Reconnecting with Ancestry: One Man’s Mission to Restore Black Lineage
In a world where history often overlooks the stories of Black Americans, the challenge of tracing lineage becomes a daunting journey. John Mills, founder of the Alex Breanne Corporation, is on a quest to change that narrative by helping Black individuals rediscover their ancestral roots.
Growing up in Bloomfield, Connecticut, Mills had little interest in history until a personal revelation sparked his passion for genealogy. “I had no interest in history,” Mills explained to Fox 61. His sister’s discovery of their grandfather’s parents led Mills to uncover stories of ancestors who endured enslavement and fought in the Civil War, inspiring him to delve deeper into his own family’s past.
Mills’ organization has since assisted around 50 individuals in piecing together their family histories that were lost to time and oppression. Despite the labor-intensive nature of the work, Mills is determined to continue. “It’s a tedious thing, you can’t research certain things but there’s a lot of tools and tricks,” he mentioned. Utilizing social media and newspaper archives, he pieces together the puzzle of ancestry for those eager to know their past.
Faced with the monumental task of tracing hundreds of years of history, Mills hopes his work will inspire others to join the cause. “Because I refuse to timebox it, I can’t hit a lot of people,” he stated, urging more people to adopt similar missions.
Beyond genealogy, the Alex Breanne Corporation is also involved in projects such as the dedication of a street in Middletown in honor of Prince Mortimer, an enslaved man who lived most of his life there. This initiative serves as a testament to the organization’s broader goal of honoring and preserving Black history.
For more information on the Alex Breanne Corporation’s mission and projects, visit their website.
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