Keeping Ancestor Stories Alive: How Families of Enslaved People Are Protecting History

(Updated July 9, 2026, 8:54 a.m. ET)

What’s Happening and Why It Matters

Imagine finding out that your family long ago was forced to work for free (we call that enslaved) by people who gave money to a big school like Harvard University. That happened to a woman named Egypt Lloyd. She learned she is a direct descendant (meaning her family comes straight from) three people—Tony, Cuba, and Darby Vassall—who were enslaved by Harvard benefactors over 200 years ago.

This gave her a mission. She started a group called the Slave Legacy History Coalition to help other families find their own stories.

Earlier this year, her group joined with more than two dozen other groups to create the Descendants Forum. This is like a big team that:

• Shares history research (like doing homework about the past)
• Speaks up to protect old buildings and stories
• Connects communities of people whose families were enslaved

[!IMPORTANT]
Important: President Donald Trump and his team want to change how slavery is shown in museums and public places. They want a happier story about America. The forum says it is very important to not erase Black history and to show the stories that were overlooked. Their mission has become even more urgent because of this.

The Fight Over How History Is Told

Here is what the Trump administration has been doing:

• On July 4, 2026 (the country’s 250th birthday), the White House released a report saying the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History was too political and focused too much on slavery when talking about the nation’s founders.
• The administration wants museums to tell a positive story celebrating "American exceptionalism" (the idea that America is extra special and good).
• Trump argues that talking about sad parts—like how enslaved people and Native Americans were treated—makes the founding fathers look bad and paints the U.S. as racist and oppressive.
• In January, the administration told the National Park Service to replace signs about George Washington owning enslaved people at the President’s House in Philadelphia with new signs that critics say hide that truth.
• The White House even called the Smithsonian "too woke" (too focused on modern social fairness) and reviewed five of its museums.
• On July 3, at Mount Rushmore, Trump said some people are trying to "beat the American spirit out of us" and make it impossible to answer "what does it mean to be an American?"

Lloyd responded: "People can talk about their history without any limitations, but when it comes to slavery, they want to limit that. This coalition is not afraid of the White House or any other organization that wants to strip away the history of enslavement."

For Lloyd and others, this is not just about books—it’s about their own family stories. Telling the truth keeps their connection to ancestors and to the country alive.

Members See Forum as a ‘Big Pot of Gumbo’

The Descendants Forum was created by two groups:

• Clotilda Descendants Association – families of people who came on the last known U.S. slave ship
• Kinfolkology – a computer archive (collection) of names of enslaved African American ancestors

They timed the forum to the country’s 250th birthday, wanting to make the happy celebration more complete. Jennie Williams from Kinfolkology said the usual story about the founding was "missing something." When the President’s House signs were taken down, it gave them energy.

Williams and others see the forum as a "new founding moment"—the first time many local descendant groups unite under one big family meeting (they call it a "congress").

The Story of the Clotilda (Numbered Steps)

1. In 1860, a wealthy businessman sent a ship called the Clotilda to bring enslaved Africans to the U.S., even though Congress had banned this trade 50+ years earlier.
2. When the Civil War ended soon after, the survivors from the ship built a community called Africatown in Mobile, Alabama.
3. The ship was deliberately burned and sunk to hide evidence.
4. In 2018, researchers found the wreck in the Mobile River—it is the most complete slave shipwreck ever discovered.
5. This discovery gave descendants like Chanelle Blackwell a new sense of identity and pride.

Blackwell says the forum helps other Black Americans uncover their family histories. She wants to "fill gaps for people who don’t know their history."

Frederick Murphy, a storyteller who travels to share untold Black history, says the forum is like a big pot of gumbo (a mixed stew). It lets small projects from Mississippi to New York connect and find larger shared stories—a healing circle and family gathering.

Organizations Aim to Show ‘Receipts’

Joseph McGill Jr. grew up in South Carolina in the 1970s. His school books claimed his ancestors were "happy to be enslaved" and their owners were "benevolent" (kind). Later, as a park ranger, he learned this was false.

• In 2010, he founded the Slave Dwelling Project to save the small cabins where enslaved people lived.
• Many of these old buildings were made with cheap materials and have been destroyed.
• Joseph has slept in over 250 nights in former slave cabins across 25 states, including at the homes of presidents like Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Jackson.
• He points out that these places were plantations (big farms with enslaved workers) but often aren’t called that today.
• His project encourages people to look at the cabins, not just the big fancy mansions.

The Slave Dwelling Project joined the forum earlier this year. The forum now has 30 organizations. Joseph says they now have "receipts" (proof) of the true stories, moving from the false 1979 lessons to real history.

[!IMPORTANT]
Important: Old cabins and true stories are our most tangible (real, touchable) connection to that era. The forum works to keep these stories in the spotlight so they are not forgotten.

Summary

• Egypt Lloyd and many others are descendants of enslaved people.
• They formed the Descendants Forum to protect Black history from being hidden or changed.
• The Trump administration wants a brighter, less critical version of history, but these groups are speaking up.
• The forum includes groups like the Clotilda Descendants, Kinfolkology, Slave Dwelling Project, and more.
• They share research, save old buildings, and help families learn their roots.
• As Lloyd says, America’s family table has people of all colors, and everyone’s story should be told without limits.

This article was written by Karissa Waddick for USA TODAY, covering America’s 250th anniversary.

FAQ

Q1: What is the Descendants Forum?
A: It’s a group formed earlier this year by more than two dozen organizations of people whose ancestors were enslaved. They work together to research, preserve history, and make sure Black stories are not erased.

Q2: Why does the Trump administration want to change museum exhibits?
A: They want to tell a positive story about America’s founders and celebrate "American exceptionalism." They believe too much focus on slavery makes the country look bad, so they are removing or changing some displays.

Q3: What was the Clotilda?
A: The Clotilda was the last known ship to bring enslaved Africans to the United States in 1860, illegally. Its wreck was found in 2018, and descendants built the community of Africatown.

Q4: What is the Slave Dwelling Project?
A: A project started in 2010 by Joseph McGill Jr. to save and highlight the cabins where enslaved people lived. He slept in many cabins to bring attention to their condition and preservation.

Q5: What does “we’ve got receipts” mean?
A: It means they have proof and evidence of the true history of their enslaved ancestors, unlike the false stories from old school books.