AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2 on PBS to Feature Kathleen Henderson of Ohio, Chosen from Casting Call to Participate in Four-Part Series Premiering February 6 and 13.

NEW YORK -- From more than 2,000 applications by ordinary Americans, Kathleen Henderson of Ohio has been selected to participate in AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2, a four-part series exploring roots, race and identity through the ancestry of remarkable individuals. Hosted by Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2 premieres Wednesdays, February 6 and 13 at 9 p.m. (ET) on PBS (check local listings).

Henderson, a college administrator, was selected after a thorough evaluation of applicants who were asked to describe the extent of their knowledge of their family's history and why they would be the ideal candidate to participate in AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2. She joins the series' well known participants - poet Maya Angelou, author Bliss Broyard, actor Don Cheadle, actor Morgan Freeman, theologian Peter Gomes, publisher Linda Johnson Rice, athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee, radio personality Tom Joyner, comedian Chris Rock, and rock 'n' roll legend Tina Turner - in having her ancestry revealed through in-depth genealogical research and DNA analysis.

"I remember when Oprah's Roots was on, a couple of older relatives said, 'They keep doing famous people, they ought to do some regular people,'" said Henderson. "This is the greatest gift I can give to my family, and the stories they uncovered about my ancestors absolutely surprised me."

Major corporate funding for AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2 and its outreach initiatives is provided by The Coca-Cola Company and Johnson & Johnson. Additional funding is provided by Buick. Funding is also provided by public television viewers and PBS.

AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2 is a co-production of Thirteen/WNET New York, Kunhardt Productions and Inkwell Films. Executive producers are Henry Louis Gates, Jr., William R. Grant, Peter W. Kunhardt, and Dyllan McGee. Graham Judd is senior producer. Leslie Asako Gladsjo, Jesse Sweet, and Jack Youngelson are producers/directors.

Thirteen/WNET New York is one of the key program providers for public television, bringing such acclaimed series as Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, Charlie Rose, Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly, Wide Angle, Secrets of the Dead, NOW With David Brancaccio, and Cyberchase - as well as the work of Bill Moyers - to audiences nationwide. As the flagship public broadcaster in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut metro area, Thirteen reaches millions of viewers each week, airing the best of American public television along with its own local productions such as The Ethnic Heritage Specials, The Thirteen Walking Tours, New York Voices, and Reel New York. Thirteen extends the impact of its television productions through educational and community outreach projects - including the Teaching and Learning Celebration - as well as Web sites and other digital media platforms. More information can be found at: www.thirteen.org.