It’s been a very challenging but important time the past couple of weeks. I took some time off of social media and the blog to reflect. Here’s what I shared on Instagram this week about my thoughts on anti-racism and how I’ll be supporting BIPOC.

I've been thinking a lot about the events of the past couple of weeks and wanted to share my thoughts on how I can improve upon how I support people of color.⁠
⁠
First, I need to share a tiny bit about myself for context. I'm half white and half Asian (Okinawan). I have personally experienced a small amount of outright racism and A LOT of microaggressions over my life. ⁠
⁠
That said, it's nothing compared to what Black people and other POC have experienced. Recent events have made me aware of my privilege, even being mixed race, and prompted me to reflect on this and how I can educate myself and take more action to support BIPOC. ⁠
⁠
I've tried to share genealogical resources for different ethnicities, including African Americans, Arab Americans, Hispanic/Latinx Americans, and Asian-Americans. I’ll continue to do this, and will try to step it up. I have many more ideas in mind on a variety of resources for BIPOC to share on my blog and here. Stay tuned for more posts and stories on this going forward. ⁠
⁠
The more I’ve looked for these types of resources to share over the past year, the more I realize how little there is for different ethnic groups. I'm committed to sharing what I can find with you over the long-term.⁠
⁠
In addition, I'm going through the massive amount of resources that have been shared lately to better educate myself on how I can be of better support to BIPOC in all aspects of life. ⁠
⁠
I'm a solo entrepreneur, but I also commit to hiring people of color for projects and other work in the future as I build my business. This was my practice when I was in an office job and it will continue to be my practice in my own business.⁠

I hope you have a good weekend. Here’s a few links from around the internet to start it off!

Michael Sheen’s 3x great grandmother left an unusual family heirloom.

Tips on doing cemetery research.

Using tax records to find your ancestors. [video]

How to use koseki records in Japanese genealogy work.

Finding immigrant origins in various records. [video]

A new African American Cultural and Genealogy Society and Museum opens in Decatur, Illinois.

People share the biggest twists in their family history.

7 websites to help you find your Caribbean ancestors.

Over 100 years of African American funeral programs are now online at the Digital Library of Georgia.

The De Young Museum’s annual Bouquets to Art exhibit was cancelled this year. Here’s a couple coloring book pages from them in celebration and for some self-care. Make your own art!

A beginner’s guide to Arab American genealogy research.

Systemic racism explained.

5 Ways to Set Healthy Boundaries Around News and Social Media.