'African American Lives 2' to be produced for February 2008 airing on PBS

(June 27, 2007) The critically acclaimed PBS broadcasts African American Lives (2006) and Oprah’s Roots (2007) shined a national spotlight on the powerful process of discovering one’s family history. This month, the producers of those landmark programs begin an ambitious filming schedule on African American Lives 2 that will take them across the country over the course of the summer. Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. is guiding an all-new group of men and women, including a poet, a pop star, a theologian, a comedian, a publisher, an actor, a radio personality, and a rock ’n’ roll legend, on the dramatic quest for their roots – with a unique twist.

From more than 2,000 applications by ordinary Americans, the producers of African American Lives 2 identified 10 finalists and then selected one winner, who will join the other participants in having their ancestry revealed when the series premieres in February 2008.

“It gives me great pleasure to announce that we have selected an individual to join our group of celebrated African Americans as I take them all on this life-altering journey,” says Professor Gates, series host. “This person’s family history adds an exciting new element to African American Lives 2, and will help show that this process of discovery is available to all Americans.”

The winner was selected after a thorough evaluation of applicants who were asked to describe the extent of their knowledge of their family’s history and why they would be the ideal candidate to participate in African American Lives 2. The 10 finalists included men and women from around the country.

“We were thrilled to receive so many applications, and deeply impressed at the large number of people who have already made great strides in researching their family history,” said Professor Gates. “It was extremely difficult to winnow those applicants down to 10 finalists and even harder to choose just one.”

African American Lives 2 will draw on DNA analysis, genealogical research and family oral tradition to trace the lineages of the 10 participants down through U.S. history and back to Africa.

Major corporate funding for this new production and its outreach initiatives 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.


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 13th Edition Now Available 
New Buying Power report shows more spending by black consumers on 'necessities'

Thanks to economic gains in the past two years, black households across the U.S., especially middle-class families, are increasing their purchases of lifestyle and leisure items.

According to the newest edition of “The Buying Power of Black America,” there are indications that black households are feeling more confident about making purchases that...
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Black Issues Book Review presents the National Book Club Conference - Chicago to be held on Friday and Saturday, August 24 and 25, 2007, in downtown Chicago at the InterContinental Hotel .

Hundreds of book club members will be engaged in dialogue with some of the nation's leading African American authors, including Tina McElroy Ansa, Mary Morrison, Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant.

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