Overview

"In Embracing Your Past to Empower Your Future, descendants of four prominent Black families whose ancestors were enslaved, tell readers what life was like for those ancestors, and how their experiences shaped and influenced future generations. The authors worked with family historians, gathered volumes of historical documents, and worked with historians from Montpelier, Mount Vernon, and Africatown to ensure its accuracy. ALL profits go to the ""Each One, Teach One"" book stipend for descendants of enslaved attending college to apply for monies to offset the cost of books. - The Allen family's story is unique because their loved ones, Pollee Allen and his wife Rose were kidnapped from Africa and brought to the U.S. illegally in 1860 on The Clotilda, 53 years after Congress passed The Act Prohibiting the Importation of Slaves in 1807. The Allen story dives deeper into the rich culture of African communal living with the formation of Africatown, founded by Pollee, Rose, and 30 other Clotilda survivors. Vernetta Henson, Pollee and Rose's great-great granddaughter tells the city of the success and fall of Africatown. - The Madisons can trace back their family tree to President James Madison, Jr and his father. They have kept their loved one's stories alive through the ancient practice of storytelling. Each generation has a designated family storyteller called a Griot or Griotte. These family storytellers have scoured the libraries in search of historical documents to help expand on the family's history. One of the family's enslaved ancestors, Jim, (whose father was James Madison Jr.) was allowed to learn how to read and write, leading to each subsequent generation appreciating and valuing the power of an education. - The Quanders is one of America's oldest and consistently documented Black families. The Quander's have two family trees, the result of two brothers kidnapped in Ghana in the 1600s who were sold to two different enslavers. The first family tree has its roots in Virginia (including Mount Vernon), while the second family tree is rooted in Maryland. The Quander family has a long history of civil rights activists, educators, military, and faith leaders. Retired Judge Rohulamin Quander is the family historian. - The Brooks family is the only Black family in U.S. history with three generals in their immediate family. They are well known for military service, but their contributions to education and civil rights have also been extensive. The family mandate, beginning with their former enslaved family member, Richard Henry Brooks, continues to be stressed today: ""You must be twice as good at whatever you do to get a fair chance."" Their love of service for their community was founded by the legacy of Naomi Quander the matriarch of the Brooks family."

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9781917054560

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Reviews

"""A poignant, diverse history of four Black families."" - Kirkus Reviews ""Embracing Your Past to Empower Your Future takes readers on a journey into the unvarnished truth of our American history. These four families are empowering examples of strength, resilience and the enduring spirit of individuals who, like me, are descendants of those who survived the brutality of enslavement in this country. The history and life lessons in this book are important and immeasurable.""- Hill Harper, New York Times Best Selling Author, Actor, and Activist. ""This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to hear stories that haven't been told before and to learn more about the challenges, and obstacles that African Americans have had to face since being kidnapped and brought to these shores in 1619 and have still been able to participate and contribute to the very fabric of this country which is their home."" - Dean Radcliffe-Lynes, Emmy Award winning television producer and independent filmmaker. ""Lori Ann LaRocco and Abby Wallace tell the epic stories of four families who across generations triumph over soul crushing slavery to live lives of purpose and achievement. They are stories of faith, hope, love, and deep strength in the face of unrelenting hatred and pain. Embracing Your Past to Empower Your Future is a must-read for anyone who wants to better understand the African-American journey through U.S. history."" - David M. Rubenstein, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman, The Carlyle Group ""Embracing Your Past to Empower Your Future is an outstanding, well-researched, and highly readable publication. A truly memorable book regarding a largely unknown part of our American History."" - Steven Ferrera, Historian"

"""Embracing Your Past to Empower Your Future takes readers on a journey into the unvarnished truth of our American history. These four families are empowering examples of strength, resilience and the enduring spirit of individuals who, like me, are descendants of those who survived the brutality of enslavement in this country. The history and life lessons in this book are important and immeasurable.""- Hill Harper, New York Times Best Selling Author, Actor, and Activist. ""This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to hear stories that haven't been told before and to learn more about the challenges, and obstacles that African Americans have had to face since being kidnapped and brought to these shores in 1619 and have still been able to participate and contribute to the very fabric of this country which is their home."" - Dean Radcliffe-Lynes, Emmy Award winning television producer and independent filmmaker. ""Lori Ann LaRocco and Abby Wallace tell the epic stories of four families who across generations triumph over soul crushing slavery to live lives of purpose and achievement. They are stories of faith, hope, love, and deep strength in the face of unrelenting hatred and pain. Embracing Your Past to Empower Your Future is a must-read for anyone who wants to better understand the African-American journey through U.S. history."" - David M. Rubenstein, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman, The Carlyle Group ""Embracing Your Past to Empower Your Future is an outstanding, well-researched, and highly readable publication. A truly memorable book regarding a largely unknown part of our American History."" - Steven Ferrera, Historian"

Author Information

"Lori Ann LaRocco is an award-winning author and American Journalist. She is the author of ""Trade War Containers Don't Lie: Navigating the Bluster (Marine Money 2019), ""Dynasties of the Sea: The Untold Stories of the Postwar Shipping Pioneers (Marine Money, 2018), ""Opportunity Knocking"" (Agate Publishing, 2014), ""Dynasties of the Sea: The Shipowners and Financiers Who Expanded the Era of Free Trade"" (Marine Money, 2012), and.""Thriving in the New Economy"" (Wiley, 2010). As Senior Editor of Guests and Global Supply Chain Reporter at CNBC, Lori Ann has the ear of some of the world's biggest business minds. Lori Ann has been working at the network since 2000. She was first hired as one of Maria Bartiromo's producers on her first primetime show, ""Market Week."" Lori Ann has produced and booked interviews with some of the biggest names in business. Her track record has garnered her trust and respect, from Wall Street to Washington. Lori Ann's relationships with top business leaders have earned her first access to business deals in the billions of dollars, the network, to break the news first. Prior to joining CNBC, Lori Ann was an anchor, reporter and assignment editor in various local news markets around the country. Abby Wallace is an award-winning author and AP (Advanced Placement) History and English student at West Milford High School in NJ. In addition to co-authoring Embracing Your Past to Empower Your Future, Abby enjoys creating her own stories. When Abby isn't writing, she can often be found reading, drawing,, riding horses, performing on stage, playing video games or watching anime. Abby loves to give back to others and enjoys volunteering at Pony Power Therapies, teaching kids and adults alike how to ride horses. She hopes to one day have a therapy barn of her own."

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