.jpg)
Conversations with Kenyatta
"Genealogy Roadshow" host and author of "The Family Tree Toolkit," Kenyatta D. Berry looks into genealogy, ancestry, and family history as well as what it means to have enslaved ancestors, and interviews experts in the field. The music for episodes 1-76 is "Good Vibe" by Ketsa, and 76+ is by Rheme via Pixabay.
Conversations with Kenyatta
Gail Lukasik on White Like Her, Family Secrets, and Finding Lost Relatives
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
In episode two of Conversations with Kenyatta, host Kenyatta D. Berry (Genealogy Roadshow, The Family Tree Toolkit) welcomes author Gail Lukasik, whose memoir White Like Her explores race, identity, and long-hidden family history.
Lukasik shares the powerful story behind her discovery of her mother’s secret — and the 17-year vow of silence she kept before revealing the truth.
After the death of her mother, Alvera Frederick Kalina, Lukasik began investigating clues in historical records, including the 1900 Louisiana Census, which suggested that her mother may have had Black ancestry and may have been passing as white.
Her search eventually led her to appear on PBS’s Genealogy Roadshow, where research confirmed her mother’s racial identity in historical records and uncovered additional relatives she had never known.
Following the episode’s broadcast in 2015, Lukasik was contacted by newly discovered family members, leading to an emotional reunion with relatives in New Orleans.
In this conversation, Lukasik and Berry discuss:
• The emotional journey behind writing White Like Her
• Family secrets and the history of racial passing in America
• The moment genealogy confirmed her mother’s hidden past
• Reconnecting with newly discovered relatives
• Messages from readers around the world who share similar stories
• Advice for writing family history and memoir
• Her evolving understanding of mixed-race identity
Lukasik also reflects on the impact of the book, which has been featured in outlets such as The Washington Post and The Today Show, inspired a Tribeca Film Festival–winning documentary, and sparked conversations about race, family history, and identity across generations.
She also previews her next project, the gothic historical mystery The Darkness Surrounds Us.
Episode Timeline
00:00 Welcome and Guest Introduction
01:14 How Gail Found Genealogy Roadshow
02:49 A Family Secret and a 17-Year Vow
05:21 Writing White Like Her
06:29 Discoveries on Genealogy Roadshow
10:09 Emotional Moments During Filming
12:37 What I Would Tell My Mom Today
14:24 Messages From Readers Around the World
17:13 Advice for Writing Family History
20:15 Identity and Mixed-Race Heritage
26:23 Career Milestones and Recognition
29:07 Preview of the Next Book
31:11 Paperback Release and Events
32:48 Closing and Credits
Conversations with Kenyatta features Kenyatta D. Berry. Music for episodes 1-76 is "Good Vibe" by Ketsa, Music for episodes 77+ is “Rheme – Afrobeat x African Instrumental x Reggae Beat,” via Pixabay.
Learn more about Kenyatta and her work at KenyattaBerry.com.
You can also connect with her on social media:
Instagram: @Kenyatta.Berry
Facebook: facebook.com/KenyattaDB
Thanks for listening, we’ll see you next time on Conversations with Kenyatta.
We are dedicated to exploring and discussing various aspects of genealogy, history, culture, and social issues. We aim to shed light on untold stories and perspectives that enrich our understanding of the world.
Disclaimer: All guest opinions expressed in Conversations with Kenyatta are their own and do not reflect the views of Kenyatta D. Berry.
.