PBS series explores U.S. identity

Every now and then, a television project comes along that underscores the importance of genealogy, something many people are passionate about.

"Faces of America," a four-part PBS series that begins airing Wednesday night, is one of them.

The series reveals the family histories of 12 prominent Americans by focusing on their ancestors' experiences in their homelands, early days as immigrants in America and DNA testing.

The shows are presented and written by Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., whose previous PBS genealogy projects include "African American Lives" and "African American Lives 2."

"Faces of America" focuses on the families of Elizabeth Alexander (poet), Mario Batali (chef), Stephen Colbert (comedian, of Charleston), Louise Erdrich (novelist), Malcolm Gladwell (journalist), Eva Longoria (actress), Yo-Yo Ma (musician), Mike Nichols (director), Queen Noor (of Jordan), Dr. Mehmet Oz (television host/heart surgeon), Meryl Streep (actress) and Kristi Yamaguchi (figure skater).

Its goal is to answer questions about American history and identity: "What makes America? What makes us?"

Answers to those questions, of course, are in the collective histories and identities of the families that have populated this country. Considering those questions can prompt viewers to examine the relationship between family histories and broader histories, something too often overlooked.

The series of programs examines the broad historic events such as war and famine that led the families of the 12 Americans studied to leave their homelands. Understanding what motivated ancestors to leave one place and why they ended up in another, provides information that can be used to locate records for documenting their lives.

During the series, viewers will learn of one ancestor who fought Native Americans in a well-known war and a move to America prompted by a land dispute. Another ancestor told descendants he traveled to America in steerage, but whose arrival record says "first class."

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Still another arrived when immigrants in New York were refusing to fight in the Civil War.

One surprising fact was the number of those studied who had ancestors in common. One not surprising fact is that knowing more about their ancestors challenged the way those descendants see themselves.

"Faces of America" with Henry Louis Gates airs at 8 p.m. Feb. 10, 17 and 24 and March 3.

Reach Wevonneda Minis at 937-5705 or wminis@postandcourier.com.