Press Release
African American Lives - "African American Lives 2"
COMING TO PBS IN FEBRUARY 2008, HENRY LOUIS GATES JR. TAKES AN ALL-NEW GROUP OF AFRICAN AMERICANS ON A QUEST TO DISCOVER THEIR ROOTS IN AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2
Maya Angelou, Morgan Freeman, Peter Gomes, Linda Johnson Rice, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Tom Joyner And Tina Turner Are Among The Accomplished Group Participating In Sequel To Landmark PBS Series
The Coca-Cola Company, Johnson & Johnson And Buick To Sponsor Series, A Production Of Thirteen/WNET New York, Kunhardt Productions And Inkwell Films
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. In February 2008 on PBS, Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. will guide an all-new group - poet Maya Angelou, actor Morgan Freeman, theologian Peter Gomes, publisher Linda Johnson Rice, athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee, radio host Tom Joyner and rock 'n' roll legend Tina Turner - on a journey to discover their ancestry in AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2. The new four-part series will draw on DNA analysis, genealogical research and family oral tradition to trace the lineages of the participants down through U.S. history and back to Africa.
In a unique twist to AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2, one ordinary individual, selected from more than 2,000 applicants, will join Professor Gates and this distinguished group on the life-changing quest for their roots.
AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2 is the centerpiece of a multifaceted project that will include a major new book written by Professor Gates and published by Crown, a division of Random House, a companion Web site, and teacher training and outreach events in seven key markets across the country.
Major corporate funding for AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2 and its outreach initiatives is provided by The Coca-Cola Company and Johnson & Johnson. Additional funding is provided by Buick. Funding is also provided by public television viewers and PBS.
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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About Thirteen/WNET New York
Thirteen/WNET New York is one of the key program providers for public television, bringing such acclaimed series as Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, Charlie Rose, Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly, Expos
Maya Angelou, Morgan Freeman, Peter Gomes, Linda Johnson Rice, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Tom Joyner And Tina Turner Are Among The Accomplished Group Participating In Sequel To Landmark PBS Series
The Coca-Cola Company, Johnson & Johnson And Buick To Sponsor Series, A Production Of Thirteen/WNET New York, Kunhardt Productions And Inkwell Films
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. In February 2008 on PBS, Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. will guide an all-new group - poet Maya Angelou, actor Morgan Freeman, theologian Peter Gomes, publisher Linda Johnson Rice, athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee, radio host Tom Joyner and rock 'n' roll legend Tina Turner - on a journey to discover their ancestry in AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2. The new four-part series will draw on DNA analysis, genealogical research and family oral tradition to trace the lineages of the participants down through U.S. history and back to Africa.
In a unique twist to AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2, one ordinary individual, selected from more than 2,000 applicants, will join Professor Gates and this distinguished group on the life-changing quest for their roots.
AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2 is the centerpiece of a multifaceted project that will include a major new book written by Professor Gates and published by Crown, a division of Random House, a companion Web site, and teacher training and outreach events in seven key markets across the country.
Major corporate funding for AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2 and its outreach initiatives is provided by The Coca-Cola Company and Johnson & Johnson. Additional funding is provided by Buick. Funding is also provided by public television viewers and PBS.
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.
.............
About Thirteen/WNET New York
Thirteen/WNET New York is one of the key program providers for public television, bringing such acclaimed series as Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, Charlie Rose, Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly, Expos