“Black Pearls of Genealogy” presentation at MPAAGHS Monthly Meeting

May 9, 2026

A powerful new program is set to guide individuals and families through the often-challenging journey of tracing African American roots, offering tools, insight, and inspiration for uncovering hidden histories. Middle Peninsula African-American Genealogical and Historical Society will host a special Zoom presentation at its monthly meeting on Saturday, May 9, at 11:00 AM, featuring David Anthony Taylor, founder of Black Pearls of Genealogy (BPOG).

Founded in 2023, BPOG is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to preserving, restoring, and honoring Black family histories. Through its widely praised free platform, Black Pearls of Genealogy website, BPOG provides access to essential records—including pre- and post-1870 census data, Freedmen’s Bureau archives, slave deeds, and church and military records—while teaching practical strategies to overcome common barriers in African American genealogy research. Combining digital tools with community engagement, cemetery mapping, and a national effort to install preservation monuments, BPOG helps individuals and communities reclaim stories that were once hidden or thought lost. BPOG maintains a highly active Facebook page of more than 50,000 members reflecting its growing national reach and impact.

A disabled veteran who served with the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, Taylor began his genealogical journey in 1997 after discovering a record for his great-grandfather Kill Burns, a moment that sparked his lifelong commitment to restoring names and stories. He is a member of the Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage and a proud alumnus and moderator of Midwest African American Genealogy Institute (MAAGI). In 2025, Taylor received the James Dent Walker Award, the highest honor for excellence in African American genealogy and historical preservation given by the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS).

MPAAGHS 2026 dues ($25) are now due and may be paid online via MPAAGHS’s Payments webpage or by mailing checks made payable to MPAAGHS to:
MPAAGHS
4114 Tidewater Trail
Jamaica, VA 23079

If you are not on our email list and would like to receive an invitation for this virtual meeting or to get further information about MPAAGHS, call 804.758.5163. Another way to subscribe to the email list is to submit your email address to us via our contacts information form.