Isaac Rogers was a well-known Cherokee Freedmen, U.S. Civil War veteran and Deputy Marshal, but who was he outside of those titles? Join us as Nicka Sewell-Smith tells the story of how traditional genealogy, oral history, and DNA collided to reveal his family origins, which include connections to Cherokee Nation leaders, stories of resilience during the Trail of Tears/forced removal, and the true story of life as people of African descent within an indigenous group.
Nicka Smith is a host, consultant, and documentarian with more than 20 years of experience as a genealogist. She has extensive experience in researching the enslaved and their communities and is a valued expert in genealogy research along the Mississippi Delta.
She the host of BlackProGen LIVE, an innovative web show focused on the genealogy and family history of people of color. She has appeared on TODAY, Good Morning America, CNN, MSNBC, an Emmy-winning episode of the series Who Do You Think You Are, and the film A Dream Delivered: The Lost Letters of Hawkins Wilson.