[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 34 (Thursday, March 23, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E405]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF THE 2ND ANNUAL FINDING YOUR ROOTS CONFERENCE, AN 
AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH PROJECT IN OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 23, 2000

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 2nd Annual 
Finding Your Roots Conference, an African American Family History 
Research Project taking place on Saturday, March 25, 2000, in Oakland, 
California
  Genealogical research helps bridge the racial divide, brings 
understanding between races, and provides for the powerful ``sankofa'' 
experience of recognizing our past to better understand who we are 
today. Therefore, it is my belief that this conference is a wonderful 
testimony to the complexity and the magnificence of the human 
experience.
  This event is designed to raise awareness within the African American 
community about the importance of tracing one's ancestry, particularly 
those whose ancestors were original depositors of the Freedman's 
Savings and Trust Company. Freedman's was created by Congress and 
President Lincoln in 1865 for emancipated slaves. Unfortunately, 
Freedman's went bankrupt when 95% of the bank's money was borrowed and 
never repaid by white Americans. This conference will also provide 
opportunities for African Americans and all American families to share 
their ancestral information with each other.
  The conference is co-sponsored by the California Genealogical 
Society, African-American Genealogical Society of Northern California, 
Legacy Jubilee Arts, Mid-Peninsula NAACP, Oakland Temple Family History 
Center, Center for Urban Black Studies and the Church of Jesus Christ 
of Latter-day Saints. Additional participating organizations include 
the Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church and the Voices of Evergreen 
Choir and the Morningstar Baptist Church. The featured speakers of the 
conference include Senior Research Consultant of the Family History 
Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, Ms. Marie Taylor and award-winning 
broadcaster Mr. Darius Gray, who has traced his own family's ancestry 
back to the 1700's. Together, Ms. Taylor and Mr. Gray have been working 
on a project to extract one million names from Freedman's deposit 
records.
  ``Finding Your Roots'' it is truly a valuable resource for all and I 
encourage everyone to begin finding their own roots today.

                          ____________________