Finding Your Roots

Finding Your Roots

Culture Series / 5 Seasons

For more than a decade, renowned Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. has helped to expand America’s sense of itself, stimulating a national conversation about identity with humor, wisdom, and compassion. Professor Gates has explored the ancestry of dozens of influential people from diverse backgrounds, taking millions of viewers deep into the past to reveal the connections that bind us all.

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Jeh Johnson's Grandfather was a Renowned Sociologist at Fisk

7m 14s / TV-PG

"If you know your legacy, you know your history, you will find many interesting things." -- Jeh Johnson remarking on the long line of accomplished ancestors on the maternal and paternal sides of his family.

Angela Davis' Great-Grandfather Took a Slaveowner to Court

5m 42s / TV-PG

Angela Davis' great-grandfather, Isom, not only marks her family's transition from slavery to freedom, he's also at the center of a fascinating story involving the Freedmen's Bureau.

And Still I Rise Preview

32s / TV-PG

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. reveals the unexpected family trees of activist Angela Y. Davis and statesman Jeh Johnson, using DNA and long-lost records to redefine notions of the black experience—and challenge preconceptions of America’s past.

I'm Gonna Cry Aren't I?:Richard Kind's Holocaust Connection

5m 34s / TV-PG

Actor Richard Kind had always considered himself fortunate that he didn't have relatives who were in the Holocaust. But in this clip, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. reveals that the actor had a number of ancestors who were killed in the Holocaust, and one who survived.

Why Did David Duchovny's Family Come to America Then Leave?

7m 19s / TV-PG

David Duchovny and Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. trace the story of David's family journey to New York, the separation, reunion and tragic circumstances that later led to his great-grandfather relocating to Israel.

Chosen Preview

32s / TV-PG

Henry Louis Gates helps actors David Duchovny and Richard Kind trace their roots from Jewish communities in Eastern Europe and the Middle East to the United States. Telling stories of triumph and tragedy, Gates reveals how his guest’s ancestors tested the limits of luck and familial love as they battled to escape oppression and build a better life for future generations.

Joe Manganiello's Great-Grandmother Escaped Genocide

4m 27s / TV-PG

Joe Manganiello says his maternal great-grandmother, Terviz “Rose” Darakijan, survived the Armenian Genocide, during which over 1 million ethnic Armenians were murdered by the Ottoman state. Darakijan survived, but her entire family — her husband and seven out of eight children — were slaughtered by Turkish soldiers in 1915.

Tony Gonzalez' Ancestors' Incredible Reunion After Slavery

6m 20s / TV-PG

Tony Gonzalez and Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. discover a story of family separation during slavery and a remarkable reunion. Gonzalez, is widely considered the greatest tight end in NFL history, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

Family: Lost and Found Preview

32s / TV-PG

Henry Louis Gates uses DNA detective work to solve family mysteries for actor Joe Manganiello and football star Tony Gonzalez— uncovering close relatives whose names they’ve never heard and compelling each man to rethink his own identity.

Brian Cox's Grandfather Was Exposed to Poison Gas in WWI

4m 25s / TV-PG

Brian Cox learns that his grandfather was likely exposed to poison gas while fighting as a Scottish highlander in the 9th Battalion of the Black Watch while fighting on the Western Front during WWI.

The Hidden Truth in Viola Davis' Family Tree

10m 16s / TV-PG

Viola Davis and Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. dive into her family's past, and with the help of DNA and local records, discover a surprising secret her grandfather kept to himself. Viola Davis is a critically-revered, award-winning actress, producer, and New York Times Best-Selling Author. She is the first black actress to win two Tony Awards, an Oscar an Emmy and a Grammy.

Rising From the Ashes Preview

32s

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces the roots of actors Brian Cox and Viola Davis, uncovering records from workhouses in Scotland and slave plantations in South Carolina that reveal individuals who battled to build a better life for their families.

Danny Trejo Learns About His Ancestors' Journey to the U.S.

5m 34s / TV-PG

Because of a strained relationship with his father, actor Danny Trejo never learned much about his roots. But here, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. reveals the story of his great-grandparents' and their four children's grueling journey by foot from Mexico to the U.S. shortly after World War I.

Cyndi Lauper's Ancestors Played a Part in a Swiss Rebellion

4m 4s

Singer Cyndi Lauper, who has devoted her life to an array of social causes, had a great-grandfather who, as a "general agitator," helped organize a rebellion against unfair monetary policies in Switzerland in the early 1650s.

Far From Home Preview

32s

Henry Louis Gates explores the family trees of pop icon Cyndi Lauper and actors Jamie Chung and Danny Trejo, introducing them to ancestors whose stories were forgotten when their families immigrated to the United States. Drawing on long-lost records from Italy, Korea, Mexico, and Switzerland, Gates helps his guests to re-imagine their families and connect to their vanished histories.

Carol Burnett Learns Who Fought in Wars — and Who Fled

4m 28s / TV-PG

Carol Burnett and Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. uncover some surprising connections between her family, the American Revolution and the Civil War. Burnett, an award-winning actress and best-selling author, is widely recognized by the public and her peers for her work for her comedic and dramatic roles on television, film, and Broadway, most notably The Carol Burnett Show.

Niecy Nash Discovers Her Ancestor's History as Slaves

5m 40s / TV-PG

Niecy Nash is awestruck when she reads a will that bequeaths her 4th Great Grandfather to a plantation owner's daughter -- the first tangible evidence that she's ever seen of her family's history as slaves.

Secret Lives Preview

32s

Henry Louis Gates helps comedians Carol Burnett and Niecy Nash decode scandals and secrets that have lain hidden within their roots for generations, revealing stories that their ancestors went to great lengths to conceal. Along the way, Gates and his guests also explore the larger meaning of family bonds—and celebrate the virtue of accepting one’s relatives, whoever they may be.

Claire Danes Discovers Her Great-Grandfather’s WWI Sacrifice

5m 58s / TV-PG

Claire Danes and Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. uncover the story of her great-grandfather's heroic sacrifice in World War I and the story of her grandmother's journey to see his grave in France.

Jeff Daniels Ancestors Testified in the Salem Witch Trials

7m 37s

Jeff Daniels discovers his 8th great grandfather Captain Thomas Chandler, testified against Samuel Wardwell during the Salem Witch Trials, eventually sending him and multiple others to their death.

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