Our Founder

Christopher X. Smothers is a nationally recognized public historian, professional genealogist, and archival researcher specializing in African American genealogical reconstruction, enslavement-era documentation, and descendant-centered historical recovery. He is the founder and lead researcher of Unearthing Your Roots, a public history and genealogical research firm dedicated to combating historical erasure and restoring ancestral identity through rigorous, evidence-based scholarship.

Christopher’s work focuses on reconstructing the lives and communities of formerly enslaved African Americans by synthesizing probate and succession records, plantation and land records, court documents, census data, DNA evidence, and archival materials dispersed across local, state, and federal repositories. His research regularly spans the 18th through early 20th centuries and has reconnected individuals, families, and descendant communities to their ancestral origins across the Deep South, the Mid-Atlantic, and beyond.

Since founding Unearthing Your Roots in 2018, 

Christopher has led hundreds of complex genealogical investigations for families, cultural institutions, universities, and descendant-led organizations. His work has contributed to nationally significant projects, including large-scale descendant verification initiatives, reparative justice research, and public history efforts focused on restoring suppressed Black narratives. He has served as a research architect and strategic consultant on genealogical frameworks used to assess historical harm, lineage verification, and community-based historical accountability.

Christopher is particularly known for his ability to translate fragmented archival records into coherent, humanizing historical narratives. His approach challenges traditional genealogical practices by centering the lived experiences, skills, relationships, and interior lives of ancestors rather than reducing them solely to systems of oppression. His work integrates scholarly rigor with ethical storytelling, making complex research accessible while maintaining historical precision.

In addition to his professional practice, Christopher is an experienced educator and public speaker, frequently invited to present for genealogical societies, museums, universities, and community organizations. His presentations and workshops focus on advanced African American research methodologies, archival interpretation, media analysis, and narrative writing, empowering audiences to engage their own family histories at a professional level.

Christopher is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University and will complete a dual master’s degree in History (M.A.) and Library & Information Science (M.S.) from Simmons University in Fall 2026, with academic concentrations in archival studies, African American history, memory studies, and digital preservation.

His work and expertise have been featured by ABC News Live, PBS, The Guardian, Good Morning America, 11Alive, FOX, and other national media outlets.

Through Unearthing Your Roots, Christopher continues to shape the field of African American genealogy by advancing best practices, mentoring emerging researchers, and creating pathways for families and communities to reclaim their history with accuracy, dignity, and depth.

Association of Professional Genealogists (APG)
National Genealogical Society

Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society

Georgia Genealogical Society

German-Acadian Coast Historical & Genealogy Society

Louisiana Genealogical & Historical Society