In 2018, genetic genealogist Emma MacBeath noticed a troubling pattern while helping Black clients search for their birth parents: a stark absence of the public reference trees that made her work with European families swift and straightforward.
Rather than accept this disparity, she researched its roots, discovering how slavery and inadequate record-keeping had created systematic barriers to Black family history. Her response was ambitious: build a database of Black American reference trees that could help families reclaim their lineages.
What began as a practical solution evolved into the US Black Heritage Project on WikiTree, a volunteer-driven effort that has now documented over 625,000 family members, including an estimated 250,000 enslaved ancestors—roughly one-third of whom have been reconnected to their families. We spoke with MacBeath and Denise Jarrett, Co-Project Leader of the US Black Heritage Project, to learn about what’s to come.
What’s the core mission of the US Black Heritage Project?
Jarrett: This project is dedicated to documenting African American family histories; we want to become the largest African American database throughout the world. We’re starting in the United States. So that when folks go out, and they’re in search of their family, they’ll be able to find not only their family members, but who they’re connected to, and learn something about those people.
How do you support people in capturing and preserving their histories?
Jarrett: We reach out to genealogy societies and other genealogy groups, and we do reviews of WikiTree and how to do research in African American genealogy because there’s a little more of a challenge to that.
We also have member Q&A on WikiTree twice a month – members can come in (it’s a Zoom call), and ask any questions they have about navigating through WikiTree because it can be challenging, especially for older adults. So we like to walk them through the process, step by step, show them how to add information or where to go to research.
How does WikiTree differ from sites like Ancestry?
Jarrett: Number one, it’s 100% free. Number two, Ancestry and Family Search maintain the [actual census] records they have. WikiTree does not – however, you can put a link to those records in WikiTree on the profiles.
One of our primary goals is that the information is accurate. So you can’t just go out there and create a profile and just make up any old thing. You [have] to have proof of the data that you’re entering.
What’s your greatest challenge?
MacBeath: The largest challenge we face, believe it or not, isn’t a lack of records to work with. Instead, it’s a lack of volunteers to process all of the documents we have. We have about 125 members in our project, and other WikiTreers outside the project help when they can. But if we had more help, we could accomplish so much more, so much more quickly.
What brings you the most joy in this work?
MacBeath: My greatest personal joy is saying the names of enslaved ancestors, many of whom haven’t had their name said for many generations. We can’t go back and fix their past, but we can reconnect them with their families and descendants now.
Is there a story that brought everything full circle?
Jarrett: There’s a dear friend of mine from college who’s currently battling breast cancer, and one of the things I’m doing for her is actually pulling together her family heritage. I’ve been…documenting that in WikiTree so that other generations can see it later on in life. Her granddaughter’s a year old, so in the next few years, she’ll have access to [it].
Learn More
- The US Black Heritage Project offers a number of instructional videos to explain Wikitree in general and how it and the Project work.
- The Project offers a newsletter with updates and information every quarter; find it here.
- There’s also a Monthly Calendar of events and activities, available here.
- To learn more about participating, Join WikiTree (free), attend bi-monthly member Q&A sessions, or volunteer to help process historical documents. Learn more by watching this video.
- Viewing Histories: All research is freely and publicly available at WikiTree.com, no login required.
Staff Photos: The US Black Heritage Project
NaBeela Washington, an emerging Black writer, holds a Master’s in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University and Bachelor’s in Visual Advertising from The University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has been published in Eater, The Cincinnati Review, and others. Learn more at nabeelawashington.com
