Let's Celebrate our Family Heritage Together

Wright’s & Beyond Family Heritage Legacy Cards

These card were created to highlight examples of the diverse lives, personalities and accomplishments of our ancestors.  

Wright's & Beyond Family Heritage Legacy Cards

Statement of the Chickasaw Freedmen, Setting Forth Their Wrongs, Grievances, Claims and Needs, 1884, pg. 26 – pg.43.  This statement was submitted to the Dawes Commission of the U.S. Senate in 1884 by Charles Cohee, Isaac C. Kemp, Geo. W. Hall, and Mack Steveson: the Committee of the Chickasaw Freedmen Association. The purpose was to address the denial of rights and legal status for Chickasaw Freedmen and to seek relief. There are similar statements from other groups of Freedmen associated with the Five Civilized Tribes.

https://digitalcommons.law.ou.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7309&context=indianserialset

Conversation with Elder Family Members: Sisters Lizzie Wright and Elnora Wright

Listen to this excerpt of a recorded conversation between Lizzie Wright and her sister, Elnora (Cuca), led by Lizzie’s grandsons, Jesse Corona and George Corona. It takes place on Thanksgiving, November 25, 1982 in Houston, Texas at the Corona family home. It is fascinating to hear their voices and get a sense of the personalities of these two family elders. Courtesy of Jesse Corona and George Corona.  

Aunt Lizzie & Aunt Cuca Thanksgiving 1982

Villa Victoria Blog

Read through the Villa Victoria Blog here. This is a family heritage and food blog written by Naomi Andrade Smith. It is entertaining and informative, as it showcases our multi-cultural lifestyles, multi-ethnic food, and music. A labor of love for all things family and food, Naomi wrote the blog over several years. (Courtesy of Naomi Smith)

https://seattlemexicanfoodblog.typepad.com/vvblog/2009/01/

Harpist, Elizabeth Steiner 

Elizabeth Steiner is a professional Harpist (Naomi Smith’s daughter). She has appeared with well-known musicians, performed at star-studded venues, and recently played the harp in, “Barbie the Movie in Concert” at the Hollywood Bowl. Take a look at Lizzie’s performance of SZA’s “Blind” on YouTube at:

https://youtube.com/shorts/3NRLpMPDmoc?si=4kllYOtU0cWaTiRf

Marty Hughes – Christian Songwriter, Singer 

Marty Hughes performed with churches in San Diego, California and Tampa, Florida. Together with his cousin, Albert Wright, he composed songs of devotion. Here is a song Marty wrote and performed with Albert providing the music, “Woman at the Well.” This is a song that Albert asked to hear repeatedly during his last days.  

Woman at the Well Performed and composed by Marty Hughes.

Albert Wright, Jr., Professional Musician and Christian Songwriter

Albert Wright, Jr. was a professional musician who performed with bands in San Diego, Las Vegas, Japan, Singapore, and other locations throughout the world. Albert’s true musical love was the bass guitar. He and bandmates achieved great success in Asia and appeared in commercials there. Upon returning to the United States, Albert and his cousin Marty Hughes, partnered in writing Christian songs and performing at their churches. Albert also did musical production and technical sound work for other musicians. Here is a favorite by Albert: “All Bow Down, Jazz Version.”

All Bow Down  Performed and composed by Albert Wright.

Song Recorded by the Selba Twins, the daughters of Aunt Lizzie Wright.  They performed as Lilian & Lena.  The title is, "Me Levanto" Lilian & Lena Singing Me Levanto

Military/Political Recognition

Navy Chief Petty Officer Deborah Ann White Recognized by General Colin Powell

Conversation with Deborah Ann White who was recognized by General Colin Powell for outstanding achievement.   

A WAC Meets General Colin Powell Audio

Military Recognition

Navy Chief Petty Officer Deborah Ann White 

Conversation with Deborah Ann White regarding her appreciation to the men of the Armed Forces.

Deborah Ann's_Black Men's Pride_Success_Audio

Letter of Congratulations from President Barack Obama to Deborah Lee (Wright) Barrow on her retirement from the position of Library Director for the San Diego Public Library System. This letter was the result of Deborah’s work, along with that of many others who, after 20 years in the making, in 2013 finally succeeded in getting the $185 million San Diego Central Library funded, constructed, and operating.  

The White House - Letter from President Obama to Deborah Barrow

New Book Authored by Tridae Hughes 

Family member Tridae Hughes has authored a fun, educational book to help children learn about nature's fruits and vegetables from A to Z. Children will enjoy pairing the alphabet to healthy foods, and augment their handwriting skills at the same time!  

Nature's A-Z Superfoods for Kids: Handwriting and Activity Book by Tridae Hughes

Family Members in the News – Copies of Articles (To Be Updated)

The African Ancestry DNA service will trace your family line to a specific place in Africa, either through a female's maternal lineage or through a male's paternal lineage. This DNA serve focuses only on Africa and has gathered sample groups extensively there. African Ancestry DNA considers itself to be the most authoritative resource for identifying African ethnicity. To get more information on their their testing methods and cost go to: Africanancestry.com.

Examples of three family members' results using AfricanAncestry.com are shown below:

A member of the Wright family, a descendant of Amos Wright and Lucille Smith, had her DNA tested in 2011 as well.  The results indicated that the DNA through females in that family line trace back to.....