headed to eat with the local dignitaries in Limbe. The scene was reminiscent of the ARP 1, only it took place later in the program.

For more photos, please visit ns2 photography on Facebook.

Day 7 | The Land Give

2012-01-04T07:06:00.000-08:00

The day had finally come. It was more than a year in the making. Out of delegation of 87 participating in the ARP 2, there were more than 20 who were making a return trip, in part, to receive titles for 1/4 of an acre that was given during ARP 1.

The land, which is 5 acres and located in Kribi, was gifted to us by Nathan Simb, a business owner. Simb had saw coverage about ARP 1 on Cameroonian television and was moved to give the land, free of charge and expectation, to all ARP 1 participants, regardless of a DNA tie to Cameroon. The land ceremony was the first time that most of the ARP 1 participants were able to see their land. Founded in 1889, Kribi is located near the Gulf of Guinea which runs into the Atlantic Ocean. The original name of Kribi was Kiki Ribby which means little people.

The land ceremony was extremely touching. The minister who presided read Psalm 130 which detailed the Israelites journey. Choirs sang Cameroonian and negro spirituals, which included “We Are No Longer Afraid.” The mayor of Kribi II, Sabikanda Guy Emmanuel, and Eric Chinje of ARK Jammers also shared kind words about the land gift and ceremony. The people of Kribi were happy about the land gift and shared cheers, smiles, and hollers as Mayor Emmanuel and Eric spoke.

Next, each of us were called up one by one to receive our titles, by hand, from a notary public. We were also partnered with a host family from the area who would take us on a tour of our individual plots. I couldn’t believe the size of it. I could easily build three buildings at the site and have more than enough space for a front and backyard.

I had carried rocks from the land that my great grandfather, Louis Balfour Atlas, Sr., owned in Lake Providence, LA with me to Cameroon. As I walked my land, I placed those rocks in the soil. I wanted a piece of our family to return, and by placing the rocks, I felt like I did that. My great grandfather was one of the first land owners in our family and I am possibly among the first land owners in our family in Africa. He had only a sixth or seventh grade education. I am a college graduate. He wasn't able to vote, but paid poll taxes. I am active voter and voted in the first African American president. In four generations, we made significant strides. In seven generations, we returned back to our country of origin. Now, 10 generations descend from our progenitor who was taken from Cameroon.

Mr. Simb then invited everyone to his home for a excellent dinner. I had been waiting the whole trip to have shrimp since the country’s name means shrimp. I was not disappointed and took more than my share. *Laughs*

The dancers during the dinner were fantastic. One of the things we’ve seen for the first time during this ARP is a Cameroonian bottle dance where dancers balance bottles of beer on their heads. The first time we saw the dance was the previous night during the concert. We’d never seen a person balance four bottles on their head at one time. Dancers at the dinner did a similar routine.

For more photos, please visit ns2 photography on Facebook.

Day 6 | The Spirit and a Musical Healing

2012-01-03T01:00:00.000-08:00

By this time during the ARP I, I was exhausted. The heat combined with mental and physical fatigue had begun to take their toll. This caused me to miss a church service at Pariosse EPC Djoungolo Berceau Prostestantine dans le Region de Yaounde. Members of the delegation who attended the ARP I service came back with wonderful words about it. I made sure that I didn't miss the service this year, and I'm so glad that I didn't.

EPC Djoungolo is a warm, welcoming congregation which features four choirs and at least one set of dancers. In addition to a rousing sermon on Psalm 30, one of the most significant parts of the service was when one of the choirs sang the U.S. National Anthem. Many were moved to tears and by the end of the service, nearly everyone agreed that it was a powerful and life changing.

Following lunch near our hotel, we were given some downtime. This was proceeded by the CamAm Healing Concert. Musical artists included local dancers, Regina Riberio, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jay Lou Ava, Noel Ekwabi, and South African jazz legend, Hugh Masekela. The concert during ARP I was excellent, but this concert has topped the list and probably won't be duplicated. Every single aspect of the concert was well planned and executed and all the performers were top tier. I found myself wanting to know the names of the songs performed so I could download them.

Like last year, our delegation was invited on stage towards the end of the show. One of the event sponsors gave us gift baskets with lotions from their company. We were all excited to receive them, but due to their weight and the amount of them, the cellophane wrap around them began to burst open. Timing exactly when a person's bag was going to burst open became a running joke in our group. It's going to be a beast to try to get them back home.

For more photos, please visit ns2 photography on Facebook.

Denise Rolark Barnes and Dr. Lisa (Asili) Aubrey

Hugh Masekela

Regina Ribiero

Avline Ava and Sheryl Lee Ralph

Day 5 | Bonne Anne from Cameroon

2012-01-02T19:27:00.000-08:00

Day 5 began with a conference featuring experts on various topics, from linguistic patterns, to infrastructure to DNA. The program was as follows:

F. Bingono Bingono, Linguist - "Some Cultural Aspects: Traditional Communication (The Talking Drum)"
Jerome Minlend, CEO of CAC International - "How to Create a Business in Cameroon"
Jean-Emmaneul Pondi, Professor - "A Brief Historical, Political, and Geographical Presentation of Cameroon"
Rick Kittles, PhD, Co-Founder, African Ancestry, Inc - "The DNA Structure"
Dominic Ntube, PhD, Professor - "Synergy Between The Cameroon Diaspora in America and the Nation Builders in Cameroon: Wealth Creation"
Lisa (Asili) Aubrey, PhD - "Slave Trade in Cameroon"

Dr. Lisa (Asili) Aubrey, right

Highlights of the conference included:

Cameroon was never technically a colony.
Most Cameroonians speak two to three languages
Cameroon is 50% of Africa's GDP
Africans have more genetic diversity than any other group but yet have fewer letters to available to identify mtDNA and Y chromosomal haplogroups
15%, or 1 and 5, of the test results that African Ancestry gives have a result of Cameroon

Following the conference, the group headed over for lunch at U.S. Ambassador Robert Jackson's house including the ambassador and his staff. Since our last visit, a number of art pieces have been added to the home as part of an art exchange program created for U.S. Embassy's by President John F. Kennedy.

The evening was then capped off with a television taping for Cameroon TV (CTV) which featured members of the delegation and music. Noel Ekwabi and Jay Lou Ava were a couple of the performers. The group also made a stop at Noah Country Club for a late dinner to truly end the evening. The club is owned by Zacherie Noah, famed Cameroonian soccer star. Mr. Noah is the father of famed tennis star Yannick Noah and the grandfather of NBA player Joakim Noah. Although Yannick and Joakim were unable to join us, they sent warm text messages which were shared with the group.

For more photos, please visit ns2 photography on Facebook.

Kevin Corley and Omaurou Chinmoun

F. Bingono Bingono, linguist

Barbara Jackson and US Ambassador Robert Jackson

Day 4 | Le Nord es Gorges

2011-12-30T19:20:00.001-08:00

Amazing natural beauty. Those three words accurately sum up Day 4’s events in the Northern Province and later Cameroon’s capital.

One of the most apparent differences between ARP I and ARP 2 is the fact that land travel has taken place far less frequently. The delegation traveled more than 800 miles by land at the end of ARP I while land travel did not start until Day 4 of ARP 2.

Following breakfast, the group headed to Gorges de Kola, an internationally known canyon. The rocky terrain by itself is a sight to behold, but once you learn that water covers the entire area during certain times of the year, it’s even more extraordinary. The site is a mile wide and is 60 feet deep in places. Members of the delegation wore their bravery hats and climbed down inside the gorge. I wanted to head down there myself, but I chose not to due to my camera equipment and well, I was sort of scared. LOL

Our next stop was to visit the Lamidat of the Gorges de Kola area. Unfortunately, our leaders had to apologize to the Lamidat because we couldn’t participate in the event that he had planned for us. Additionally, we arrived at prayer time. This was problematic considering that the area is heavily Muslim and stops whatever they are doing to pray.

After we made the stop at Lamidat’s, we had a formal lunch at the Tourist Hotel in Garoua. As we left, we were greeted by traditional dancers from the local area. We then headed for shopping at a local market. This was a big draw for attendees since we haven’t had an opportunity to go shopping during this trip. Many of the women bought distinctive feather fans. They reminded me of what the Mardi Gras Indians costumes look like in New Orleans.

Next, we took an hour flight back to Yaounde. It was nearly 11pm when we arrived, but we hadn’t had dinner yet. Our hosts took us to a wonderful restaurant where the Richard Band Eotele played music during our meal. I could not stop dancing. I was not the only one who felt this way. Their sound was so crisp. We were joined by South African Jazz Legend Hugh Masekela, who tore up the dance floor himself. We didn’t make it back to the Hilton Yaounde until after 2am, but it was so worth it. As tired as I was, I had a ball.

For more photos, please visit ns2 photography on Facebook.

Safiya and Crystal with one of the fans purchased in
Garoua.

Hugh Masekela, far left, and Sheryl Lee Ralph (middle)

Day 3 | Lord, Ring That Chimin' Bell

2011-12-29T23:43:00.000-08:00

Day 3 of the ARP II started in song. Ysaye Barnwell of the Grammy award winning group, Sweet Honey in the Rock, lead the group in singing spirituals to commemorate our trip back to our ancestral homeland. There were lots of laughs around the circle when Ysaye broke us into sections. The warm up exercises had people, including me, challenged. 1...2...3...*clap*...5...6...and then singing the numbers in a particular key. We learned two songs, "We Are Almost Home" and "Sing to the Power of the Lord Come Down." We were also visited by a expert on local history who gave us information on the culture and people of the north along with information about slave trade there.

Next, we headed to visit the governor of the area. Members of the delegation gave him gifts, such as books and posters. The governor gave Ysaye some bound cotton as a gift.

From there, we headed to see La Mido, who is a cultural and political leader in the North. This visit reminded me a lot of our visit last year with the Sultan. Our visit started with introductions which then went into a surprise wedding between two members of our delegation, the McNairs, who are celebrating 30 years of marriage with this trip. La Mido and members of his tribe commemorated the vow renewal with a traditional ceremony, which included traditional food (sticky treats).

After a short visit to a museum of artifacts, there was a festival of sorts, a fantasia, which included dancers from 11 different tribes, horsemen (from the Sultan's area), and a comedian. Eric Chinje served as the MC for the event. It was extremely emotional for members of the delegation as they moved amongst the crowds of dancers to meet people from their native tribes. It reminded me of how I felt last year when we visited the two Bamileke chiefdoms.

Dr. Ysaye Barnwell teaches the delegation a song.

I wasn't sure what a fantasia was before the trip started. What I didn't know was that I had seen one last year when we visited the Sultan. A fantasia involves skilled horsemen who salute the a fon (chief) with their horse riding skills and raising of swords. It's like a dance and conversation all at the same time. Towards the end of our visit, we were able to ride the horses, who are said to be the best in the region. Eric made an announcement about our group being in the country to reconnect with our roots. The event was then closed out with our group singing "We Are Home" instead of "We Are Almost Home." The audience erupted with applause.

After a trip back to the hotel, we headed for a dinner and for a impromptu wedding reception for two couples celebrating their anniversary.

For more photos, please visit ns2 photography on Facebook.

Stefan Lockridge

Crystal meets members of the Massa/Hausa for the first time.

Day 2 | Prime Times and the Whole 9

2011-12-29T04:12:00.000-08:00

L to R, Callie Riser, Brigitte Tapp, Regina Jackson,
Wanda Lockridge, and Thomas Ava

Day 2 of the ARP II program began with a visit to His Excellency Prime Minister Philemon Yang. Members of the delegation shared where they were from, which tribes they were part of, and their excitement to meet him. Attendees also brought him gifts such as spices, items from their home towns, and books. H.E. Yang blessed the group with a bag which included a Cameroonian atlas and Cameroonian coffee.

H.E. Yang was joined by the Cameroonian Ministers of Communication, Health, and Tourism. A member of our delegation who works for a major HMO was able to ask the Minister of Health some questions. One of the things that the Minister told us was that HIV and malaria are the countries two biggest health issues. Infant and maternal mortality are also high, as 1 in 4 mothers dies during or following childbirth. One of the ways that the country is trying to combat the issue of malaria is by providing medication for all children ages 1 to 5. They also have distributed more than 8 million mosquito nets.

Sen. Vincent Hughes (PA), husband of Sheryl Lee Ralph, spoke about his desire to continue the connection between Cameroon and the United States. Oakland, CA Vice Mayor Desley Brooks also spoke about her elation about being part of the trip.

Following our visit with H.E. Yang, we boarded a Camair Co. flight to Garoua, which is in Northern Cameroon. This brought us to a new hotel location. Many of us began to watch the Cameroonian version of American Idol which included lots of different performers. My personal favorite was a man in red pants with red velvet leather shoes who had killer dance moves. LOL

After checking into our rooms, we headed to dinner which included a new group favorite, Schweppes Ginger drinks. It’s closer to ginger beer than ginger ale. Our dining experience also included a Soul Train line around the food buffet. We sat around talking for a while afterwards sharing our “how I met my spouse” stories.

The sound of crickets was resounding, almost a symphony to a person’s ears. It made it feel like we were camping although we were indoors. We were surprised very late in the evening by a power outage at our hotel. Luckily, it only lasted about 20 minutes.

For more photos, please visit ns2 photography on Facebook.

H.E. Philemon Yang, Prime Minister of Cameroon

Omaurou Chinmoun, First Secretary, Cameroonian
Embassy in the United States

PA State Senator Vincent Hughes

Avline Ava, president of ARK Jammers, Inc.

Day 1 | Reconnection Ain’t Dead...It Lives in Cameroon

2011-12-27T23:52:00.000-08:00

Deborah Boddie, Esq. and Gina Paige

Fons from the Washington Metro area with
H.E. Foe Atangana (middle)

Monday, December 26 signaled the beginning of the next installment of the Ancestry Reconnection Program hosted by ARK Jammers, Inc. This program is the second one of it’s kind where a group from the African Diaspora has been invited back their country of origin, Cameroon, based solely upon their DNA. I participated in the first installment which took place from December 26, 2010 to January 5, 2011. Last year’s trip had 50 attendees while this year’s trip has nearly 90.

Me and Regina Jackson, a friend, fellow CamAmerican, and Bay Area native, were greeted with hugs and smiles from familiar faces and handshakes and greetings from lots of new ones as we arrived at Washington Dulles Airport. 20 of the 50 from last year’s trip will be returning. African Ancestry.Com’s co-founders Gina Paige and Rick Kittles, and United States Cameroon Embassy First Secretary, Omaurou Chinamoun, are also in attendance.

As the group headed to the security checkpoint, we were received by the Cameroonian Ambassador to the U.S., His Excellency, Joseph Foe Atangana, and chiefs (fons) that reside in the Washington metro area. They each gave the group their blessings for our journey and wished us well. The fons poured libations and also used a traditional broom to perform the ceremony.

Me and Regina had already logged four and a half hours of air travel in order to join the group at Washington Dulles. We then added an additional six hours of time as we traveled from Dulles to Paris (CDG). Despite a snafu with regard to boarding passes and luggage, our group of more than 80 successfully boarded our flight from Paris (CDG) and flew another six and a half hours to reach our final destination, Yaounde (NSI). In all, me and Regina logged more than 18 hours of air travel in the space of a day.

The minute we exited the plane we were met with hugs from members of the ARK Jammers and local media including photographer Claude Badaha, and Randy Joe Sa’ah of BBC News Africa. Each of us also shook hands with Paul McDermott, from the United States Citizen Services, Consular Section of the United States Embassy in Yaounde. Actress and philanthropist Sheryl Lee Ralph and her husband, Sen. Vincent Hughes, were added to our delegation.

Fons local to Yaounde met us as we exited the airport. ARK Jammer, Eric Chinje, served as an interpreter during their blessing ceremony in which we were given a Cameroonian fruit to eat. This gesture takes place between Cameroonians and their visitors and is seen as a sign of good will. I have to admit that the fruit wasn’t what I expected, but I ate half of it. Oakland, CA Vice Mayor, Desley Brooks, served as the delegation’s representative and spoke on behalf of the group.

We were then lead outside to the sound of drummers and dancers. As a band played, I noticed that one of the saxophonists had on a shirt that said “Hip Hop ain’t dead...it lives in the west. Los Angeles.” I immediately smiled since I was showing my California roots by wearing Converse sneakers. (Listen to “California Love” by 2pac for his reference to wearing “Chucks not ballys.”) I need to find that t-shirt, especially since it was printed in Cameroonian colors.

Next, we boarded six buses to our hotel destination, Hilton Yaounde. It was 8pm local time. We saw a number of local eateries on Rue de Mben that had a lot of people outside and hoped the bus driver would let us out so we could go and hang out. One of the things a number of the returners long for is the ability to meet and converse with “regular people.” It feels like we’re a “doggie in the window” sometimes as we sit in our bus, detached somewhat from what life is like here. On the other hand, it may not necessarily be safe for a group of our size to be out with each individual doing their own thing. Our security detail is the same as it was during ARP 1.

At Hilton Yaounde, there was a conference held where attendees were given back their passports and yellow cards, and the ARP 1 participants were united with ARP 2 participants as buddies during the trip. Each of us shared a little about ourselves such as where we live and which tribe we are from. I have four buddies - two from California and two from Michigan. One of my buddies is a woman named Meredith that I have been in correspondence with and who had read this blog about last year’s trip. Dr. Kittles also spoke about his excitement about being part of ARP 2.

By this time, we were very hungry and tired. The 10 hour time difference had caught up to us. Once we were all assigned our rooms, many of us ate and headed straight to bed. There was lots planned for tomorrow and each of us needs to be well rested in order to enjoy it.

For more photos, please visit ns2 photography on Facebook.

African Ancestry's Dr. Rick Kittles

Jerome Minlend and actress Sheryl Lee Ralph.

Eric Chinje and Avline Ava (center)

Heading Back to Cameroon | Ancestry Reconnection Program II

2011-12-05T17:03:00.000-08:00

I'm excited to report that I'll be representing the research team, again, during the next installment of the Ancestry Reconnection Program during December 2011! This year's trip is slated to be bigger and better than the last, which was awesome! I'll be going it solo (without my trusty sidekick Jean), but I'll be in the great company of our extended Cameroonian American family.

Among the list of activities includes:

A healing concert taking place at the Palais des Sports de Warda in Douala
A visit to the Extreme North Province
A street naming ceremony
Another reception with the US Ambassador to Cameroon, Robert Jackson
Meetings with Cameroonian Government Officials
Lots more shopping :)

I'll be blogging for the duration of the trip, so be sure to stay posted to the ARP II category on this blog. Or, to see both trips in their totality, stay posted through the Ancestry Reconnection Program Daily Posts category.

(c) 2011, AtlasFamily.Org Genealogy Research

Henry Smith | Slave of Shapley Owen

2011-10-17T12:49:00.000-07:00

Just located is a lengthy piece written by Charles Goffe that was published in the East Carroll Banner Democrat on May 8, 1897. It's a profile (using the world loosely) of Henry Smith who was noted to be a loyal slave of Shapley Owen and his wife. For more on Shapley Owen, please see this previous post.

An Incident of Ante-Bellum Days With a Squeal After the War
May 8, 1897, East Carroll Banner Democrat

Lethia Faulkner | Former Slave of Keene and Constant

2011-09-20T17:09:00.000-07:00

From the Banner Democrat, published on June 1, 1895 is a profile on "An Aged Negro Woman" named Lethia Faulkner was a former slave of J.W. Keene and Col. E.W. Constant.

East Carroll Banner Democrat
June 1, 1895, Page 3
Source: Library of Congress

Details of Article

Lethia was purchased in 1853 by JW. Keene in the 2nd Ward of Carroll Parish, LA. Col. Constant notes her age as 115 (born about 1780). Said to be too old to work when originally purchased.

Further Research
A search of the 1880 US Census for East Carroll Parish, LA notes a Letha Folkner living in Ward 2, District 29 (line 9, page 577D). She is living in the same household of WB (William Bodien) Keene, noted as a merchant and planter. Her age is 90 years old (born about 1790), and her occupation is an "Old Family Servant." Her and both her parents have birth states of Virginia listed. Additional servants in the household are Hester Bynum, and Edward Singleton.
Year: 1880; Census Place: 2nd Ward, East Carroll, Louisiana; Roll: 453; Family History Film: 1254453; Page: 577D; Enumeration District: 29; Image: 0056. Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. 1880 U.S. Census Index provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints © Copyright 1999 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. All use is subject to the limited use license and other terms and conditions applicable to this site. Original data: Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

WB Keene was associated with the following plantations in the East Carroll Parish area: Atherton Plantation and Bellagio Plantation.

The 1870 US Census has Lethia listed in the 2nd Ward living at Guier Plantation (which could be Hollybrook Plantation, or Poverty Point Plantation) on line 32, page 177B. She is listed as Lefe Falkner.
Year: 1870; Census Place: Guier Plantation Ward 2, Carroll, Louisiana; Roll: M593_509; Page: 177B; Image: 358; Family History Library Film: 552008. Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

(c) 2011, AtlasFamily.Org Genealogy Research

Oldest Man in Parish in 1901 Reportedly 105 Years Old

2011-08-08T11:00:00.000-07:00

Anthony Owens, whose birthdate was speculated between 1794 and 1796, died Monday, February 11, 1901 in East Carroll Parish, LA. He was said to be the oldest man in parish at the time of his death, as per the local paper:

Source: East Carroll Banner Democrat, February 16, 1901, Image 3
Library of Congress Chronicling American Historic American Newspapers

A search of the prior year's census has a corroborating age.

1900 US Census, Ward 3, District 40, East Carroll Parish, Louisiana, Page 5B, Line 80, Dwelling Number 108, Family Number 112
Anthony Owens, head, black, male, born May 1794, age 106, widowed, birthplace: North Carolina, father's birthplace: North Carolina, mother's birthplace: North Carolina, a day laborer employed 8 months, cannot read or write, owns mortgaged home.

Year: 1900; Census Place: Ward 3, East Carroll, Louisiana; Roll: T623_ 564; Page: 5B; Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls. Enumeration District: 40.

A search of the 1870 Census shows him living on Frellson Plantation, which was owned by JH Frellson. This time, the information provided is different:

1870 US Census, Frellson Plantation, Ward 2, Carroll Parish, Louisiana, Page 215A, Line 32, dwellinig number 862, family number 862
Anthony Owens, age 60, male, black, a farmer, born in Kentucky, could not read or write. Wife: Hannah Owens, Children: Julia Owens, Eli Owens.

Year: 1870; Census Place: Frellson Plantation Ward 2, Carroll, Louisiana; Roll: M593_509; Page: 215A; Image: 433; Family History Library Film: 552008. Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

It's pretty awesome that Mr. Owens lived in three different centuries. More amazing than that, he lived in two of those as a slave and two as a free man. I am hoping that one of his descendants Google's him and finds this post since it's an amazing story.

Since discovering this obituary for Anthony Owens, I have noticed a number of them for African Americans in the Banner Democrat. I'm hoping to find some for the Atlas family, or even other notable African Americans in the area.

Canon Hunter | Killed in Gun Accident, December 1901

2011-08-05T16:27:00.000-07:00

Canon Hunter, son of W.H. Hunter, was the innocent victim of an accidental shooting at the home of T.J. Powell during December 1901. Canon was the "house boy" for a Mrs. McRae, who was a neighbor of T.J. Powell.

In addition to Canon's death, another child, McFarland Long (son of Dr. W.E. Long) was injured but lived. A third child, Joe Powell, son of T.J. Powell, shot the gun in the incident but was unharmed. Below is a short obituary for Canon.

Source: East Carroll Parish, LA Banner Democrat, December 7, 1901, Image 2.
Library of Congress Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers

The event was covered by the Banner Democrat and can be read here, which is the same page as the obituary above.

Nathaniel Williams - 11 Year Old Given 1,000 Lashes

2011-08-05T16:03:00.000-07:00

Just located this sad story in the Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers Collection at the Library of Congress website:

Source: East Carroll Parish, LA Banner Democrat, December 28, 1901, Image 4.
Library of Congress Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers

Nathaniel would have been born about 1890.

We Are Family - Verse 3

2011-07-31T13:57:00.000-07:00

"Living life is fun, and we've just begun to get out share of the world's delights. High hopes we have for the future, and our goal's in sight. No, we don't get depressed. Here's what we call our golden rule. Have faith in you and the things you do. You won't go wrong, oh no! This is our family jewel." So goes the final verse of the infamous song "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge, and it describes exactly how I felt at the culmination of the 2011 Atlas Family Reunion. At the bbq, we enjoyed food, fun, and of course family! Neither the unrelenting Louisiana heat nor the cooling rain was able to halt the family gathering. It was nice to be together in an informal setting to eat, laugh, and fellowship! The highlight of the bbq was the family portrait orchestrated by Nicka - truly a sight to see!

Sunday morning was bitter sweet. Laughter filled the air as we bid farewell and fought back tears, promising to see each other in 2 years at the 2013 Atlas Family Reunion! As Nicka said

at the banquet, "[We] need to own this...to think about those after [us]." Knowing our family history is equally as important as being with our family in the present. That way, we can all say, "We are family. I got ALL my sisters (cousins, aunts, grandparents, etc.) with me!" We hope to see YOU in Minnesota! I'm sure Nicka will be there to capture every moment!

Rain Drops and Good Eats | BBQ

2011-07-30T18:00:00.000-07:00

The third day of the 2011 Atlas Reunion was the day of the BBQ/picnic. This is almost always the most attended event at the reunion.

Many family members were excited to taste the food at the BBQ due to the hype that the research team has been making about the caterer for some time. Felton Coleman, of Coleman's Pub and Grub Catering, always fixes the research team a meal when they visit Baton Rouge during their research trips. Everything this man has ever cooked has been excellent, and the food at this year's BBQ was no exception.

Before heading to the park, I checked the weather report. It said to expect rain about 5pm, but the rain came an hour early. Luckily, the reunion hosts had secured a pavilion so we all would stay dry. Some of us chose to stay in the rain since it was already muggy, hot, and humid.

After it stopped raining, we all gathered for our group picture.

During the course of the reunion, I've been interviewing family members about their experiences at the reunion and with the family history project. It's been very rewarding and I can't wait to use the interviews for the commemorative DVD.

An important fact that I neglected to mention is that this is the first reunion where descendants of all of King Atlas, Sr.'s sons have been in attendance. This is huge considering the fact that reunions have been taking place for nearly 40 years.

Tomorrow is the last official day of the reunion. The only event is a church service and then we'll bid each other farewell until the next reunion in the Twin Cities, MN in 2013. This reunion has been so much fun! I'm sad to see that it's over, but I know that we will cherish the memories for a lifetime.

There were lots of these types of pictures
that popped up in cousins cameras. *Laughs*

We Are Family - Verse 2

2011-07-30T09:24:00.000-07:00

The family banquet was absolutely wonderful! Young and experienced (really means elderly lol) alike joined together in remembering our family's past, enjoying the present, and looking forward with high hopes & expectations for the future!

Past - Nicka gave intricate details about our family history, stressing the importance of remembering those who came before us. A snippet of her documentary, If These Waters Could Talk, was shown in which Brenda Pridgen (another Cameroon traveler) remarked, "Our [African American] history doesn't start with slavery; it precedes it." Thanks to Nicka, we now know that our family history started in Cameroon, Africa.

Present - The 2011 Atlas Family Reunion marked the first time that King Atlas Sr.'s entire lineage was represented! We also made history by having the most number of family members present at this reunion! To celebrate the present, a slideshow was shown celebrating new births, marriages, & graduations of family members since the last reunion! Our family is growing rapidly - 9 generations and counting! Time was taken to also celebrate those that are still with us, such as Annie who will be 95 years young in just a few weeks! We also recognized those that contribute greatly to the success of our family, such as John Atlas, Timothy Phillips, Edward Atlas, Raichel Brown, Jean Denton-Thompson, just to name a few. While these ones were given special recognition, we all contribute to the success of our family. Each family member's presence at this reunion is a present in itself. For those who cannot be here physically, your spirit is felt in more ways than you know.

Future - Our family is ripe with talent & tenacity! What strings these two together is the "perfect bond of union" - LOVE! The banquet was a perfect symbol of such, but prior to the banquet was the family symposium where the destination for the 2013 reunion was chosen (Minnesota!), and a family non-profit organization was discussed. The love that we show towards each other coupled with the love that God shows for each of us ensures that our family will continue to blossom!

Learning and Loving | Workshops and Banquet

2011-07-29T21:33:00.000-07:00

Day 3 of the reunion started with workshop sessions taught by family members. RaShad Smith's workshop was all about federal taxes, how to make the most of your filing experience. Workshop attendees had many questions and shared wonderful feedback about the session.

The next workshop was taught by Nicole Robinson and was about increasing your mobility through flexibility. Many family members reported feeling relaxed and refreshed after the session.

Mobility class attendees pose for a picture.

The next portion of the day was the family symposium where concept of The CoOp was discussed and feedback was given on improvements and attendance at reunions. Additionally, family members voted and approved a proposal to pursue a cruise for the 2015 reunion following a presentation.

Family group photos were taken just before the banquet. These proved to be fun. I decided to take them because I noticed how many we lacked while putting together the latest volume of the family history. As you can see, we had a great time with these.

The last event for the day was the family banquet. It was quite an experience. Family members from the following states were present: Arkansas, California, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Texas. By a show of hands, most of those in attendance at the reunion were born in Lake Providence or Oak Grove and/or baptized in the lake in Lake Providence. It was also shared that yearly revival season baptisms will actually take place this weekend in Lake Providence.

Following our seafood buffet dinner, awards were given out to family members for being part of the research team (smile) and for being the oldest active family member (she will be 95 soon!) Additionally, I was surprised with an award for my work on the family history project. It was absolutely beautiful!

The banquet wrapped up with a presentation about the research team's trip to Cameroon and a preview two sections of our documentary, If These Waters Could Talk.

I have to remark how nice the t-shirts are this year. I was taken aback by them. I loved how the logo that I created that merged our Louisiana heritage and the colors for Cameroon came came together on a red shirt. Everyone will be wearing their shirts tomorrow at the BBQ.

Two of the hosts for the next reunion with the plaque.

Finally! A picture of all four research team members.

We Are Family - Verse 1

2011-07-29T07:37:00.000-07:00

"We Are Family" is a popular song from the 1970s by Sister Sledge. The collective verses of the song are an anthem for family units everywhere, played at bbq's, family reunions, and the like! My blog posts will be much the same - given in verses, if you will. So here goes...

Verse 1:
The 19th Annual Atlas Family Reunion began Wednesday, July 27th. However, my immediate family & I will make our entrance to the family reunion today for the symposium and banquet (later this evening). While packing to leave Jackson, MS today, I reflected on what family means to me and how important reunions like these are. As my mother always says, "Family is the tie that binds us all." Attending family reunions can feel like meeting total strangers, but by the end, everyone has a true sense of belonging, a purpose for which we are all called - family. Our family is truly a unique one - connected not only through reunions like these but also through our family website, Facebook, Twitter, & other electronic media. I must truly say, though, that I cannot wait to see smiling, welcoming faces that are a part of me - family.

Take Me To The Top | Tour of Baton Rouge

2011-07-28T22:32:00.000-07:00

Day 2 of the 2011 Reunion was all about the tour of Baton Rouge for adults and the waterpark for the kids.

The first stop was Southern University. This college was the educational institution for a number of family members. This was because they were in school during the years of segregation and had limited choices because of their race. Additionally, others chose Southern because they noticed other family members who went there and succeeded or they had heard of it's reputation.

Following a drive around most of the campus, visits included the the bluff along the Mississippi River which has the gravesites of the first two presidents of the school and and their wife/mother, the bookstore, a famous footbridge, and dormitories. Timothy Phillips, Sr., an alumnus of Southern, shared his best memory.

Next, we headed to the state capitol. The ornate decoration of the capital was a sight to see. There were 50 steps leading up to the entrance that had the names of all 50 states. The size of the entire building was massive.

Once inside, we headed directly up to the 27th floor to the observation deck where we we able to see the city of Baton Rouge. It was a gorgeous view.

From there, we headed to the Louisiana State Senate and House of Representative chambers where we saw a familiar face among the photos of former state representatives, cousin Cedric Richmond who is now in the US House of Representatives.

The last stop of Louisiana State University. The size of this campus was massive. I couldn't imagine being a student there!

Tomorrow's schedule has the first ever set of workshops for The CoOp and the reunion event which is slated to have the most attendance, the banquet.

We Meet Again | 2011 Reunion Hospitality Night

2011-07-27T23:15:00.000-07:00

2011 Reunion - Registration Table

July 27 signaled the beginning of the 19th Atlas Family Reunion which is being held in Baton Rouge, LA. This is the first time that the reunion has been held in Baton Rouge and it's been 8 years since it's been held in Louisiana.

After checking in and receiving their bags, family members gathered for the time honored "get acquainted/hospitality night." The reunion spirit was definitely in the air as laughs and the sounds of enthusiasm rang throughout the hotel lobby. There were approximately 50 people in attendance at this first of several reunion events.

2011 Reunion - Part of the Lucas family with copies
of If These Waters Could Talk and Volume V
of the family history.

Family members grubbed on red beans and rice and enjoyed homemade mini pecan and sweet potato pies and Amish bread made by one of the reunion hosts.

Additionally, family members shared awesome feedback with the research team about the newest volume of family history, which is the first to include photos of family members next to their genealogical entry. One family member remarked that it was like a yearbook for our family.

Tomorrow features a tour of Baton Rouge as it's main activity. Sites include the campuses for Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, the capital for the state of Louisiana, and Southern University, which is the alma mater of a large number of family members.

2011 Reunion - The yummy mini pecan pies.

Get Social! and The CoOp Debut at 2011 Reunion

2011-07-22T16:02:00.000-07:00

I have often been told how progressive AtlasFamily.Org and the Atlas family are. I tend to agree. *Smile* We are definitely a family that thrives on being first and is brave enough to assume the task, even if it's doesn't end up successful. There are many within our ranks who have displayed this character, so it seems to be genetic. With this said, there are a couple of new ventures that I am excited to report to you.

Group photo.
2009 Atlas Family Reunion BBQ, Chicago, IL

The 2011 Reunion will signal the start of two unique programs geared towards getting more family involvement in the website, research project, and reunions and to tap into the talent base within the family. Additionally, we hope these unique programs will create a movement where the value of family and family history is discovered and utilized to edify all generations within it.

AtlasFamily.Org Cooperative

Our oldest traceable ancestor, King Atlas, Sr., was born over 200 years ago. The world at that time was quite a turbulent place for African Americans. In order to survive, King, Sr. had a network of people (family and friends) who supported him in his daily life until freedom from slavery became a reality.

Today, Atlas family members reside in over 21 US states and a few countries outside of North America. Each of these places holds a family member that has a unique set of gifts, talents, education, or even a hobby. The amount of knowledge and expertise within each one of those family members is immense and if shared, could change an entire generation of people.

The CoOp will leverage our expertise, talents, and experience to teach and support all generations in the family. It is the vehicle by which we share what we know with who we're related to. The way we will do this is by taking advantage of technology given our multitude of locations.

The 2011 reunion will be the first to feature workshops by family members who have volunteered their services to educate relatives. The first two workshops are taxes and on increasing mobility and flexibility. Future workshops can be held at reunions or online through webinars or through podcasts.

Hanging the reunion banner.
2009 Reunion Banquet, Chicago, IL

Family members in attendance will also be asked to fill out inventories to add to the skills database which was created in 2010. The intention is that when a family member has a question about a specific subject area (perhaps for education or general purposes), they can reach out to The CoOp to see if a family member is experienced in that area. The CoOp will then connect the two family members.

Get Social! Initiative

The top three reasons why family members cannot attend reunions are:

They cannot afford it
They cannot take time off of work
They have family commitments that prohibit them from going

Left: Nora (Scott) McMillan, Center: Marvaleen Atlas,
Right: Joseph Scott, Jr.
2009 Atlas Family Reunion Banquet, Chicago, IL

These are all valid reasons for not attending a reunion. On the other hand, technology currently provides a way for family members to "be" at the reunion virtually.

Family members in attendance at the 2011 Reunion are encouraged for the first time utilize social networking (Facebook, Twitter), YouTube, Skype, and this blog to capture their reunion experiences to share with family members who cannot attend. What's so cool about this is that there isn't generational divide in the use of these technologies in the family, so the experiences of both young and old can be shared.

There will be three guest bloggers this coming week as well. I'm really excited about this. They've all been charged to capture the experience from their perspective so that it can be shared with the family and the world.

So, what do you think of all this? I'd love to hear your feedback!

Our First Radio Interview | GeneaBloggers Talk Radio

2011-07-19T14:10:00.000-07:00

This year has been a year of many firsts for the research team and this blog. In keeping with that theme, I was recently interviewed by GeneaBloggers Blog Talk Radio on July 15, 2011 regarding my work with the Ancestral Project. This was my first national interview and I had a wonderful time. Thomas MacEntee normally hosts the show, but due to his other commitments, DearMYRTLE took the host reins this episode. Both of them have blogs that I follow.

The theme for the show as "Cool Ideas for Involving Youth in Genealogy." My interview starts at the 31 minute mark in the show. Additional people featured were: Drusilla Pair of Find Your Folks, Jari Honora of Bayou Roots, and Elyse Doerflinger of Elyse's Genealogy Blog.

For show notes, including bios and photos of all those interviewed, please visit this link. A special thank you to Drusilla Pair, Thomas MacEntee and DearMYRTLE. Looking forward to collaborating with them in the near future :)

Follow the 2011 Reunion in Baton Rouge

2011-07-06T15:20:00.000-07:00

There are less than 3 weeks until the upcoming Atlas Family Reunion which will be held in Baton Rouge, LA. I am so excited to see our family members from near and far as we gather in our family's home state!

This will be the 19th gathering of the family. Reunions have taken place every two years since 1972 and are planned by family members that reside in the same geographical location as the reunion.

My absence blogging is entirely due to me preparing for the reunion. During that time, I've been able to produce two of the following things:

Atlas Family History, Volume V (2011)

The latest volume of the family history includes the genealogical information for 9 generations and more than 2,100 family members. This volume is the first where photos of family members are placed next to their genealogical entries and where bios for all research team members are featured. Also included is the history of the family research project and AtlasFamily.Org.

If These Waters Could Talk: a Genealogy Documentary (2011)

After more than a year of working on it, our first documentary piece is finally done! If These Waters Could Talk is an hour long documentary that follows the research team as we experience the highs and lows of researching our family's southern roots. Additionally, the piece documents the team as we journeyed back to the African country of origin of our earliest traceable ancestor. For a trailer of the documentary, please see the video below or click this link.

During the reunion, family members and friends can follow the research team and participating family members on Twitter (#2011AtlasReunion), Facebook, this blog, and YouTube.