South Carolina Author Traces Maternal Lineage Back 44,000 Years to East Africa's Sandawe and Hadza Peoples

Eastover, SC - When Eastover, South Carolina native Michell F. Pulliam examined a cousin's DNA results during a family reunion, she had no idea it would lead to a 44,000-year journey into her maternal ancestry. What began as curiosity became Rooted, a memoir exploring legacy, resilience, identity, and what it means to come back into alignment with who you truly are.

Through mitochondrial DNA research, Pulliam discovered that her maternal line traces directly to the Hadza and Sandawe peoples of East Africa, placing her within one of the oldest known maternal haplogroups in the world. Her discovery deepened her understanding of how global lineage and South Carolina history intersect in one family's story.

Pulliam's discovery also sparked her desire to honor the women who shaped her family's story. "Learning that my bloodline stretches back 44,000 years was humbling," Pulliam explains. "It gave me a profound sense of belonging, and I knew I had to document it-not just for myself or my family, but to inspire others to uncover and celebrate their own roots. I thought I was writing a family memoir. But it became something larger. A remembering. A homecoming."

Rooted moves from rural South Carolina to East Africa, honoring generations of women, especially her grandmother Caroline, her mother Mary, and her seven aunts, whose strength and faith carried the family legacy forward.

The book has already gained local attention. Pulliam was recently featured as the cover story in Free Times/Post and Courier Columbia, and she was also included in a Midlands writers roundup highlighting new books by local authors in the same publication. She hosted a successful author event at All Good Books in Columbia that drew community members into conversations about ancestry and legacy.

Written for women and readers drawn to family lineage, cultural heritage, and self-discovery, Rooted is both deeply personal and relatable, inviting readers to reflect on their own histories and empowering them to tell their stories while recognizing the strength embedded in generations past.

Pulliam, a storyteller, advocate, and founder of a copywriting agency, uses her work to encourage others, particularly Black women, to reclaim and honor their lineage. Through Rooted, Pulliam is also cultivating a growing movement that encourages Black women to reconnect with their lineage, identity, and sense of belonging.

"This isn't just my story," she says. "It's for anyone who's ever felt there was more. More to their name, their beginning, and their becoming."

Rooted is available at Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Walmart, Target, Amazon, and independent bookstores nationwide. It is also held by the University of South Carolina Thomas Cooper Library, with additional holdings at the Richland County Library System and the Tennessee State Library and Archives. Acquisition is pending at the South Carolina State Library - South Carolina Collection. More information can be found at michellpulliam.com/rooted.

Links:
Rooted Book: https://michellpulliam.com/rooted
University of South Carolina Thomas Cooper Library Holding: https://tinyurl.com/yk7htdwr
Richland County Library System Holding: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/catalog/detail/2447754?return=/catalog?q%3D&AU=Pulliam,+Michell+F&item=2447754
Tennessee State Library and Archives Holding: https://search.worldcat.org/title/1568238047?oclcNum=1568238047
Free Times/Post and Courier Columbia Cover Story: https://www.postandcourier.com/free-times/eedition/page-a1/page_dafe1670-1296-5736-acf2-caa6eb58ba2d.html

Media contact:
Michell F. Pulliam
Fairfax, VA 22033
United States
Phone: 571-307-4572
Email: contact@michellpulliam.com
Press kit and media assets: https://tinyurl.com/3zru7p8t

About Michell F. Pulliam:
Michell F. Pulliam is a South Carolina native, storyteller, and the published author of four books spanning memoir, personal growth, and realistic women's fiction. Her work explores identity, human connection, legacy, and faith.

This release was published on openPR.