DANIELS: So how do you feel now? Like, through all this, throughout this process, how do you feel at this moment, right now? [background noise of river barge traffic].

TILSON: I feel great because I've learned so much. Not about just my family, but I have traced families that I'm not related to. And I know that a baby died in childbirth. You know it's one of those... it feels good when I know that certain... I know some people died from suicide. I know cholera was bad. They had malaria out here. You know it's one of those things I didn't know like they were teaching slaves how to read. All my life I kept hearing that slaves were not allowed to learn how to read. So, some places they built schools. They gave them ceremonies. They let them do certain things which goes against those the movies that I watched. So, I feel great. I hope other people will go out and look and help a friend or whatever with your ancestors. Like I tell people, it doesn't have to be your family. You can just sit on a census record, pick a name, and try to find that person. Link to Biography