Telling My Family’s Story

I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the 2024 Black Family Expo in Little Rock, Arkansas that was sponsored by the Central Arkansas Library Systems for Black History Month. This event gave me the opportunity to display and talk about my family history. I decided that I would focus my display on my 3X great grandfather, Rev. Robert Hatchett and how he came to live in Arkansas in 1856, his life during and after enslavement, and his 8 generations of descendants including myself and my son that still live in Arkansas.

I am always saying that we need to tell the stories of our research and our ancestors. The Black Family Expo gave me the chance to tell my family’s stories to many people during the three hour event. The event brought a lot of people from the community that have an interest in family history. So I was able to tell them how I researched my family as well as the stories of my ancestors. This was an experience that I will always remember. I consider this experience an honor and a privilege to be able to honor my ancestors this way. I will continue to tell their stories and say their names. This journey always surprises me. I never know what will come next, but I’m so excited for all the opportunities that present themselves.