Pearl Duncan Biography
Pearl Duncan is the first person in the world to use DNA to trace her ancestors' journey from one continent to two others. By taking a DNA test in 1999 and using the family nicknames that survived in her African American family, she traced her ancestors to a family named Opare, of the Akan people of Ghana, West Africa. She then traced the Opares to specific farmers in African villages in the 1660s and, using genealogy, traced them to Colonial Jamaica in the 1960's and Scotland in the 1720's. Duncan discovered she has a male Scottish ancestor and a numerous African ancestors, whose modern-day African descendants she has met and compared DNA with.
Duncan will detail her remarkable story in an upcoming nonfiction book about using DNA and genealogy to trace ancestors. In this book, she highlights the "little people" who find nobles and slaves in their family trees. Given her ten years of research, the Ghanaians recognized her and the Scots granted her a medieval coat authorized by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.
An author and adventure sports travel writer, Duncan has written articles about Trans-Atlantic yacht races, travel, and other sports adventures as well as a book of short stories, Water Dancing, which received strong national reviews. She also contributed to A Rock Against the Wind: African American Poems and Letters of Love and Passion. Most recently, she has written about Wall Street and its history, as well as the Occupy Movement. Her articles have appeared in Sailing, Sail, Yacht/Racing, Cruising, Billboard, Record World, Essence, Black Enterprise, The Village Voice, The New York Soho Weekly News, Class, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Hartford Courant, Black World Today Online Magazine, and BET.com. Her search for her ancestors has been featured in The New York Times, The Palm Beach Post, and The Minneapolis Star-Tribune and on CBS-TV, BET-TV, and dozens of newspapers in Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, England, Sweden, and Brazil.
Duncan taught literature at Rutgers University-Newark, the College of New Rochelle, The College for Human Services, and Jersey City State College and was educated at Bryn Mawr College where she studied Humanities and Social Sciences.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Pearl Duncan and other top speakers and celebrities.
Pearl Duncan Speaking Topics
Genealogy is an exciting glimpse into history, and that’s no different for Duncan, who presents a riveting talk on African American genealogy and the Scottish connection. Records show that 300 years ago, her noble Scottish ancestors loaned money to the Campbell Clan nobles, who built and repaired Inveraray, the other impressive castle in popular Downton Abbey.
In 2005, Queen Elizabeth II and Scotland’s Court of the Lord Lyon granted a Scottish coat of arms to Duncan, based on records dated in the 1600s and 1700s from the British colony of Jamaica. She found ties to abolitionist and nobleman John Smellie fled Britain in 1715 when King George I slated his rebellious family for beheading. Shortly thereafter, a “lord,” one of her noble cousins, telephoned her to discuss their mutual noble ancestors. This led to a castle visit, and as it turns out, the possibility of owning another unclaimed castle! This would require finding certain lost marriage records, but Duncan is hard at work. She has already uncovered several birth and baptism records dating from 1726, and used DNA to confirm both Scottish and Maroon rebel African ancestors.
Attendees will not only learn about Duncan’s journey, but will also discover how they can find their own family ancestry in this fascinating program.
How do I book Pearl Duncan to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Pearl Duncan for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Pearl Duncan, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Pearl Duncan or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book Pearl Duncan for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Pearl Duncan, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is Below $10,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Pearl Duncan, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
What topics does Pearl Duncan speak about?
Pearl Duncan is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Adventure, Author, Social Sciences, Technology, Diversity & Inclusion, Black Heritage, Science, Biology and Culture.
Where does Pearl Duncan travel from?
Pearl Duncan generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for Pearl Duncan?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Pearl Duncan for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Pearl Duncan for your next private or corporate function.
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Pearl Duncan or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
Pearl Duncan is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Adventure, Author and Social Sciences. The estimated speaking fee range to book Pearl Duncan for live events is Below $10,000. Please contact us for virtual event fees. Pearl Duncan generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Van Jones, Michael Chorost and John Zogby. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Pearl Duncan for an upcoming event.
SPEAKING TOPICS
Pearl Duncan Speaking Topics
-
An American Link to a Castle in Downton Abbey
Genealogy is an exciting glimpse into history, and that’s no different for Duncan, who presents a riveting talk on African American genealogy and the Scottish connection. Records show that 300 years ago, her noble Scottish ancestors loaned money to the Campbell Clan nobles, who built and repaired Inveraray, the other impressive castle in popular Downton Abbey.
In 2005, Queen Elizabeth II and Scotland’s Court of the Lord Lyon granted a Scottish coat of arms to Duncan, based on records dated in the 1600s and 1700s from the British colony of Jamaica. She found ties to abolitionist and nobleman John Smellie fled Britain in 1715 when King George I slated his rebellious family for beheading. Shortly thereafter, a “lord,” one of her noble cousins, telephoned her to discuss their mutual noble ancestors. This led to a castle visit, and as it turns out, the possibility of owning another unclaimed castle! This would require finding certain lost marriage records, but Duncan is hard at work. She has already uncovered several birth and baptism records dating from 1726, and used DNA to confirm both Scottish and Maroon rebel African ancestors.
Attendees will not only learn about Duncan’s journey, but will also discover how they can find their own family ancestry in this fascinating program.
-
The History of Wall Street & the Occupy Movement
-
The Future of Medical DNA
-
DNA, Heritage, World Culture & the Migration of Humans
-
What Our DNA Says About Our Race, Heritage & Human Ancestry
FAQS
-
How do I book Pearl Duncan to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Pearl Duncan for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Pearl Duncan, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Pearl Duncan or any other speaker of your choice. -
How much does it cost to book Pearl Duncan for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Pearl Duncan, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is Below $10,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Pearl Duncan, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Pearl Duncan speak about?
Pearl Duncan is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Adventure, Author, Social Sciences, Technology, Diversity & Inclusion, Black Heritage, Science, Biology and Culture. -
Where does Pearl Duncan travel from?
Pearl Duncan generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. -
Who is the agent for Pearl Duncan?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Pearl Duncan for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Pearl Duncan for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Pearl Duncan or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
BOOK PEARL DUNCAN
We are happy to assist you with your interest in booking a speaker or celebrity for your event, your organization, and the type of talent you would like to secure, and an agent will be in touch shortly.
Fill out the form below to or call us at 1-800-698-2536 if need immediate assistance.
We respond to most inquiries within 4 hours. Under special circumstances, it may take up to 24 hours.
We are happy to help! Call us to speak with a booking agent about your event or specific speaker request.
Gauge Interest and check availability for appearances, speaking engagements, or corporate events.
Provide you with speaking fee to book Pearl Duncan or other celebrity appearance fees
Give you personal recommendations for the best keynote speakers or celebrities
Assist you with any questions you have throughout the talent booking process
This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.
All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.
