The very interesting television series WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE is available on DVD (and some YouTube videos) in case you never saw it, missed some, or want to watch it again. I just watched the second season in one long sitting, and as a researcher was sensitive to any reveals about how the research had progressed, the obvious tie in with the genealogy database Ancestry, and the various expressions of interest and appreciation which revealed that people vary in what they perceive as important, be it self knowledge or solving a family mystery.
Most viewers (I do hope) know that extensive research beyond the capabilities of the celebrities who travel to talk to professionals, archivists, and go to graveyards, is done and condensed into a show. I think bringing professionals into the research is only right and very smart. But they are only shown handing over color copied documents which might have taken many hours, weeks or months, to get ahold of. Then the celebrity is amazed.
One of the problems I found with one episode was a discussion of COLOR (RACE) on census and other documents. That someone is listed as White, or Mulatto, or Black, seems to be really subjective, even if the instructions to the census taker were fairly clear that when they looked at the person they exhibited certain traits. The PERCEPTION OF RACE is often dependent on the place and time. For instance I have found people called Black in the South who moved to Chicago and were considered White on records. So if I see a W, I don't automatically believe this person has a long European history.
On the show that featured Barbara Walters I learned how important it is to have a researcher who is willing to involve someone else if they cannot, say, read Hebrew off a tombstone. Barbara had genealogy done by a professional that had hit a brick wall because the Walters surname was not the Hebrew name of her Jewish ancestors. A local expert went to the cemetery where her father was buried and there on the tombstone was the name. This also proved that when you hire a second professional, they should go over the previous work of family, volunteers, and other professionals, to get situated, if not to prove or disprove the work.
It has happened to me that in looking over genealogy that a family member did for a client I've seen great leaps of faith presented as documented research and sadly, the family has put their reputation on this when they have to reason or right to, so bringing up the fact that something is speculation presented as fact is sensitive. Such leaps of faith are sometimes wishful thinking, such as anchoring the family in early colonial America. DNA sometimes help locate a relative who knows more or has family documents that move the speculation to proof, but often one must accept that they are cornered by the Brick Wall.
I like WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE as a show. I think it is interesting and useful and inspiring and it does familiarize the viewer with research.
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