AfriGeneas

Submitted by: HOST GFS REB@aol.com

 

A wonderful aspect of the African American Team is that all members of the team are also part of another genealogical realm-----all are key members of the largest African-Ancestored Genealogical Community------AfriGeneas. To speak of African American genealogy online----AfriGeneas leads the list. The leaders AfriGeneas emerged from the old days of the Bulletin Boards where a network known as Afronet connected many of them. From that many gathered again online and formed the AOL African American Genealogy Community and this community was welcomed by GFL George to be a part of the Forum.

At the very same time, the seeds of AfriGeneas had already been planted by the same people, and both have grown as online siblings. To speak of one, demands mention of the other. Though both distinct entities---the two communities thrive under the same hands of the leaders of the AOL African American Genealogy Community.

AfriGeneas is a huge database/resource that is far from grown-up, to its full potential and which is focused on African-American genealogy.

Amongst the plethora of resources that AfriGeneas has I am focusing on the State-AfriGeneas area, in this response. From the AfriGeneas main page there lies access to a main mailing list of all AfriGeneas members and participants. There is an area within that contains websites/maillists that focus on African-Ancestored genealogy within each of the fifty states and some other areas. This allows a second level of focus for the African- Ancestored and those who wish to aid in those areas. This level is unique in that these sub-websites are directly linked to their corresponding state mail lists. That allows a close co-operation for all who are searching in a particular state.

At the websites that are finished there are areas centered on a particular states history from the African-Ancestrored perspective. Many times this information will inform the new researcher in a way that has not been done.

The online presence of AfriGeneas has been supported from it's beginnings by Forum leader GFL George. The spirit and energy generated by the Genealogy Forum has lead to the success of the African American team of the Forum, and the enhancement begun three years ago, of the Forum Resource Center provided much energy that propelled to make both Internet presence and AOL reflect the many activities of the African American genealogy activity.

Both the Genealogy Forum, and the African American Team, have benefited from having been part a part of the efforts of Valencia K. Nelson. Owner/founder VKN has done an absolutely marvelous job in conceiving, birthing, nurturing and continuing this, her, work.

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