Breaking bread with kin could lead to common ground, reconciling past wrongs and hurts, and forming new familial friendships—even when the topics of conversation are taboo. During her genealogical research, Kathy Marshall discovered White family members in Georgia, the descendants of the man who once owned Kathy’s ancestors. Her cousin, the slave owner’s 6th great granddaughter, was aghast that her family had owned Black people. The cousin declared that she would atone for their actions. The two women set out for the back roads of Georgia, exploring cemeteries, courthouses and former plantations. Through wide-ranging and vulnerable conversations, they come to grips honestly with America, its weaknesses and its strengths, trying to heal the racial divide. This book includes a chapter about how to organize family meetings to discuss potentially challenging discoveries in our family trees. Kathy Lynne Marshall, the Black Ancestry Biographer, is a Diversity and Inclusion Specialist on behalf of our ancestors. Her books and workshops enhance the American Historical Record by adding well-researched accounts of enslaved African Americans. Kathy has addressed the Sons and Daughters of the U.S. Middle Passage conference and consulted for West Virginia’s Beverly Heritage Center. " A Trip to be Remembered and Cherished : This is about a genealogical trip through the deep south with relatives, newly found through DNA testing. Some of the relatives were white and some were black. That made the trip exciting to take for Kathy, in "come to the table" moments and an eye-opener for me, the reader. The book is interesting for the places and people she visited, and for the truths spoken while driving. I can never know what it's like to be black, but I can always glean tidbits through Kathy's writing. This wasn't the first of her books that were eye-opening. If you're interested in looking for your ancestors, no matter where they came from, her books will lead you on the right path. She is a serious researcher, and it shows." EGPenny " So much more than family history : How can you discover your ancestors when they were slaves, considered property, not people? Kathy Marshall's trip to the Deep South brought me eye-opening discoveries, as she drove with a descendant of her ancestor's "owner." Her comprehensive research and their conversations in the car show our drenched-in-slavery history -- but in a way that's clean, truthful, and non-judgmental. At the same time, she offers loads of tools for searching anyone's ancestry. This is an amazing resource written in an engaging style." B. Schwarzentraub " A Story about Coming Together : It's very personal and honest and talks about a trip that very few of us would ever have, much less attempt. And she writes in such a way that it's relatable. Two different people from completely different backgrounds who find themselves in an awkward situation but were willing to come together and talk about their differences. I think it can help us all to consider having these kinds of conversations with people who are not "like us." Perhaps we can then understand that we are "more alike than we are unalike." Judy Knott " Scores on Multiple Levels : This is a work of discovery as the author tours the south looking for information about her ancestors, traveling with a white cousin also interested in their shared origins. Marshall is an experienced researcher, however, and the book contains a lot of good information about finding your roots. Her entertaining style tells us something about slavery without accusations and she adds her suggestions on how people can get along better. If any of that sounds good to you, this is the book you want." SBGGeorge Kathy Lynne Marshall was a researcher, analyst, and technical writer for 36 years for the California Highway Patrol. Her passion is writing family heritage books, having published several award-winners on Amazon, and her website: www.KanikaMarshall.com. Each of her books contains a "Solving Your Mystery" chapter or appendix full of hints and tips on how to research and write YOUR family story.