Professional genealogist Vicki McGill worked on 40 Acres and a Lie – a 2 year long research project, with the Center for Public Integrity, exploring what we know as 40 Acres and a Mule a government program offering land to formerly enslaved people just after the Civil War. This project included genealogical research of those who were given land only to have it rescinded by President Lincoln’s replacement Andrew Johnson after his assassination. In some cases this research led to the discovery of living descendants some of whom knew the story of their ancestors receiving this land while many others did not. This project yielded multiple articles, the three part Reveal Podcast and was picked up and explored by many news outlets including NPR’s Fresh Air as well as multiple podcasts.
Mother Jones Article Series:
Reveal Podcast – Three Part Series