The Middle Peninsula African-American Genealogical and Historical Society will hold a virtual meeting at 11 a.m. Saturday, featuring a talk by Dennis Richmond Jr.

Titled “From Middle School Researcher to Being Featured in the New York Times,” the talk will tell about a young Black man’s search for his ancestors and how race and racism played a central role in that search.

As a middle school student, Richmond watched Alex Haley’s “Roots.” The experience was life-altering and inspired him to want to learn about his own family history. In the 13 years since then, he has traced his ancestry to the 18th century, learning details about the lives of his enslaved, free, and Indigenous ancestors.

In February, NYT published a feature story that chronicled Richmond’s journey, and on Saturday he will discuss his research and share what motivates him to continue the process.

A native of Yonkers, New York, Richmond, now 26, is an author and educator. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in African and African American Studies from Claflin University and a Master of Science in Education from Sarah Lawrence College. He is the founder and director of The New York-New Jersey HBCU Initiative, an organization that assists students with the college application process. He is also the founder of The Dennis E. Richmond, Jr. Scholarship for Black Excellence, an annual scholarship awarded to a graduating senior in Yonkers. Richmond’s book “He Spoke at My School: An Educational Journey” was published in 2020.

To receive an invitation for this virtual meeting or for more information about MPAAGHS, email mpaaghs.va@gmail.com or call 804-651-8753.