"As a Black teenager in Compton during the 1970s, Hiram Johnson began questioning his family’s past — and uncovered a story that would span generations. Through DNA testing and years of research, he traced his roots back to Mississippi and revealed hidden truths of race, trauma, and resilience. The BuzzFeed News feature by Virginia Hughes follows his journey from sheriff’s sergeant to family historian, uncovering how a legacy of injustice still ripples through modern life."