June 10-15, 2012

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Lecturer: Course 8


Genealogist Roland Barksdale-Hall has performed his one-person act, "Wilson's Ashes," based upon the life of his enslaved ancestor across the country. He is president of Jah Kente International, Washington, DC. He is founder of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) and past executive director, has been researching the black family for more than 25 years. His research resulted in the Millenium Family Reunion, held in Detroit, bringing together more than 300 descendants of enslaved African ancestors. In November 2010, he was selected a senior fellow, American Society of Freedman Descendants, USCT Institute, Hartwick College.

Barksdale-Hall holds three master's degrees in public history and leadership from Duquesne University and library science from the University of Pittsburgh. He teaches history and public speaking at Butler County Community College. He has taught library science at Clarion University Department of Library Science and is author of African Americans in Mercer County (Arcadia Books, 2009). Barksdale-Hall's book, African-American Family's Guide to Tracing Our Roots: Healing, Understanding & Restoring Our Families (Amber Books, 2005) in its second printing was selected for the National Archives' Ethnic Heritage Bibliography and is now in a Kindle edition as of 2011 (www.archives.gov/research/alic/reference/ethnic- heritage-bibliography.html#african). The book, found in hundreds of libraries across the country, includes "Tracing Slave Ancestors," "Wilson's Ashes," and a "Twelve-Step Plan to Health, Wealth, and Success."

He has researched and written numerous scholarly essays. His signed entries on "The Black Family," "Entrepreneurs," and "Slave Status and Inheritance" appear in The Encyclopedia of African American History 1619-1895: From the Colonial Period to the Age of Frederick Douglass, edited by Paul Finkelman (Oxford University Press: 2006). "The "Black Family" essay provides a case study based upon the author's extensive genealogical research on his Steverson ancestry from slavery to freedom. His scholarly essays "Black Cartoonists" and "Daisy Lampkin" are in The Encyclopedia of African-American History Reference 1896 to the Present, edited by Paul Finkelman (Oxford University Press, 2009). His essay on esteemed Birmingham inventor and former slave, "Andrew Jackson Beard" is in The African American National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2008). His essay, "Juneteenth" appears in Africa and the Americas: Culture, Politics, and History (ABC-CLIO, 2008).

Barksdale-Hall has received many honors including Who's Who Among African Americans, Phi Alpha Theta National Honor Society, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission award, AAHGS Lifetime Membership, and AAHGS National History Award both from the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society. He was the keynote speaker for the International Sons and Daughters of Slave Ancestry First Annual Juneteenth, held at the DuSable Museum, Chicago. He was the Daniel Payne Presentation on Pedagogy and Curriculum at the Conference on African American Studies, held at Gettysburg College. His intriguing family history has been showcased in an exhibition, "From Color To Culture" in New York. He has been featured at the American Library Association Convention, Book Expo America, Harlem Book Fair, U.S. Postal Headquarters, National Council on Black Studies, and Ohio Genealogical Society.

He has been interviewed on the news and many broadcasts, as a genealogist, national interactive storyteller, and author of the children's picture books Under African Skies (Nefu Books, 2010) and Lion Pride (forthcoming). He recently appeared on WKBNTV-27 First News Interview along with illustrator Bill Murray about his children's picture book (for interview, visit: http://www.wkbn.com/content/features/interviews/s tory/First-News-this-Morning-Under-African- Skies/8oWgjHZb90eNkt-T0e0vuw.cspx). The "Stories by Brother Barksdale" Series promote valuable life lessons.

He has served on the editorial board of the Journal of Pan African Studies, Journal of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society and is the past editor of The Black Caucus of the American Library Association Newsletter. He is former vice president of The Buckeye Review. In 2009 he received the Blue, Gold and Black: Color of Achievement Award from the University of Pittsburgh for his research and efforts documenting the first African American graduate, which corrected the University's official history. Barksdale-Hall was a guest expert in "Safe Harbor: the Underground Railroad" and consulted for Donna Beasley's book, Family Pride (Macmillan 1997). Chosen by the American Library Association as a top ten resource for Black History Month, the documentary was produced by Mainstreet Media and aired on PBS.