Help Fuel Walter's Mission for Black Genealogy & Reparations

Note: Due to the high cost of living in Santa Cruz, we have decided to relocate to Las Vegas instead. This move will allow us to allocate more resources to our mission while maintaining strong ties to California. Thank you for your continued support!

I’m Walter English, founder of the Brister English Project, embarking on a significant journey to further the cause of genealogical research and reparations for American descendants of chattel slavery. We need your help to raise $45,000 to cover the costs of this important move from New York to Las Vegas, Nevada.

I’m a genealogist and research historian. In 2021, I made the bold decision to quit my job and dedicate my life to helping people who look like me learn about family that we thought may have been lost to history. The Brister English Project is named after my second great grandfather, whom I found on a slave schedule and slave ship manifest. This discovery led to conversations with the descendants of Thomas Cassander English, the man who enslaved Brister, my great grandfather Robert English, and my great grand uncle, Armstead English. This emotional journey, filled with harsh realities, also revealed the beauty in family. I found pictures, met relatives with last names I’ve only seen on censuses and other records. The feeling is unmatched and necessary.

Knowing how difficult Black genealogy is, I’ve always believed we should not have to pay for a history that’s been stripped, burned, and lied about. Over the last two and a half years, I’ve put in over $3 million of work (scaling by Ancestry’s “starting” price). It’s also one of the reasons I built a database of free resources surrounding Black genealogy, from how to start to the slave schedules I mentioned above.

Why This Move Matters:

Strengthening Research Efforts: As the co-researcher on the London Nelson Legacy Initiative with the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, my presence in Las Vegas will still allow for effective collaboration with local historians and archives. Although I will be based in Las Vegas, I will fly to California as needed to further my research and maintain these vital partnerships.

Financial Efficiency: Las Vegas offers a significantly lower cost of living compared to Santa Cruz. I will be paying one-third of what I would have in California, allowing more funds to be directed toward the project’s mission and activities.

Active Community Engagement: Relocating to Las Vegas will enable me to bring culture back to an area that may have lost it in various ways. I will be actively involved in the Las Vegas community, conducting workshops on Black history, Black genealogy, and navigating genealogical records. These efforts will empower the local community with knowledge and tools to explore their own histories.

Community Impact: In addition to my work in Las Vegas, I will continue to contribute to the Santa Cruz and Bay Area communities by conducting workshops and collaborating with the Reparations Board in Santa Cruz. Furthermore, I plan to expand my work beyond the Bay Area, helping out in Los Angeles and surrounding areas. My educational efforts will empower the community with knowledge and tools to explore their own histories, leading to self-actualization and a deep sense of self-determination.

The Impact of the Brister English Project:

The Brister English Project has already made a significant impact on the Black community by providing a comprehensive database of free resources for Black genealogy, including information on slavery. To date, the project has helped over 140 families connect with both ancestors and living relatives they had no idea existed.

This education is supported through social media platforms, reaching a wide audience and garnering attention from prestigious institutions such as Princeton, Seton Hall University, Acton Memorial Library, Arizona University, Newark Academy, and other educational spaces.

How You Can Help:

Your contribution will directly support:

Together, we can make this move possible and ensure that Walter and the Brister English Project continue their critical work of reuniting descendants of chattel slavery with their roots. Join us in supporting this cause and be a part of history in the making. I never would’ve thought in 2021 I would quit my job and not only chase a dream but help fill a missing piece in the Black community through ancestral healing.

Thank you. If you have any questions about my plans for reparations, my plans surrounding how this will provide jobs within the Black community, please don't hesitate to ask.