TV ~ I’m A Descendant of Thomas Jefferson- with Reisha Raney
Bill Myers Inspires
As we begin our Black History Month series, let us take an in depth journey into America’s history of interracial relationships. The thought that interracial relationships is a “modern trend” or fad in America could not be further from the actual truth. Tune In as we explore these unique relationships that are deeply embedded in America’s history with my special guest and host of “Daughter Dialogues” podcast, Ms. Reisha Raney.
Reisha Raney is an American tech entrepreneur and oral historian who dedicates her time to telling the unique stories of Black Americans who are descended from veterans of the Revolutionary War. Historians estimate that between 5,000-6,000 enslaved people and free people of color fought in the Revolutionary War, and Reisha has been instrumental in telling their families’ stories through her popular podcast, “Daughter Dialogues.”
Reisha herself is a descendant of the grandfather of President Thomas Jefferson, one of America’s founding fathers and the third President of the United States.
Reisha is related to Mary Turpin, an enslaved Black woman who married Jefferson’s second cousin. Reisha’s relatives, Edwin and Mary Turpin, lived until their deaths as a married couple (although their marriage was not legally recognized) in neighboring houses on a plantation in Goochland County, Virginia.
Reisha is also a non-resident fellow at Harvard University’s W. E. B. Du Bois Research Institute at the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research. Under the supervision of Harvard University Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., she conducts her oral history research into Black descendants of the Revolutionary War,
Reisha is also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), where she was elected Maryland’s first Black officer in the society.
https://www.daughterdialogues.com jocelynbaustin@gmail.com
~ More About Bill Myers Inspires ~
Emmy Award-winning actor Bill Myers is an accomplished actor, jazz musician, filmmaker, writer, educator, and speaker. As a bi-racial man who is both black and white, Bill leverages his background, talents, and voice through creativity, compassion, and connection as activism for social justice to focus on uniting the divide and compelling change.
In a civic leadership capacity, he has served as President of the African American Jazz Caucus in NYC, member of the Indianapolis Cultural Development Committee, and served as President of the Indianapolis Downtown Optimist Club. In addition to his Emmy Award, Bill has received many awards and notable commissions for his work including being commissioned by the Indianapolis Museum of Art to create an original work for Dr. Martin Luther King Day entitled “The Music, Martin & Me.”
Bill Myers seeks to encourage, enlighten, and empower others through the power of entertainment to affect social justice.
You can find Bill Myers:
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To get more of Bill Myers Inspires, be sure to visit the podcast page for replays of all her shows here: https://www.inspiredchoicesnetwork.com/podcast/bill-myers-inspires/