If you're of African-American heritage, you'll definitely want to enter this contest! And BTW, I'll be one of the nosy genealogists poking around in your past! Good luck!
April 18, 2007 11:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Producers of Acclaimed PBS Series African American Lives and Oprah’s Roots Invite Applications from Individuals to Participate in Newest PBS Broadcast, African American Lives 2
One Selected Person Will Have His Or Her Roots Mapped Through DNA Analysis And Genealogical Research In New PBS Series Hosted By Harvard Scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr.
Individuals Can Apply Online Beginning April 18th At: www.pbs.org/aalives
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In February 2006, the acclaimed PBS series African American Lives brought to the forefront of national consciousness the powerful process of discovering one’s family history. A Roots for the 21st century, the series made a deep cultural impact through its riveting use of DNA analysis, genealogical research and family oral tradition to trace the lineages of highly accomplished African Americans down through U.S. history and back to Africa.
One year later, Oprah’s Roots further crystallized and propelled America’s interest in family tree research through the powerful stories of Oprah Winfrey’s ancestors and their accomplishments.
Now, you too are invited to participate in the newest African American Lives project. The producers of African American Lives 2 are seeking an African American to join Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and an all-new group of distinguished African Americans on an extraordinary journey of discovery. The series is tentatively scheduled to air on PBS in February 2008.
“What we find in doing this research is that even a regular person has extraordinary stories within his or her family,” says Professor Gates. “In African American Lives 2, we’ll work with one such person to show that the technology and resources for discovering these stories are available to all Americans, especially those of African descent.”
Under the supervision of Professor Gates, the series’ research will be conducted by the eminent genealogists Tony Burroughs, Johni Cerny, Jane Ailes and Megan Smolenyak together with Ancestry.com, one of the world’s leading online resources for family history information. They’ll research the selected individual’s family history, while a DNA testing service will provide a genetic analysis. The results of both will be revealed, along with that of the other series participants, by Professor Gates on the PBS broadcast of African American Lives 2.
HOW TO ENTER
Beginning April 18th, interested individuals must apply online at www.pbs.org/aalives. Online applications must be received by 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 4, 2007. Any applications submitted after this date and time will not be considered. Finalists will receive a one-year subscription to Ancestry.com. The winning applicant will be notified and announced the week of May 28, 2007. Please note that the following are not eligible to participate: employees, and their relatives, of PBS, the series’ producers (Thirteen/WNET, Kunhardt Productions, and Inkwell Films) and corporate sponsors (The Coca-Cola Company, Johnson & Johnson and General Motors).
In addition to their name, age, gender, and contact information, applicants will be asked to tell the judges about themselves and their family, and why they would make the ideal candidate for the series.
Upon submitting the online application, individuals will receive an e-mail confirmation with a unique identification number. Applicants must attach this number along with their name to a photograph of themselves and mail it to: African American Lives 2, 305 West Broadway, Suite 144, New York, NY 10013. Photographs must be postmarked no later than Monday, May 7. Applications are not complete until the production team receives an individual’s photograph.
Major corporate funding for African American Lives 2 is provided by The Coca-Cola Company and Johnson & Johnson. Additional funding is provided by General Motors.
African American Lives 2 is a co-production of Thirteen/WNET New York, Kunhardt Productions and Inkwell Films. Graham Judd is series producer; Dyllan McGee is senior producer for Kunhardt Productions. Executive producers are Henry Louis Gates Jr., William R. Grant and Peter W. Kunhardt.
Comments (14)
If I were of African-american heritage, I'll definitely want to enter this contest. I fell so luck.
I would like to ask my friends on EbonyFriends.com to read this article.
Posted by Daniel Pennant | April 21, 2007 3:07 AM
Posted on April 21, 2007 03:07
I've seen your show I think it's very fortunate to know who you are...I would like to know who? And where? I came from, and are my ancestors...where did the come from, history is very fascinating to me, because it tells a story even when there's no story to tell. Would like to know how do I go about getting help in this area of my life? I'm not a celebrity, but it is very vital to me and my family to know, I'm just a normal guy wanting help in this area of my life.
Thanks
Steven Askew
Posted by Steven askew | February 7, 2008 4:17 AM
Posted on February 7, 2008 04:17
I think it is wonderful to give a person an opportunity to learn about their heritage. My grandfather and his immediate family were slaves in Nanjemoy, Maryland. He ran away through the underground rail and he joined the Civil War. His twin brothers ran for freedom first. My mother is my grandfather's last surviving child out of fifteen children.
Thanks for the show
Posted by Anonymous | February 7, 2008 4:30 AM
Posted on February 7, 2008 04:30
i wish i had known about this contest i am trying to trace my family history and i am just stuck. my grandfather died. his brother died one brother remains...their mom died when they were really young and then their dad died some years later the courthouse in alabama burned down years ago and some records burned so its kind of difficult to trace my family....im bummed.
Posted by amber | February 7, 2008 5:49 AM
Posted on February 7, 2008 05:49
There is an interesting story of Mammy Kate and Daddy Jack owned by Gov.Stephen Heard. Stephen Heard's family was located in Virginia, Georgia, and South Carolina.I would like to know more about her family now. Daddy Jack and she are buried at Heardmont plantation as husband and wife. She was freed because she rescued Stephen Heard from British prison during revolutionary times. He was grateful for her heroism. I hope that her family ramained free. If they did not what happened to them then if they were not? Who are their ancestors and what are their accomplishments? Please find Mama Kate and Daddy Jack's family and follow them through history to the present. Mammy Kate is a famous heroic former slave and her story has been in history books for years. I think that a follow up to see her legacy is due.
Posted by Anonymous | February 14, 2008 3:28 AM
Posted on February 14, 2008 03:28
I'm a 39 year old man who's a native to Harlem N.Y. now residing in L.A.Just by chance I bumped into your very educational show about our ancestors.I never knew but just a hand full of my family and would have loved to participate in your contest,maybe next time.Being in and out of foster homes all my life,it's alway's been intriguing to me.Who am I?where do I really come from.Are those people they're showing in those old photographs connected to my lineage?Funny thing is when I finally thought all my questions were about to be answered,because my first cousin was accepted into the Mashantucket Pequots in Foxwoods CT.I wasn't even accepted in that.I asked myself how could I be denyed again?So they're reaping all the benefits of being casino owners and I'm still searching for my family.Well atleast I can still write my story because I definetly have worth reading about.Thanks for allowing me to voice this.
Posted by Anthony Perkins | February 17, 2008 7:18 AM
Posted on February 17, 2008 07:18
This is the first time that I have seen the show and I have seen it twice in one weekend! How much would it cost to have all of these genealogists working on one family tree? How can I find out how to have my family tested? Thank you so much for the dedication of Dr Gates for this fascinating work!
M.S.Garman
Posted by M.S.Garman | February 17, 2008 11:40 PM
Posted on February 17, 2008 23:40
My name is Wilbert Cooley and I'm a 53 year old African American. I was born in Mobile Alabama to the union of Wilmer Cooley and Marie Davis Cooley. On my father's side of the family there were four sons born to the union of George Cooley and Beatrice Moody Cooley and on my mother's side of the family there were six boys and two girls born to the union of Jeff Davis and Lula Cleveland Davis.
I'm sad to say that I know absolutely nothing about my ancestors. However, I'm extremely interested in learning more about my roots. My father is the only living sibling of his family and my mother and one of her brothers is still living.
There is a slave marker that is located in downtown Mobile that father has told us that he was told by his grandmother that they (her, her brother and her husband) were sold.
My grandfather was convicted of killing the white man that he and his family sharecropped for in 1936. I have researched the court files related to my grandfathers case and I'm very suspicious of his conviction in Washington County Alabama. I have discussed my grandfather with none family members that I have encountered over the years and what they have told me about him does not jibe with what the law book said about his conviction.
The law book described my grandfather as a bully, but what I have been told is that he was a very smart and industrious man. In my view, he would have had better sense than to be a bully in South Alabama in 1936.
I would love to know more about my ancestors.
Wilbert Cooley
Posted by wilbert cooley | February 17, 2008 11:43 PM
Posted on February 17, 2008 23:43
Is this info about a 2007 that is now over?
Is there an ongoing similar contest for 2008 that
ordinary African Americans can enter in hopes of
being selected to have their "African Roots" traced as well by PBS?
Thanks for your reply.
D.M.Latham (Dee)
Posted by Donna M. Latham | February 19, 2008 7:27 PM
Posted on February 19, 2008 19:27
I watched African American Lives in 2006 and resently watched African American Lives 2. I have been trying to find out more about my family.Watching the segment about Tom Joyner's family members(The Griffin Brothers)
electracuted in 1915 and hearing the name Joe Malloy,who was electracuted also, Was a WOW Factor.I believe he may be a member of my Father's family they are Malloy's from South Carolina. As we all know there are two sides of every family and my Grandfather (Mother side) I know a little about came here from Africa and want to know more.I would love to participate in your program with Mr.Gates.I hope you are looking for more people to be apart of African American Lives.Thank You very much for letting me tell my story.
Posted by Sheila Malloy-Mitchell | February 19, 2008 11:20 PM
Posted on February 19, 2008 23:20
I am really excited about the thoroughness of the research Prof. Gates, is providing. I have photos of my Grt.Grt.Grand father. My Grandmother is still with us at 92 and in her right mind. My aunt passed away 4yrs ago over 100y/o. They were Bogards from Carlise, Arkansas. I plan on getting the full search to leave for my children.
Thank You ALL BA.
Posted by Brenda Alexander | February 25, 2008 10:05 AM
Posted on February 25, 2008 10:05
Please choose me for your next contest! My family have told me all my life that we are half Indian American. After watching your show that aired March 12, 2008 I saw only 2 out of 12 had some American Indian blood in them even though Don Cheadle's family were slaves to Indians.
I love history and would like to know my family ancestory. I did find out that my mother and father are distant cousins. I was shocked so I'm sure that there is more insightful information about my family history that would definitely make for an interesting find. The grave sites of my ancestors still exist in Manassas, Virginia.
Thank you very much for airing this show.
Respectfully,
Karen M. Griffin
Posted by Karen Griffin | March 14, 2008 6:34 PM
Posted on March 14, 2008 18:34
If there's and African American Lives 3 contest, I would like to have my family considered. My Grandmother just passed away May 31, 2008 at the age of 89, her last remaining sibling will be 100 yrs old next year and still has a sharp mind. She has many pictures of the family and many stories. People come from other states to find out information about their family that are not related to her. My grandmother told stories of her father being poisoned by someone, and stories of her grandmother who suffered from dementia, and at times thought she was still a slave. She would take my uncle when he was a little boy and attempt to escape with him because she thought he was her younger brother. She also would tell a story of an ancestor who buried the deed to his property and couldn't remember where it was and lost the land. The deed was found by chance later when the road was widened. There are more stories and some mysteries, may aunt has found a branch of the family tree that goes back to the 1820's.
Thanks for the consideration.
Steven Copeland
Posted by Steven Copeland | June 19, 2008 1:32 AM
Posted on June 19, 2008 01:32
How can I get started to have my roots traced?
Posted by janice Durant | July 2, 2008 10:03 PM
Posted on July 2, 2008 22:03