Roy Wood Jr.’s is DNA Cousins with Congressman John Lewis
“He was always nice to me.” Roy Wood Jr. discovers his DNA cousin match is one of the pioneers of the Civil Rights movement, the great John Lewis
Lewis Black and Marc Maron are DNA Cousins!
Comedy runs in the family! Lewis Black and previous Finding Your Roots guest Marc Maron are cousins.
Laughing on the Inside Preview
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. provides comedians Lewis Black and Roy Wood, Jr. with accounts of hardship in their family trees which may have led them to each find humor in adversity.
Maternal Third Great Grandparents Freed from Slavery
“Look what they did. Look at what they achieved.” Audra McDonald is moved to learn her maternal third great-grandparents survived slavery, started a family, and purchased land post-Civil War.
Mandy Explains His Favorite Line in Literature
As long as there is one person on Earth that remembers you, it isn’t over.” Mandy Patinkin explains his favorite line in literature from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Carousel” as it relates to his family discoveries.
Audra Reacts to Seeing Her Ancestors Listed as Property
In an 1860s census, we uncovered a slave schedule listing Audra McDonald’s ancestor as property, which caused a mixture of emotions for Audra.
Mandy Learns He Had Family Members in the Holocaust
Mandy Patinkin believed for years that his family was not murdered during the Holocaust, through his conversation with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. he sadly learns that they were one of the victims.
On Broadway
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. investigates the family histories of Broadway stars Audra McDonald and Mandy Patinkin, discovering ancestors whose struggles laid the groundwork for their success.
Tenacity in the Genes
Gretchen Carlson learns she may have inherited her tenacity and assertiveness from her ancestors, who bravely fought in the civil war.
Shame Hurts
Gretchen Carlson explains the emotions she felt towards her former pageantry journey as Miss America.
Main Motor’s History
Gretchen Carlson learns that her great grandparents separated, and her great grandmother raised their children on her own.
DNA Match
Don Lemon finds out that he is a descendent of the white man who owned his maternal ancestors.
Don’s Dad and the Civil Rights Movement
Don Lemon discovers his late father was a trailblazer during the Civil Rights Movement, filing a lawsuit in Baton Rouge to desegregate the public transportation buses.
Don Lemon Learns How His Relatives Were Valued
Don Lemon discovers shocking news that his maternal ancestors were sold for $1,800 after a slave owner’s wife passed away.
Anchored to the Past Preview
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. examines how journalists Gretchen Carlson and Don Lemon were able to overcome biases in their careers, drawing parallels to relatives who met profound challenges of their own.
Maria Hinojosa Discovers Her Ancestor Founded a City
Maria Hinojosa learns that her 11th great-grandfather was listed as the founder of Monterey, Mexico.
John Lithgow’s Family Fled The Dominican Republic
John Lithgow discovers that his great great grandfather was on the front line of the war against Spanish troops.
Maria Hinojosa’s Great-Great-Grandfather Was a Railway CEO
Maria Hinojosa learns that her great-great grandfather was one of the four notable investors for a railway in Spain, titling him as CEO.
John Lithgow’s Ongoing Cousin Reveal
John Lithgow discovers he is DNA cousins with actor Clint Eastwood on this week’s episode of Finding Your Roots.
Imprisoned Puritan Great-Grandfather
John Lithgow discovers that his Puritan great-grandfather was arrested at 17-years old for his religious beliefs.
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