2. The Roots of Genea logy
Genealogy(家系学) ,the study of family history, is the second most popular hobby in America today. Millions of Americans spend their free time trying to trace their family lines, some reaching as far back as a thousand years. This interest in family history is not new. Many people remember their ancestors and honor them by passing on family names or keeping their stories alive. In fact, as a country, America showed its first real interest in genealogy in the 1890s. At this time, organizations such as the Daughters of the American Revolution were created to connect people with ancestors who played a part in early American history. But America’s interest in genealogy has grown over the past few decades, largely for two reasons.
One of the causes of genealogy’s most recent growth in popularity might be Alex Haley’s book Roots ,which follows one man’s family through slavery and all the way back to 18th century Africa. In one year, more than one million copies of the book were sold. In 1977 ,Roots was made into a television miniseries, which was watched by approximately 130 million people. At the time, that was the biggest audience any television program had ever had. People not only enjoyed the story of Roots, but also were interested in the idea that one man could learn so much about his family’s history. The idea that a man living in America in the twentieth century might have a direct link to important moments in history inspired many Americans to do their own genealogical studies and trace their own threads in the fabric of world history.
The Internet has also contributed to the enormous popularity of genealogy today because it is so convenient and vast. Before the Internet, people had to go to libraries and public records facilities to find information about their ancestors. But now, with a computer, anyone can access thousands of genealogy websites. While many of these websites contain useful information and resources, the Internet also provides people with the opportunity to meet hundreds, even thousands of other genealogists. Occasionally, genealogists even meet distant members of their own families and are able to share valuable research with each other.
2. The Roots of Genea logyAlex Haley was not a successful writer.