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Title details for Finding Oprah's Roots by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. - Available

Finding Oprah's Roots

Finding Your Own

by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Dominic Hoffman
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
“Before I have a big meeting or decision to make,” says Oprah Winfrey, “I go and I sit with the ancestors. Literally, I go and sit in my closet and I say their names. I just say their names so that when I walk into the space, I don’t walk alone.”
This audiobook will help millions of African Americans never again to walk alone.
What’s more, it will show people of all races what the story of Oprah’s ancestors teaches–the legacy one generation bequeaths another, how who we are is startlingly influenced by the paths our ancestors have trod, and the extraordinary impact that even the most humble among us can have on future generations through the simple process of building a life for our loved ones.
In FINDING OPRAH’S ROOTS, prominent African American scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., shines a brilliant searchlight into the dark shadows that have enveloped African American ancestry. By assembling an elite team of historians and geneticists in coordination with PBS and using Oprah and her forebears as his chief example, Gates unveils a process akin to resurrection. FINDING OPRAH’S ROOTS will not only endow listeners with a new appreciation for the key contributions made by history’s unsung but also equip them with the tools to connect to pivotal figures in their own past.
For Oprah, the path back to the past was emotion-filled and profoundly illuminating, connecting the narrative of her family to the larger American narrative and “anchoring” her in a way not previously possible. For the listener, FINDING OPRAH’S ROOTS offers the possibility of an equally rewarding experience.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Awards

  • Release date

    March 6, 2007

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781415939161
      • File size: 155359 KB
      • Duration: 05:23:39

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Library Journal

      Starred review from November 1, 2007
      Professor Gates has created an excellent guide for all would-be genealogists in this companion piece to the PBS documentary Oprah's Roots. From beginning to end, Gates uses clear examples to provide listeners with a solid framework for conducting their own genealogical expedition. This work has special significance for African American researchers as it delves into the challenges of tracing slave ancestors prior to the end of the Civil War and emancipation. The author emphasizes the importance of gathering and confirming as much oral history as one can and cites excellent print and online tools. Gates notes that trips to historical societies and cemeteries can be invaluable, but getting started in genealogical research doesn't have to be expensive. As one of the most popular and influential women in the world today, it is fascinating to learn about Oprah's family, her childhood, and the accomplishments of her forebears. Gates successfully emphasizes the importance of accurate research as he relates how a team of historians and geneticists were able to trace Winfrey's lineage back to Africa. Narrator Dominic Hoffman executes this gem of a book with a comfortable and polished delivery. Highly recommended for all public libraries.Valerie Piechocki, Prince George's Cty. Memorial Lib., Largo, MD

      Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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