I happened to catch a show on PBS last night that was fabulous! It's called Faces of America With Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Dr. Gates takes his viewers on a journey during which he explores the family histories of twelve renowned Americans including Yo-Yo Ma, Dr. Oz, Meryl Streep, Kristi Yamaguchi, and others.
Last night's episode discussed the use of DNA testing to determine ancestry groups and relationships among these twelve individuals who seemingly had no kinship whatsoever. You will be surprised to see just who ended up sharing distant ancestors! The difficulties of African-American genealogy research was also discussed in relation to the genetic testing that can be done. Professor and poet, Elizabeth Alexander's family history story will blow you away!
This show's impact on race and religious relations cannot be overstated. To watch Dr. Gates reveal the proof of the sharing of a distant ancestor and DNA between Dr. Mehmet Oz, a Muslim, and the Jewish Mike Nichols was fascinating. As I watched, I could only think that this program should be required watching for all people on Earth. Maybe this science could be the answer for the peace and harmony here and abroad we have been forever seeking.
I urge you to look for this series of shows on your local PBS station. The show premiered earlier this year, but episodes can be watched on the Internet by visiting the Faces of America With Henry Louis Gates website. As Henry Louis Gates shares with his father, "Know thyself".
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