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For Immediate Release / Contact Pamela Wilson 404-316-7204

Atlanta Author Credits “Genetic Memories” for Revealing Black History

As she prepares for Black History Month, one Black author says she discovered her own ancestral history via a phenomenon scientists call “Genetic Memories”.

Numerous scientific studies have found that memories can be genetically inherited, much like personality and intellect; and that memories can be passed down for fourteen generations.

“We receive memories from our parents, grandparents, and earlier ancestors, in an instinctive effort by DNA to better prepare for difficult experiences that they have faced, such as fear, disease or trauma,” said a neuroscience researcher.

Atlanta-based author Pamela Wilson cites Genetic Memories as a primary inspiration for her family history novel, Lemuel’s Legacy. Released in late December. The 500-page novel chronicles the history of her grandfather, Lemuel, and his seven siblings.

“As I wrote about the joys, pains, and emotions of the family members, I often felt I was experiencing their past lives in real time. I could actually feel their emotions and visualize scenes as though I was living them,” she said.

“When I was writing about the family running from danger, my heart was racing, and I even began to sweat. In another scene when my great-grandfather was agonizing over his children leaving the farm, I sensed his deep angst and began to weep – all while continuing to rapidly type the words. It was as if the story was writing itself as the characters told me their stories."

London psychologist Jeremy Dean cites a study published in the journal, Science, which provides evidence that ‘memories’ can be passed down through genetic code (Gaydos et al., 2014).

Researcher Linda Geddes agreed, citing an Emory study. “Brian Dias at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta provides some of the best evidence yet for the inheritance of memories or traits across generations...”

Some researchers are now citing Genetic Memories as proof that descendants of slaves could have trauma marks across multiple generations.

Such memories became strikingly vivid while Wilson was writing her novel. She notes that the previously untapped memories were even verified by historical records. She described a couple caught in a Harlem street riot. Turns out that a major riot actually took place during the time and location of the couple’s frequent dates. In another scene, she wrote of an uncle getting involved in bootlegging. She later found a newspaper account of his arrest for bootlegging.

Wilson advises everyone to pay attention to thoughts and images while researching their own family history. She believes that may be the key to unlocking one’s ancestry. She notes this is especially important for African American descendants of slaves who may have a difficult time tracing back more than five generations.