KPBS Midday Edition

Ancestral Legacy Project Aims To Uncover Overlooked Perspectives In American History

By Maureen Cavanaugh / KPBS Midday Edition Co-Host, Harrison Patiño / Producer, KPBS Midday Edition

Published March 30, 2021 at 4:20 PM PDT

This story was published more than 3 years ago.

In this photo taken in 1899 at Hampton Institute in Hampton, Va., male and female African American and Indigenous students are pictured in an ancient history class studying Egypt.

The American history most of us learned in school, left a lot out. We learned about the contributions of some great (and some not so great) white men, but the life and work of women and black and brown Americans, were usually not the focus of those histories. Now, a project created by a San Diego woman is recruiting the family stories of the people who got left out of history.

The American history that most of us learned in school left a lot out. We were taught about the contributions of some great — and some not so great — white men, but the life and work of women and people of color were usually not the focus of those histories.

Now, a project created by a San Diego woman is looking to uncover the previously untold family histories of people of color in the U.S.

"Our Genetic Legacy" is combining those stories with DNA technology in an effort to help Black, Indigenous and people of color claim their rightful place in the American story.

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Shellie Baxter, the project's founder and CEO, joined Midday Edition on Tuesday to discuss the project.

To participate in Our Genetic Legacy's upcoming History Makers Workshops from June 4-6, click here.

KPBS Midday Edition

Maureen Cavanaugh

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Maureen Cavanaugh has been a familiar voice for KPBS listeners for more than 15 years, serving in a variety of capacities including announcer, host, and producer. As host of KPBS Midday Edition, Maureen has interviewed a wide range of notables, such as comedienne Sandra Bernhardt, actor John Lequizamo, author Chuck Palahniuk, composer Marvin Hamlisch, artist Robert Irwin, and designer Zandra Rhodes. But of all the interviews Maureen has conducted, her most special was with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Before joining KPBS in 1997, she worked as a news anchor for KSDO and KOGO News Radio in San Diego. While working for commercial radio stations in San Diego and in Salt Lake City, Utah, Maureen reported on both hard news and lifestyle features. Maureen has received three "Golden Mike" awards from the Radio and TV News Association of Southern California for economic reporting and breaking news. She has also received a "Best of Show" and “Best Radio Newscast” awards from the San Diego Press Club and the "Flo" Award from Public Radio Program Directors Association for Best Public Radio Announcer in a large market. Maureen is a native of Queens, New York, but after more than 20 years in San Diego she feels she qualifies as a real Southern Californian.

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Harrison Patiño

Harrison Patiño is a producer for "KPBS Midday Edition". His primary roles include story development, and is involved in the audio production and coordination of interview subjects. Prior to joining KPBS, Harrison held various positions at Hawaii Public Radio within its news and music departments. While pursuing a double major in journalism and classics at The University of Hawaii at Manoa, Harrison worked at the school's student-run radio station, KTUH. After graduating, Harrison served as a community advisor for the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Student Media Board.

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What do you want to hear host Jade Hindmon talk about on Midday?