What is the purpose of this website?

Our website is dedicated to bringing people of all colors together to preserve history, identify African American cemeteries, and help connect families to their ancestral roots. We believe that working collaboratively fosters understanding and creates a lasting legacy for future generations.

Why is genealogy research for African Americans challenging?

Genealogy research for African Americans can be challenging due to gaps in historical records caused by slavery, segregation, and systemic racism. Many records were incomplete or not maintained, but resources like the Freeman’s Bureau records, oral histories and DNA testing can help bridge these gaps.

Is there a cost to use the website’s resources?

Our resources are free to access. However, some external services we recommend (e.g., DNA testing, subscription-based genealogy platforms) have costs associated with them.

What is “historical equity,” and how does it relate to genealogy?

Historical equity involves addressing injustices and imbalances in recorded history by recovering and amplifying underrepresented voices, such as those of African American ancestors. By promoting accurate and inclusive history, we hope to create a more equitable future.

What tools are available for this work?

Identifying individuals buried in African American cemeteries often requires piecing together multiple sources due to missing records, unmarked graves, and years of neglect. At Historical Equity, we rely on a combination of digital tools, community knowledge, and archival research to help recover these names. Key resources include:

• FindAGrave.com
  A valuable crowd-sourced cemetery database used to cross-reference grave listings—especially helpful when users have uploaded headstone photos, obituaries, or personal details.

• Ancestry.com
  Provides access to census records, death certificates, military files, and public family trees, which can reveal burial locations or death dates connected to specific cemeteries.

• FamilySearch.org (Free Resource)
  A robust and free platform offering digitized historical records, including obituaries, probate files, and cemetery registers. Especially useful for tracing ancestors buried in undocumented or overlooked sites.

• Newspapers.com & GenealogyBank.com
  These newspaper archives help uncover obituaries, funeral announcements, and burial notices—often filling gaps when cemetery records are incomplete or missing.

We help researchers and volunteers combine these tools to uncover, confirm, and preserve burial information. If you're investigating a specific cemetery, we can help guide you to the best starting points and strategies.