Faces of America with Henry Louis Gates Jr.

[CBHagman]

PBS has just begun broadcasting a new genealogy series delving into the family histories of a number of prominent Americans, including Stephen Colbert, Malcolm Gladwell, Eva Longoria-Parker, Queen Noor, Meryl Streep, and Kristi Yamaguchi.


http://www.pbs.org/wnet/facesofamerica/

It's been said the best way to have your family history come to light is to run for public office! I guess this is the next best thing, and much less miserable.

[Rosie1223]

1. NBC has one coming up, too

They're promoting that Sarah Jessica Parker is descended from a Salem Witch.

http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/01/nbc-schedules-geneology-series-casts-sarandon.html

I'm guessing the PBS one will be better, jmo.

[eleny]

2. I enjoyed the first episode a lot

Gates has such a low key, quiet personal style. But the program kept moving and I was sorry when the hour came to a close.

Several times I got teary eyed since the family stories were so moving.

[dalaigh lllama]

3. This series is just astounding!

Makes me wish I were famous so researchers would travel around the world and dig up obscure documents for my ancestors. Last night they went to China and found Yo Yo Ma's family genealogy dating back to the 1400's. Also dug up one of Colbert's German Lutheran ancestors from Alsace who came over in early 1700's -- maybe he and I are related, cuz that's when and where one of my lines came over.

[Bombero1956]

4. I had mixed feelings watching the programs

On the one hand I liked all the information on how these people all end up being distantly related, but on the other hand I found myself becoming envious that so much could be found about their ancestors while I can't do the same. My family came here from Puerto Rico and from what I'm told the records for my family were all destroyed during hurricanes that struck the island in the early 1900's. I long to know more about my ancestors but I can only go back to my grandparents.