June 30, 2023 • 10 mins
Guest host Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati speaks to Murphy, Coordinator of Genealogy Education at the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina.
https://iaamuseum.org/.
Her guest for the monthly feature "What is Philadelphia Reading" is best selling author Sharon G. Flake.
https://www.sharongflake.com/
https://iaamuseum.org/.
Her guest for the monthly feature "What is Philadelphia Reading" is best selling author Sharon G. Flake.
https://www.sharongflake.com/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Good morning, and welcome to Insight, a show about empowering our community.
I'm Lorraine Ballad tomorrow, and aswe do once a month every month,
we have the fabulous Vaness Lloyd's Combody, the founder of the Amazing African American
Children's Book Fair and the Book Project. She's a literary publicist and world traveler,
(00:20):
and she brings all of that experienceand all of that information to us
once a month. Vaness, how'sit going. What's happening? It's going
well, And I'm, as always, seven months into the year, still
living my best life. But I'mgonna jump right into this this morning because
I'm so excited the two guests Ihave on the show. I just got
back from the American Library Association conferenceand it was great to see so many
(00:45):
great black books coming out in thefall. Fortunately, the band the book
movement hasn't stopped the publishing industry fromproducing books that will empower and enlighten our
children. And mark your calendar becausethe thirty second Annual African American Children's Affairs
to be hosted at the Pennsylvania ConventionCenter Saturday, February the third, from
(01:06):
one to four pm, and oneof my guests this morning is going to
be featured and you get a previewat a shout out to my sister Ramona,
who was third in line of theFabulous Lloyd Girls, celebrating a milestone
birth and of course fifty League becausea dear friend. Then y'all know that
Las Journey is a program about books, travel, and a little entertainment.
This morning, I've got all ofthem. First up, you might have
(01:27):
heard about the International African American Museum, which is located in the major port
of entry for enslaved Black people inCharleston, South Carolina. From its ghoul
of culture to the food, itwas always at the top of my favorite
destinations. Now I'm with the museum, I'm packing my bags, and this
(01:47):
morning I wanted to share with youa unique service of the museum through the
Center for Family History. My guestis Shelley Murphy, who is the coordinator
of Genealogy Education. I saw onCNN with Victor Blackwell and on The Today
Show with Craig Movin chasing their familyhistory, and I have now officially tied
in ter the oprah of genealogy makingpeople cry in a book. So welcome.
(02:14):
Shlly I just got a mouthful outthere. So tell us a little
bit about the museum, but mostimportantly the Center for Family History, because
this is an exceptional service. Yes, the International African American Museum has been
built right over what they call Gadsden'sWharf. That's where the importation of up
(02:38):
to about forty five percent of allenslaved Africans that came into this country.
And so the museum has been builtover the wharf. They have gardens outside
and then when you come in yougot nine different galleries to view. Also,
they have the Center for Family Historyon the west wing of the museum.
(03:01):
The role for the Center for FamilyHistory, I'm gonna say is reconnect.
There's information there. You will seeexamples of how people have traced back
to their family. We have trainedstaff and trained volunteers that will be here
to help assist people with questions.As of July one, they will be
(03:22):
able to book an appointment and haveour genealogy consultation. So let me just
jump in there, because I knowwe always against the wall here and you
said you don't have to go there. You can do this online for fee
to have someone professionally search your familytree. And I believe it's like fifty
dollars. Okay, they don't dothe research. What they will do is
(03:46):
connect you to resources and records tohelp people do it themselves. And it's
forty nine dollars for forty five minutes, and that's a genealogy consultation. They
can do it online and that willhappen typically via zoom. You will not
be able to walk in and getthat consultation. We just wouldn't be able
(04:08):
to handle that flow, you know, as far as people coming in.
But every day Tuesday through Friday ateleven o'clock, so when people are visiting,
they can get genealogy one oh one. It's a short session for visitors
to come in be able to asksome questions and things like that. But
it's only during the week not onthe weekends. So this is only in
(04:31):
person, not online. That isonly in person. The consultations are online.
Perfect down. Finally, why shouldwe trace our family history because you
know, a lot of times youfind on stuff you don't really want to
know. There's a lot of informationwe don't want to know, but there's
also a lot of information we needto know. We need to know who
(04:54):
our ancestors were. We need toknow who they are and where they came
from. What was their life about. Is there something that I'm doing right
now that might connect to a thirdgreat grandmother, you know, especially say
I like to draw. Well,maybe the third great grandmother was an artist.
You never know. But it's areconnecting. Because of slavery, there
(05:15):
were so many African American families thatwere disconnected and so it's a chance for
us to go back, learn calltheir names, and appreciate and be proud
of where we came from, regardlessof the travel and the trauma that happened.
Well, thank you so much,Shelley, because it's so important to
(05:39):
reconnect. And on the Lloyd's side, we have connected for years. And
how do we find you? Theycan find us at a museum dot org
and go to programs and events andthey drop down and the Center for Family
History is right there. Thank youso much. That has been Shelley Murphy,
(05:59):
who was the court Nator of genealogyeducation at the International African American Museum
in Charleston, South Carolina. Thankyou, thank you. We come to
one of my favorite parts of thissegment, and my guest this morning Sharon
Flake, who will be at thebook fair of the thirty second Annual Book
(06:19):
Fair, and she sold two millioncopies of her books and they've been translated
into many languages. I might knowher from the skin I end. She
has a new book out called Oncein a Blue Moon, and you're hearing
about it first here and she's alsomy What is Jill Enough you're reading?
Yes? So Sharon, how doesone soul should Bellion Books? You know,
(06:41):
with a really good publishing house thatdoes a really great marketing. And
also you have a novel that appealsto young people, black, white,
all over the world. So that'sall it's done. What makes you keep
writing? You know? I thinkbeing born black and a black girl in
more Philadelphia haven't been told lots andlots of stories when I was growing up
(07:04):
and feeling as if we were greatand amazing people and we had terrific voices.
And it's also because I love writingfor children. That's very special.
So since you sold so many books, we want to know what you're reading.
What is philadelphiare reading? What bookare you reading? Atomic Habits by
(07:25):
James Clear? First book you've readprobably Dick and Jane best book you've read
Middle Passage by Charles Johnson. Firstbook you've read, no comment, You'll
go to author my Angelus buyer ABurr I buy What books should everyone have
(07:47):
in their library? The skin?I'm in the course of fiction or nonfiction?
Nonfiction? You have a literary dinnernamed three people from the literary community.
You must have Jason Reynolds who writesfor children, Isabelle Wilkerson who does
historical and Michelle Obama, who's writtentwo books. Sounds like a great trip.
(08:11):
If you wrote a book about yourlife, what will be the title?
Smile Sharon, I am sure you'regoing to be doing lots of book
signings. So what's happening in Philadelphiawhere people can find you? Well,
you know what right now I haveis trying to work something out with the
Philadelphia Free Library downtown, so we'recommitted to a month. I've been visiting
(08:35):
different libraries around the city, sothey are wanting to get on that list.
If people go to Sharon Gflake dotcom, They're going to find some
information shortly about where I'll be.They can also even they can also contact
me from my website if they havequestions. If they want to know where
I'm going to be. If theywant to know more about my books,
they'll be right there on that websiteat Sharon Gflake dot com. I'm on
(08:58):
faceboo book, I'm on Twitter,I'm on TikTok so you can get to
me. Well, folks, thankyou so much for listening this morning and
support her. That's where you cansupport an author. Sub by the book,
as always, continued to read bya book, and of course have
a blessed day. This is VanessaLloyd's combody with the LS Journeys. I'll
(09:18):
see you next morn and I'm LorraineBallard Morrow. You're listening to Insight.
We'll be back after these messages.
Good morning, and welcome to Insight, a show about empowering our community.
I'm Lorraine Ballad tomorrow, and aswe do once a month every month,
we have the fabulous Vaness Lloyd's Combody, the founder of the Amazing African American
Children's Book Fair and the Book Project. She's a literary publicist and world traveler,
(00:20):
and she brings all of that experienceand all of that information to us
once a month. Vaness, how'sit going. What's happening? It's going
well, And I'm, as always, seven months into the year, still
living my best life. But I'mgonna jump right into this this morning because
I'm so excited the two guests Ihave on the show. I just got
back from the American Library Association conferenceand it was great to see so many
(00:45):
great black books coming out in thefall. Fortunately, the band the book
movement hasn't stopped the publishing industry fromproducing books that will empower and enlighten our
children. And mark your calendar becausethe thirty second Annual African American Children's Affairs
to be hosted at the Pennsylvania ConventionCenter Saturday, February the third, from
(01:06):
one to four pm, and oneof my guests this morning is going to
be featured and you get a previewat a shout out to my sister Ramona,
who was third in line of theFabulous Lloyd Girls, celebrating a milestone
birth and of course fifty League becausea dear friend. Then y'all know that
Las Journey is a program about books, travel, and a little entertainment.
This morning, I've got all ofthem. First up, you might have
(01:27):
heard about the International African American Museum, which is located in the major port
of entry for enslaved Black people inCharleston, South Carolina. From its ghoul
of culture to the food, itwas always at the top of my favorite
destinations. Now I'm with the museum, I'm packing my bags, and this
(01:47):
morning I wanted to share with youa unique service of the museum through the
Center for Family History. My guestis Shelley Murphy, who is the coordinator
of Genealogy Education. I saw onCNN with Victor Blackwell and on The Today
Show with Craig Movin chasing their familyhistory, and I have now officially tied
in ter the oprah of genealogy makingpeople cry in a book. So welcome.
(02:14):
Shlly I just got a mouthful outthere. So tell us a little
bit about the museum, but mostimportantly the Center for Family History, because
this is an exceptional service. Yes, the International African American Museum has been
built right over what they call Gadsden'sWharf. That's where the importation of up
(02:38):
to about forty five percent of allenslaved Africans that came into this country.
And so the museum has been builtover the wharf. They have gardens outside
and then when you come in yougot nine different galleries to view. Also,
they have the Center for Family Historyon the west wing of the museum.
(03:01):
The role for the Center for FamilyHistory, I'm gonna say is reconnect.
There's information there. You will seeexamples of how people have traced back
to their family. We have trainedstaff and trained volunteers that will be here
to help assist people with questions.As of July one, they will be
(03:22):
able to book an appointment and haveour genealogy consultation. So let me just
jump in there, because I knowwe always against the wall here and you
said you don't have to go there. You can do this online for fee
to have someone professionally search your familytree. And I believe it's like fifty
dollars. Okay, they don't dothe research. What they will do is
(03:46):
connect you to resources and records tohelp people do it themselves. And it's
forty nine dollars for forty five minutes, and that's a genealogy consultation. They
can do it online and that willhappen typically via zoom. You will not
be able to walk in and getthat consultation. We just wouldn't be able
(04:08):
to handle that flow, you know, as far as people coming in.
But every day Tuesday through Friday ateleven o'clock, so when people are visiting,
they can get genealogy one oh one. It's a short session for visitors
to come in be able to asksome questions and things like that. But
it's only during the week not onthe weekends. So this is only in
(04:31):
person, not online. That isonly in person. The consultations are online.
Perfect down. Finally, why shouldwe trace our family history because you
know, a lot of times youfind on stuff you don't really want to
know. There's a lot of informationwe don't want to know, but there's
also a lot of information we needto know. We need to know who
(04:54):
our ancestors were. We need toknow who they are and where they came
from. What was their life about. Is there something that I'm doing right
now that might connect to a thirdgreat grandmother, you know, especially say
I like to draw. Well,maybe the third great grandmother was an artist.
You never know. But it's areconnecting. Because of slavery, there
(05:15):
were so many African American families thatwere disconnected and so it's a chance for
us to go back, learn calltheir names, and appreciate and be proud
of where we came from, regardlessof the travel and the trauma that happened.
Well, thank you so much,Shelley, because it's so important to
(05:39):
reconnect. And on the Lloyd's side, we have connected for years. And
how do we find you? Theycan find us at a museum dot org
and go to programs and events andthey drop down and the Center for Family
History is right there. Thank youso much. That has been Shelley Murphy,
(05:59):
who was the court Nator of genealogyeducation at the International African American Museum
in Charleston, South Carolina. Thankyou, thank you. We come to
one of my favorite parts of thissegment, and my guest this morning Sharon
Flake, who will be at thebook fair of the thirty second Annual Book
(06:19):
Fair, and she sold two millioncopies of her books and they've been translated
into many languages. I might knowher from the skin I end. She
has a new book out called Oncein a Blue Moon, and you're hearing
about it first here and she's alsomy What is Jill Enough you're reading?
Yes? So Sharon, how doesone soul should Bellion Books? You know,
(06:41):
with a really good publishing house thatdoes a really great marketing. And
also you have a novel that appealsto young people, black, white,
all over the world. So that'sall it's done. What makes you keep
writing? You know? I thinkbeing born black and a black girl in
more Philadelphia haven't been told lots andlots of stories when I was growing up
(07:04):
and feeling as if we were greatand amazing people and we had terrific voices.
And it's also because I love writingfor children. That's very special.
So since you sold so many books, we want to know what you're reading.
What is philadelphiare reading? What bookare you reading? Atomic Habits by
(07:25):
James Clear? First book you've readprobably Dick and Jane best book you've read
Middle Passage by Charles Johnson. Firstbook you've read, no comment, You'll
go to author my Angelus buyer ABurr I buy What books should everyone have
(07:47):
in their library? The skin?I'm in the course of fiction or nonfiction?
Nonfiction? You have a literary dinnernamed three people from the literary community.
You must have Jason Reynolds who writesfor children, Isabelle Wilkerson who does
historical and Michelle Obama, who's writtentwo books. Sounds like a great trip.
(08:11):
If you wrote a book about yourlife, what will be the title?
Smile Sharon, I am sure you'regoing to be doing lots of book
signings. So what's happening in Philadelphiawhere people can find you? Well,
you know what right now I haveis trying to work something out with the
Philadelphia Free Library downtown, so we'recommitted to a month. I've been visiting
(08:35):
different libraries around the city, sothey are wanting to get on that list.
If people go to Sharon Gflake dotcom, They're going to find some
information shortly about where I'll be.They can also even they can also contact
me from my website if they havequestions. If they want to know where
I'm going to be. If theywant to know more about my books,
they'll be right there on that websiteat Sharon Gflake dot com. I'm on
(08:58):
faceboo book, I'm on Twitter,I'm on TikTok so you can get to
me. Well, folks, thankyou so much for listening this morning and
support her. That's where you cansupport an author. Sub by the book,
as always, continued to read bya book, and of course have
a blessed day. This is VanessaLloyd's combody with the LS Journeys. I'll
(09:18):
see you next morn and I'm LorraineBallard Morrow. You're listening to Insight.
We'll be back after these messages.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies!
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!