Nicka Smith is more than just a genealogist; she’s a storyteller. With a keen eye for detail and a compassionate heart, she brings the past to life, one ancestor at a time. Her expertise in African ancestored genealogy, researching enslaved communities, and Mississippi Delta research has shed light on often overlooked chapters of American history.
A California native with a passion for uncovering hidden stories, Nicka has captivated audiences worldwide. From the iconic stages of the TODAY Show, to the pages of renowned publications like the New York Times and Essence, and the intimate settings of family living rooms through the documentary A Dream Delivered: the Lost Letters of Hawkins Wilson, she’s shared her expertise with millions. As the host of BlackProGen LIVE, she’s cultivated a vibrant community of genealogists, empowering them to connect with their past and shape their future.
Nicka is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, a member of two lineage societies (Sons and Daughters of the Middle Passage, National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and a past board member of the California Genealogical Society and the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California.
Nicka is also active in the descendant community movement as a member of the board of the Descendants of Enslaved Communities at University of Virginia (DEC-UVA), as a genealogy advisor to the Descendants of St. Louis University Enslaved (DSLUE), and as a genealogy researcher for Justice for Greenwood’s We Are Greenwood™ Genealogy Project, which seeks to identify living descendants of those directly affected by the Tulsa Race Massacre.
Nicka is the family historian and lead researcher for the Atlas family of Lake Providence, East Carroll and the founder and lead researcher of Trask 250, a descendant community of 10 generations whose ancestral slaveholders have direct ties to Amherst College and University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). Additionally, Nicka has a current role as a senior story producer at Ancestry™.
