American Origin Stories is a podcast about our journey discovering lost ancestry, identity, and cultural connection.

The first season of the show will discuss the question: Why is it difficult for Black Americans, who have been in the United States for generations, to trace their ancestry?

The short answer: slavery.

The peculiar institution turned people into property for the profit of individuals and the nation. What followed were generations of race-based oppression. And as a result, people with African ancestry must find creative means to trace their lineage to and through slavery. But, with modern technology, crowd-sourcing, and a better historical understanding, there are ways for Black Americans to substantially build their family trees.

Join us each week, on American Origin Stories, as we explore the process of tracing Black American ancestry and archiving neglected or untold history.