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Johari has spent more than 35 years tracing African American family histories and helping clients uncover the stories that shaped their ancestors’ lives. She brings deep expertise, compassion, and meticulous research skills to every project.
Her books—Ten Generations of Bondage: Eleven Generations of Faith and People vs. Chester Tyson—highlight the remarkable discoveries she made while exploring her own lineage.

Michelle Taylor is a professional genealogist based in Washington D.C. who incorporates archaeology and history into her genealogical research. Her research interests include public archaeology, 3D scanning, mapping, cemetery preservation, and military history.

She earned a Master of Arts in Public Anthropology from American University. Over the years, she has worked at various historic cemeteries and archaeological sites in Virginia, Maryland, and Kentucky.

Most notably, she embarked on her first archaeological excavation at James Madison’s Montpelier while she was an undergraduate student at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The scholar continues to use her archaeological training to uncover the narratives and contributions of African Americans throughout history through her work as a professional genealogist.

With over 20 years of experience in genealogical research and ancestral trip planning, as well as 10 years of developing cultural heritage tours, I founded Roots to Return. A service designed to help individuals, families, and communities unearth their roots, reclaim ancestral stories, and reconnect with the places and cultures that shaped them. My expertise lies in exploring diverse, multi-cultural backgrounds, with a particular focus on Black diasporic ancestry and history in the Midwest and Western United States.