Join us for a virtual event in support of 10 Million Names—a collaborative project dedicated to recovering the names of the estimated 10 million men, women, and children of African descent who were enslaved in what is now America.

On the eve of Juneteenth, this special event will feature a conversation between acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns (The American Revolution) and historian Dr. Vincent Brown, moderated by American Ancestors President & CEO Ryan Woods. Together they will explore the history and enduring significance of Patriots of color and the vital, yet often overlooked, role they played in the American Revolution.

The event will also celebrate a major milestone: the release of freely accessible family trees linking Patriots of color to descendants born before 1900, making it easier for living individuals to trace their connection to the American Revolution. These trees span generations, reconnecting families across time and restoring lineages that tie the Revolutionary era directly to the present—demonstrating that this history is not only remembered, but continues to shape lives today.

By participating in this event, you are not only engaging with history—you are helping to restore it. Proceeds directly support the mission of 10 Million Names, advancing the work of recovery, remembrance, and historical restoration.

This virtual event will be conducted via Zoom. Access to a personal device and internet connection are required to participate. If you are unable to join the broadcast for any reason, a full recording of the event will be available for a limited time.

Photo credit: Evan Barlow, 2018.

Ken Burns has been making documentary films for fifty years. Since the Academy Award nominated Brooklyn Bridge in 1981, Ken has gone on to direct and produce some of the most acclaimed historical documentaries ever made, including The Civil War; Baseball; Jazz; The War; The National Parks: America’s Best Idea; Prohibition; The Roosevelts: An Intimate History; The Vietnam War; Country Music; The U.S. and the Holocaust; The American Buffalo; Leonardo da Vinci; and, most recently, The American Revolution. Future film projects include Emancipation to Exodus, and LBJ & the Great Society, among others.

Ken’s films have been honored with dozens of major awards, including seventeen Emmy Awards, two Grammy Awards and two Oscar nominations. In September of 2008, at the News & Documentary Emmy Awards, Ken was honored by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences with a Lifetime Achievement Award. In November of 2022, Ken was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.

Vincent Brown is Charles Warren Professor of American History and Professor of African and African American Studies at Harvard University. He teaches courses in Atlantic history, African diaspora studies, and the history of slavery in the Americas. Brown is the author of the two award-winning books The Reaper’s Garden: Death and Power in the World of Atlantic Slavery (Harvard University Press, 2008) and Tacky’s Revolt: The Story of an Atlantic Slave War (Belknap Press, 2020), and he is producer of Herskovits at the Heart of Blackness (2009), an audiovisual documentary broadcast on the PBS series Independent Lens, as well as the short video series The Bigger Picture (2022) for PBS Digital Studios. He was also a featured historian in The American Revolution (2025).

Ryan J. Woods is President and CEO of American Ancestors. An educator and historian, he has dedicated his professional life to developing experiences that educate, inspire, and connect people through the exploration of history, heritage, and culture. Ryan has recruited more than 1 billion searchable records to AmericanAncestors.org and, most recently, overseen the launch of the 10 Million Names Project and our new national headquarters and visitor center, including the Family Heritage Experience at 97 Newbury Street in Boston. Among many leadership roles, he serves as a commissioner for the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.