How a Former Slave Became the World's First Drag Queen
Over 100 years before RuPaul was telling us to "sashay away," William Dorsey Swann, who had been born into slavery in 19th-century America, was making a name for himself as the world's first self-described drag queen. In this BBC News mini-documentary, hear me discuss Swann's remarkable life and how I discovered him.
Sharing a Piece of History
As a longtime member of Ancestry.com and an expert in African-American genealogy, I represented the brand online and in several national television ads, promoting its family-history research and DNA-testing services. In this 30-second TV spot, I shared the true story of Marianne Gaspard, an ancestor I discovered with Ancestry's help. Versions of this spot aired more than 5,000 times nationwide, including on primetime network and cable TV and on PBS stations.
Redefining Possible
As part of a regional ad campaign, I represented the University of California–San Francisco, a globally acclaimed hospital network respected for its cutting-edge research and medical breakthroughs. I also appeared on the UCSF website, on billboards throughout San Francisco, and in primetime television ads, including during the World Series.
Finding My Roots
In this Ancestry ad supporting the acclaimed PBS series "Finding Your Roots" — hosted by Harvard University’s Prof. Henry Louis Gates Jr. — I am featured along with several other Ancestry spokespeople. Catch a glimpse of me flipping through the pages of a book.
Other Videos: Sharing a Piece of History
As a longtime member of Ancestry.com and an expert in African-American genealogy, I represented the brand online and in several national television ads, promoting its family-history research and DNA-testing services. In this 30-second TV spot, I shared the true story of Marianne Gaspard, an ancestor I discovered with Ancestry's help. Versions of this spot aired more than 5,000 times nationwide, including on primetime network and cable TV and on PBS stations.