Celebrate Black History Month
By Lauchlin Fields, LF Voices Collective
Every family has a story, but many remain untold, hidden in old records, whispered among elders, or lost over time. As Vicksburg celebrates its 200th anniversary, the city is embracing its rich history and the untold stories that have shaped its communities. On Saturday, Feb. 22, at 2 p.m., historian and genealogist Joyce Dixon-Lawson will lead “Tracing Your African American Ancestors: A Genealogy Workshop” at the Catfish Row Museum, offering participants the tools to uncover their family’s past and preserve their heritage.
“Genealogy is a personal history story,” Dixon-Lawson said. “Family members are sometimes reluctant to reveal long-held family secrets that they had held close to their hearts in fear that if exposed would cause strife. Usually, if one person knows, then so does another person, so I urge them to try another route. When the family member understands the mission, they often share other family stories. This is how you pull the family into your quest.”
The workshop is part of Vicksburg Voices, a storytelling initiative supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Culture of Health Prize Alumni Storytelling Cohort. The genealogy workshop is co-sponsored by the Episcopal Church of Mississippi’s Becoming Beloved Community initiative.
With its pivotal role in American history—shaped by the Mississippi River, the Civil War, and generations of resilient communities— Vicksburg’s bicentennial provides an opportunity for both Black and white community members to reconnect with their own family stories, using the valuable resources and information available at the genealogy workshop.
“African Americans have played a role in every portion of the county, from building the courthouse to the many plantations in the area,” Dixon-Lawson said. “All these records record the history of African Americans from the territorial time period, enslavement, the Civil War, including the Colored Troops, up until today.”
Dixon-Lawson, a graduate of Jackson State University with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in history, began her career with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) in 1988 after interning there as a senior history major. Over 32 years, she was promoted eight times, and in 2017, she became the lead historical researcher and later curator for the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Two Mississippi Museums.
Her passion for history began when she was a child.
“We often walked in the cemetery after church, and I wanted to know everybody out there,” she said, recalling her upbringing in rural Calhoun County, Mississippi. “My mother would just shake her head as she tried to explain who was who; sometimes we would stop by my grandmother’s house and continue our conversation.”
After retiring from MDAH in 2020, Dixon-Lawson continued her research, traveling across the South and Midwest to help families piece together their histories.
“Genealogy is a passion that takes over your life,” she said. “I have traveled to nearly every state in the South and some Midwestern states, helping people break down genealogical walls.”
At the workshop, Dixon-Lawson will guide participants through the first steps of genealogy research and provide insights into historical records.
“Participants will know how and where to begin their genealogical search; usually, that’s at home,” she said. “After that, they are encouraged to visit the local courthouse. I often encourage them to use Ancestry or FamilySearch to enhance their search.”
Dixon-Lawson also emphasizes the role of oral histories in uncovering family narratives.
“Oral histories are the backbone of genealogy, and with new digital tools, the possibilities are endless,” she said.
The Vicksburg Voices project seeks to preserve these stories through initiatives like the genealogy workshop, ensuring that families can access historical resources and contribute their own narratives to the city’s ongoing history.
“Workshops like this encourage people to dig in the history and see how they have earned their place in the story of this historic town,” Dixon-Lawson said.
She stresses that genealogy is not just about discovery—it is about ensuring that history is shared and passed on. She encourages young people to begin their research by speaking with older relatives.
“Genealogy is history, and history is to be shared,” she said.
Lauchlin Fields, a former journalist and the founder of LF Voices Collective, is a storyteller contracted by Shape Up Mississippi to lead the Vicksburg Voices project.
This article was made possible by Shape Up Mississippi, which highlights the transformative educational initiatives within the Vicksburg Warren School District. Vicksburg is proud to be part of a storytelling cohort designed for RWJF Culture of Health Prize alumni.