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Artwork for Ancestor's Footprints

Ancestor's Footprints with Bernice Alexander Bennett

Bernice Alexander Bennett
Genealogy
African American History
Slavery
Black History
African American Genealogy
Dr. Matilda Evans
Plantation History
Family History
DNA Testing
Identity
Louisiana
Civil War
Homestead Act Of 1862
Midwest African American Genealogy Institute
Early County Massacre
Racial Justice
Community History
University Of South Carolina
Preventive Medicine
Storytelling

Welcome to Ancestor's Footprints—the podcast where the past comes alive! Whether you're a curious beginner, an avid genealogist, or someone who believes that uncovering family history is a lifelong journey, this show is for you. With each episode, we'll bring you incredible stories, expert insights, and practical tips to help you trace your roots and connect with your heritage. I’ve lined up passi... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes367Founded14 years ago
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Artwork for Ancestor's Footprints

Latest Episodes

This episode will focus on Memories That Heal: How Family Stories and Photos can support Healthy Aging.

What if the photographs tucked away in your attic or family albums could actually improve brain health, strengthen relationships, and help people... more

Today's episode features a conversation between host Bernice Alexander-Bennett and Dr. Warren Eugene Milteer Jr., an associate professor of history at George Washington University, about his book "Freedom in the Age of Slavery: A History of Free Peop... more

This episode featuring author Andrew Lawler will explore a lesser-known chapter of American history where enslaved people aligned with the British crown during the American Revolution.

At the start of the American Revolution, Black men took up arms ... more

When Your Ancestors Choose You- Finding Binky

This episode will explore what it means to carry the memory of your ancestors, the challenges of researching enslaved families, the emotional weight of the records, and the moment when genealogy becomes ... more

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Recent Guests

Warren Eugene Milteer Jr.
Associate Professor of History at George Washington University; award-winning scholar and author
George Washington University
Episode: Freedom in the Age of Slavery: A History of Free People of Color in Virginia with Warren Eugene Milteer Jr.
Andrew Lawler
Acclaimed journalist
Author of A Perfect Frenzy
Episode: 1776: The Forgotten Fight for Freedom with Andrew Lawler
Michael A. Willis
Award-winning author, speaker, consultant, blogger, and genealogy instructor
Independent genealogist with focus on Louisiana research
Episode: When Your Ancestors Choose You: Finding Binky with Michael A. Willis
Adriene Holder
Chief Attorney of the Civil Practice at the Legal Aid Society; third great-granddaughter of Celia
Legal Aid Society; Celia Newsom Legacy Foundation
Episode: Celia: Justice After Death with Adriene Holder, Esq., and Pamela Westbrooks-Hodge
Pamela Westbrooks-Hodge
Second great granddaughter of Celia; founding president of the Celia Newsom Legacy Foundation
Celia Newsom Legacy Foundation
Episode: Celia: Justice After Death with Adriene Holder, Esq., and Pamela Westbrooks-Hodge
Lisa Fanning
Genealogist, genetic genealogist, and family historian
DNA Doe Project; Tulsa Race Massacre DNA Identification Project; National Genealogical Society; Maagi
Episode: DNA, Genealogy, and the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre with Lisa Fanning
Regina Califa Calloway
Founder and creative director of nzoCALIFA Presents LLC; leader of Our Claiborne Parish project
nzoCALIFA Presents LLC
Episode: Our Claiborne Parish: Family History Project of Communal Kinship with Regina Califa Calloway
Sharon Leslie Morgan
Avid genealogist and founder/webmaster for ourblackancestry.com
ourblackancestry.com
Episode: Gather at the Table Revisited with Sharon Morgan and Thomas Norman Dewolf
Thomas Norman Dewolf
Author of Inheriting the Trade; featured in Traces of the Trade
Traces of the Trade / Coming to the Table
Episode: Gather at the Table Revisited with Sharon Morgan and Thomas Norman Dewolf

Host

Bernice Alexander Bennett
Host of Ancestor's Footprints

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 42 ratings
  • Well-presented wealth of information

    Ms. Bernice Alexander Bennett is a warm and articulate host who selects fascinating guests and is a wonderful interviewer. I find value in every show and am very thankful for this resource.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WeAreNotAmusedEither
    United States3 months ago
  • Great show

    I absolutely love this show. It offers information, wonderful interviews, and encouragement to people interested in researching their family or community. Bravo and I love Bernice’s voice.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Texas Olivia Pope
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great Show about not

    Great Show about not only about family history but our American History.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Saffronia66
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great show!

    Always interesting!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    tap529
    United States11 years ago
  • Gr8 podcast

    Its a gem of a program with far reaching topics and guests. The host is an absolute joy.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Abio_H
    United States11 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Not just about family history, but about American history as a whole.
The host has a great online presence and makes episodes engaging.
Great show with wonderful interviews and helpful research tips.
Always interesting and well-produced.
Well-presented wealth of information and a warm host who selects fascinating guests.
A gem of a program with far-reaching topics and an engaging host.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Freedom in the Age of Slavery: A History of Free People of Color in Virginia with Warren Eugene Milteer Jr.
Q: What motivated you to write this book, Freedom in the Age of Slavery, A History of Free People of Color in Virginia?
I wanted to address a gap in the historical record by examining Virginia's long-standing and influential yet underexplored population of free people of color, and to place their experiences within the broader evolution of laws and social structures across the state and region.
When Your Ancestors Choose You: Finding Binky with Michael A. Willis
Q: How did the discovery of Binkey shape your research approach?
Finding Binkey and the realization that she and others were connected to larger property and family networks compelled me to shift from simply enumerating people to tracing property, kinship, and business ties that defined enslaved communities and their enslavers.
When Your Ancestors Choose You: Finding Binky with Michael A. Willis
Q: What first inspired you to begin researching your ancestors?
I was sparked by my grandmother sharing names and a Roots-era awakening from watching the show in 1977; that early spark, reinforced by a photo of my third great-grandmother and the discovery of records at the Family History Center, turned curiosity into a lifelong pursuit.
1776: The Forgotten Fight for Freedom with Andrew Lawler
Q: To begin, who was Lord Dunmore, and what circumstances led him to offer freedom to enslaved people during the earliest days of the revolution?
Dunmore, a Scottish aristocrat aligned with the Crown, issued an Emancipation Proclamation as a strategic move to bolster loyalist forces, leveraging enslaved people in Virginia to challenge the Patriots and protect British interests.
DNA, Genealogy, and the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre with Lisa Fanning
Q: What challenges have you encountered when working on identifications connected to events that happened more than 100 years ago?
She discusses degraded DNA from remains, fragmented historical records for African American families, surname changes across enslavement and freedom, reconstructing entire families and communities, and building reliable genealogical networks from distant matches while addressing community trust and trauma-informed outreach.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ancestor's Footprints

What is Ancestor's Footprints about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on genealogy, family history, and community storytelling, often weaving personal recollections with broader historical context. Episodes frequently explore archival research, DNA in lineage work, and reparative justice or reconciliation themes, featuring genealogists, historians, and authors who help listeners trace lineage, uncover hidden narratives, and connect individual families to larger social histories. A notable strength is the willingness to tackle difficult topics—racial history, trauma-informed research, and ethical storytelling—while offering practical tips for building archives, reading records, and elevating marginalized voices. The format and guest roster suggest a strong appeal to serious hobbyists and prof... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Ancestor's Footprints?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Ancestor's Footprints:

1. Conversations with Kenyatta
2. Redacted History
3. Hittin' the Bricks with Kathleen
4. In Godfrey We Trust
5. The Read

How many episodes of Ancestor's Footprints are there?

Ancestor's Footprints launched 14 years ago and published 367 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Ancestor's Footprints?

Recent guests on Ancestor's Footprints include:

1. Warren Eugene Milteer Jr.
2. Andrew Lawler
3. Michael A. Willis
4. Adriene Holder
5. Pamela Westbrooks-Hodge
6. Lisa Fanning
7. Regina Califa Calloway
8. Sharon Leslie Morgan

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