Hello list I too received my Russell County Heritage Book after a more than 2 year wait. I'm pleased to see my ancestors names in print, however, I was grief stricken to see the under-representation of Afro Americans. I glanced the book over, but only saw 2 pictures of Afro Americans. And my article was changed. My Gr Grandmother's picture was sent in, but not included. My Gr Gr Gr Grandmother's birth date was shown as 1870 when it was 1815. (I know because of several documents I have, including the 1870 Census in Russell County, Ala. where she was the cook on the Sterling Boykin plantation.) My Grandmother's father, according to her death certificate was J. C. Drake of Drakes Cove Alabama. I can only assume that because Mr. Drake was white that they instead chose to print J. C. Duke. I guess I fail to understand why some still can't respect Afro Americans enough to at least let history reflect the truth in 2003. I understand why family members did not speak of what happen! ed during their lifetimes. I'm glad that in death they recorded the truth. "And the truth shall set you free!" P. Kyle

The truth is that the reason there is an under representation of blacks in the book was because there weren't many submittals of families to the editors and publishers. I don't see how you can be grief stricken about it. I am sure that you would prefer to see more black families in an attempt to make connections. I don't believe people are intentionally trying to disrespect blacks in this book. That is a mean accusation and very rude. As someone else pointed out, errors were made. People are human and at times stupid. You automatically assumed that because someone made an error that it was because of racial prejudice. You are assuming all whites are bad. That's racial prejudice. And people wonder why ....