Who Do You Think You Are?
Would knowing your family history change the way you feel about yourself? It’s surprising, but on the television series Who Do You Think You Are?, learning about long-dead family ancestors can indeed change the way people feel about themselves, and their feelings are not based on whether or not they have descended from aristocracy but the historical periods and events their ancestors witnessed and in which they participated. Acorn Media releases the first season of Who Do You Think You Are? on DVD March 15, 2011.
With assistance from Ancestry.com and an army of genealogists, researchers, and historians, seven celebrities (Sarah Jessica Parker, Emmitt Smith, Susan Sarandon, Spike Lee, Matthew Broderick, Brooke Shields, and Lisa Kudrow) trace a branch of their family trees and discover their ancestors. They not only learn names, but also facts about their lives, personalizing them and providing a link to the past. Not every story is heartbreaking, but they are all affective, providing unexpected insights.
Another surprising aspect of Who Do You Think You Are? is the drama connected to some of the discoveries. Learning about the experiences of Jews during the Holocaust, slaves in the American south, and women suspected of being witches in Salem is unsettling, but the effect of learning one’s forebears were owned or murdered puts human faces on tragic, horrific events.
Serving as a travelogue and history course, Who Do You Think You Are? entertains as it instructs. Just as the celebrities find a connection to their ancestors, we find an emotional connection to them, understanding and often sharing their reactions.
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