The reasons I want to trace my heritage are to tell how my ancestors' lives were lived, to see how they grew up, to see how slavery affected them, to see what kind of transportation they used, and to learn about the ancestors I have not met and can't meet.

I want to see how my ancestors' homes were made. I want to know what kind of stores they had to shop in and how their stores were different from mine. I would like to know how my ancestors earned money.

I wonder if my ancestors made mud pies, had food fights, played in the halls of the schools, or skipped school when they were kids. I wonder what school they went to and what their school day was like.

I want to know what their life was like in slavery and how they came through it. How did the people who owned my ancestors treat them? What jobs did they have to do? I have a lot of questions about slavery.

How did my ancestors get around? Maybe they rode horses. Maybe they had to hustle rides. How about money? Were my ancestor's rich?