African American Lives | PBS

African American Lives | PBS

This is the best thing I have seen on TV since Alex Haley’s ROOTS !!!!!

Last week I heard on the radio about a PBS documentary concerning African American history and tracing our past lineages and hosted by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Since I have been a fan of Dr Gates for years, I thought I would check it out. I didn’t get home in time to set up my DVR (Digital Video Recorder) to record it from the beginning so I did a search and found that it also re-played last night. Wow, WOW, WWWWOOOOOOW. This is a must see for every African American in this country. Not only did they trace the family histories of several celebrities, Dr. Gates also had genetic tests to identify what percentage of their ancestors were European, African, Asian or Indian. To top it off, they also conducted a second series of tests to narrow done to specific tribes and countries your DNA most likely came from. You have got to see the expressions and results they found for Oprah, Quincy Jones, Whoopi Goldberg and Chris Tucker. You will be shocked and amazed at what this technology can identify.

I read about this genetic testing in Black Enterprise magazine and found that anyone can find out their own genetic results. Go to www.Africanancestry.com

Read More Here—-

I copied this from the PBS website:

“Hosted by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., W.E.B. Du Bois professor of the Humanities and chair of African and African American Studies at Harvard University, AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES, an unprecedented four-part PBS series, takes Alex Haley’s Roots saga to a whole new level through moving stories of personal discovery. Using genealogy, oral history, family stories and DNA analysis to trace lineage through American history and back to Africa, the series provides a life-changing journey for a diverse group of highly accomplished African Americans: Dr. Ben Carson, Whoopi Goldberg, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Dr. Mae Jemison, Quincy Jones, Dr. Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot, Chris Tucker and Oprah Winfrey.

The series works to restore the participants’ lineages in reverse chronological order. Starting with the oral histories of the individuals’ families, and drawing on photographs, film clips, music and early personal records, Professor Gates begins to trace their family trees back through the 20th century. Noted historians and expert genealogists around America help fill in missing branches, in the process explaining how such major events as Jim Crow segregation and the post-World War I “Great Migration” from the South to the North helped shape African-American families.

Professor Gates’ genealogical research becomes increasingly difficult as he works back through the Reconstruction, Civil War, Colonial and early slave trade periods in American history. When the genealogical road comes to an end, he turns to some of the country’s leading scientists who are involved in cutting-edge work using DNA samples to trace ancestral roots to Africa. Finally, Professor Gates joins one series participant in the last leg of the journey, across the Atlantic to the western coast of Africa. There, they visit an area where genetic, historical and anthropological evidence suggests the participant’s ancestors lived.

For some Americans, the essential question — “Where do I come from?” — cannot be answered; their history has been lost or stolen. But through genealogical research and groundbreaking DNA analysis, AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES not only provides a transformational discovery for several prominent African Americans, but also serves as an example for all Americans of the empowerment derived from knowing their heritage.”

To end the series, Chris Tucker is taken all the way over to Africa and unites with the exact village/people his ancestors came from. I had to admit, it was difficult watching Chris handle such a serious topic without cracking a joke, but you can tell he was very touched by the whole experience.

Click here to go to descriptions of the four episodes

Click here to check local listings

Click here to go to bios of the filmakers

I found that it show again in my area again next Tuesday morning a 3a.m. YES 3a.m. and yes, I am going to be up and watching it again…..

I learned that if you don’t get a chance to see it, you can purchase the DVD set for $34.99. The release date is March 22nd. Click here to go to the PBS Store.