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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed shows.
African American Lives
EMAILPRINTMINISERIES: PBS, begins Wednesday 2/1 at 9:00p
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 10 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 5 votes
Read user comments
Rate this show >
Show Info
Genre(s): Biography, History, Science & Nature
First Air Date: February 1, 2006
Summary
Starring Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (host)
Eight prominent African Americans--including Oprah Winfrey, Quincy Jones and Whoopi Goldberg--trace their lineage in this 4-hour PBS special.
Also On The Web: Official Show Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
The New York TimesVirginia Heffernan
It's the most exciting and stirring documentary on any subject to appear on television in a long time.
Read Full Review >Baltimore SunDavid Zurawik
It is all done so skillfully, thanks to the self-deprecating grace of Gates, that the series never loses its sense of adventure.
Read Full Review >Chicago Sun-TimesDoug Elfman
What makes the awful past easy to handle here is that it's delivered with graceful and quiet storytelling by its directors, by scholarly host Henry Louis Gates Jr. and by nine subjects.
Read Full Review >Boston GlobeJoanna Weiss
If nothing else, this is a stunning historical undertaking, a massive and detailed project tracing genealogical records and analyzing DNA, swiped from celebrity cheeks. But the program's greater power comes from the past itself. With minimal use of talking-head experts, it tells the small stories that make history feel more true.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles TimesRobert Lloyd
If a little repetitious and scattered, and a tad too insistent on Moments of Surprise, it is plenty interesting and often moving.
Read Full Review >San Jose Mercury NewsCharlie McCollum
Although a bit repetitive at times, this is a fascinating few hours that says a lot about how our country came to be.
Read Full Review >Philadelphia InquirerEllen Gray
There's a surprising amount of fun in Gates' sometimes meandering journey toward his and his subjects' roots.
Read Full Review >Hollywood ReporterBarry Garron
The first hour plays more like something on the Biography Channel, but the longer you watch, the higher up the family trees Gates climbs and the more incredible the view.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this show is 10.0 (out of 10) based on 5 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Vivian L gave it a10:
An a amazing documantry about tracing steps through time and figuring out what was impossible-- now possible throught DNA.
Bathsheba T gave it a10:
It answered many questions I had about my own family's migration west.
Pau W gave it a10:
One of the best programs I have ever seen on genealogy and particularly that of African Americans. I found it facinating - and helpful. I am currently helping someone trace their African American family tree. I am only disappointed in the fact that our Detroit PBS station is airing the show at 4am in the morning. I would like to see it again and would love for others to see it as well. I plan on buying my own copy. thank you
