Culture

Finding Your Roots

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.

Country Roots

52m 11s

Henry Louis Gates Jr. uncovers the remarkably diverse backgrounds of country music icons Clint Black and Rosanne Cash.

Episodes

  • Country Roots: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Country Roots

    S7 E6 - 52m 11s

    Henry Louis Gates Jr. uncovers the remarkably diverse backgrounds of country music icons Clint Black and Rosanne Cash.

  • Write My Name in the Book of Life: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Write My Name in the Book of Life

    S7 E5 - 52m 10s

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps musician Pharrell Williams and filmmaker Kasi Lemmons uncover extraordinary rare first-person accounts of their enslaved.

  • The Shirts on Their Backs: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Shirts on their Backs

    S7 E4 - 52m 10s

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. reveals the immigrant roots of actors Tony Shalhoub and Christopher Meloni, introducing ancestors who came to America to build a better life.

  • No Irish Need Apply: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    No Irish Need Apply

    S7 E3 - 52m 10s

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the roots of actor Jane Lynch and comedian Jim Gaffigan, revealing the Irish American experience through their families.

  • Against All Odds: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Against All Odds

    S7 E2 - 52m 10s

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. introduces media personality Andy Cohen and radio journalist Nina Totenberg to ancestors who were determined to survive.

  • To the Manor Born: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    To the Manor Born

    S7 E1 - 52m 11s

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. discovers the privileged lineages that claim actor Glenn Close and director John Waters as descendants, introducing ancestors who are as bold and independent as they are.

Extras + Features

  • The New World Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The New World Preview

    S7 E7 - 30s

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces ancestors of actor John Lithgow and journalist Maria Hinojosa who thrived in North America long before the birth of the United States.

  • Revolutionary War Hero: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Revolutionary War Hero

    S7 E6 - 1m 14s

    Clint Black discovers that his fourth great grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War as a patriot.

  • A Surprise in DNA: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    A Surprise in DNA

    S7 E6 - 1m 14s

    Clint Black learns that he is 1% Sub-Saharan African, equivalent to a fourth or fifth great grandparent of full Black African ancestry.

  • Johnny Cash was an Amateur Genealogist: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Johnny Cash was an Amateur Genealogist

    S7 E6 - 1m 12s

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. learns that Johnny Cash was an amateur genealogist, and as a result, Rosanne had a bit of knowledge about her ancestral background.

  • African American Ancestry: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    African American Ancestry

    S7 E6 - 1m 27s

    Rosanne Cash learns she has African American ancestry on both sides of her family tree.

  • Country Roots Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Country Roots Preview

    S7 E6 - 34s

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. uncovers the remarkably diverse backgrounds of country music icons Clint Black and Rosanne Cash.

  • A Descendant of a Musician: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    A Descendant of a Musician

    S7 E6 - 50s

    Clint Black learns the truth behind his great-grandfather's immigration to the United States from Italy.

  • Write My Name in the Book of Life Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Write My Name in the Book of Life Preview

    S7 E5 - 34s

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps musician Pharrell Williams and filmmaker Kasi Lemmons uncover extraordinary rare first-person accounts of their enslaved ancestors.

  • Direct African Descendants: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Direct African Descendants

    S7 E5 - 2m 9s

    Kasi Lemmons discovers that her third great grandfather was transported to the United States from Africa in the early 1800s.

  • What Art Is About: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    What Art Is About

    S7 E5 - 56s

    Kasi Lemmons discusses how she does not feel beholden to censorship when it comes to the Black experience and is interested in showing humanity's gray areas.

Schedule

  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    Slave Trade

    Sunday
    Apr 11

    1 Hour

    Questlove, S. Epatha Merkerson and Ava DuVernay explore the unexpected places where their ancestors were scattered by slavery.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    Slave Trade

    Monday
    Apr 12

    1 Hour

    Questlove, S. Epatha Merkerson and Ava DuVernay explore the unexpected places where their ancestors were scattered by slavery.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    Slave Trade

    Monday
    Apr 12

    1 Hour

    Questlove, S. Epatha Merkerson and Ava DuVernay explore the unexpected places where their ancestors were scattered by slavery.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    The New World

    Tuesday
    Apr 13

    1 Hour

    The ancestors of actor John Lithgow and journalist Maria Hinojosa thrive in North America long before the birth of the U.S.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    The New World

    Tuesday
    Apr 13

    1 Hour

    The ancestors of actor John Lithgow and journalist Maria Hinojosa thrive in North America long before the birth of the U.S.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    The New World

    Wednesday
    Apr 14

    1 Hour

    The ancestors of actor John Lithgow and journalist Maria Hinojosa thrive in North America long before the birth of the U.S.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    The New World

    Wednesday
    Apr 14

    1 Hour

    The ancestors of actor John Lithgow and journalist Maria Hinojosa thrive in North America long before the birth of the U.S.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    The New World

    Wednesday
    Apr 14

    1 Hour

    The ancestors of actor John Lithgow and journalist Maria Hinojosa thrive in North America long before the birth of the U.S.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    The New World

    Sunday
    Apr 18

    1 Hour

    The ancestors of actor John Lithgow and journalist Maria Hinojosa thrive in North America long before the birth of the U.S.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    The New World

    Monday
    Apr 19

    1 Hour

    The ancestors of actor John Lithgow and journalist Maria Hinojosa thrive in North America long before the birth of the U.S.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    The New World

    Monday
    Apr 19

    1 Hour

    The ancestors of actor John Lithgow and journalist Maria Hinojosa thrive in North America long before the birth of the U.S.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    Anchored to the Past

    Tuesday
    Apr 20

    1 Hour

    Journalists Gretchen Carlson and Don Lemon overcome biases in their careers, drawing parallels to relatives who also met challenges.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    Anchored to the Past

    Tuesday
    Apr 20

    1 Hour

    Journalists Gretchen Carlson and Don Lemon overcome biases in their careers, drawing parallels to relatives who also met challenges.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    Anchored to the Past

    Wednesday
    Apr 21

    1 Hour

    Journalists Gretchen Carlson and Don Lemon overcome biases in their careers, drawing parallels to relatives who also met challenges.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    Anchored to the Past

    Wednesday
    Apr 21

    1 Hour

    Journalists Gretchen Carlson and Don Lemon overcome biases in their careers, drawing parallels to relatives who also met challenges.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    Anchored to the Past

    Sunday
    Apr 25

    1 Hour

    Journalists Gretchen Carlson and Don Lemon overcome biases in their careers, drawing parallels to relatives who also met challenges.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    Anchored to the Past

    Monday
    Apr 26

    1 Hour

    Journalists Gretchen Carlson and Don Lemon overcome biases in their careers, drawing parallels to relatives who also met challenges.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    Anchored to the Past

    Monday
    Apr 26

    1 Hour

    Journalists Gretchen Carlson and Don Lemon overcome biases in their careers, drawing parallels to relatives who also met challenges.

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