This year's theme for Black History Month is "The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity" and for many who have African Heritage, connecting with their roots can be incredibly difficult. 

That was, and still is, the case for Thom Reed, he's the Chief Genealogical Officer for Family Search International, his family history has hit a brick wall in Alabama in 1870. After a trip to Africa with Family Search a few years ago, he struck out to figure out where his roots were on the continent.

Now, Family Search is part of a broad coalition of genealogical societies, academics and historians are working together to start the Reclaiming Our African Roots, or R.O.A.R, initiative.