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.

Anchored to the Past

52m 10s

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.

Episodes

  • Anchored to the Past: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Anchored to the Past

    S7 E8 - 52m 10s

    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.

  • The New World: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The New World

    S7 E7 - 52m 11s

    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.

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

    The Shirts on their Backs Preview

    S7 E4 -

    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.

  • Only in America: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Only in America

    S7 E4 - 2m 39s

    Christopher Meloni learns that his great-grandfather was orphaned and left to take care of himself at the age of twelve.

  • Finding an Agent in LA: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Finding an Agent in LA

    S7 E4 - 1m 18s

    Christopher Meloni talks about how he had a lot to learn about acting when he first entered the industry.

  • Anti-Immigrant Sentiment: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Anti-Immigrant Sentiment

    S7 E4 - 1m 14s

    Tony Shalhoub discovers Anti-immigrant sentiments from a 1989 article and reflects how little has changed since then.

  • DNA Cousins with Derek Jeter: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    DNA Cousin

    S7 E3 - 54s

    Jim Gaffigan learns that he is related to the baseball Hall of Famer Derek Jeter.

  • Origins of Gaffigan: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Origins of Gaffigan

    S7 E3 - 1m 35s

    Jim Gaffigan discovers that when his ancestors immigrated to the U.S., they changed their last name from Gavahan to Gaffigan.

  • Irish Catholic Church: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Irish Catholic Church

    S7 E3 - 48s

    Jane Lynch opens up about how her family attended Irish Catholic Church every Sunday to socialize.

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

    No Irish Need Apply Preview

    S7 E3 - 33s

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

  • Irish Need Not Apply: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Irish Need Not Apply

    S7 E3 - 1m 9s

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. talks to Jane Lynch about the way the Irish were demonized in America.

  • Fleeing Europe: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Fleeing Europe

    S7 E2 - 1m 3s

    Nina Totenberg learns that her Jewish grandmother escaped Europe just as France had surrendered to the Nazis in WW2.

Schedule

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

    Finding Your Roots

    On Broadway

    Tuesday
    Apr 27

    1 Hour

    Broadway veterans Audra McDonald and Mandy Patinkin investigate their family histories.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    On Broadway

    Tuesday
    Apr 27

    1 Hour

    Broadway veterans Audra McDonald and Mandy Patinkin investigate their family histories.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    On Broadway

    Wednesday
    Apr 28

    1 Hour

    Broadway veterans Audra McDonald and Mandy Patinkin investigate their family histories.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    On Broadway

    Wednesday
    Apr 28

    1 Hour

    Broadway veterans Audra McDonald and Mandy Patinkin investigate their family histories.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    Anchored to the Past

    Wednesday
    Apr 28

    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

    On Broadway

    Thursday
    Apr 29

    1 Hour

    Broadway veterans Audra McDonald and Mandy Patinkin investigate their family histories.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    Anchored to the Past

    Thursday
    Apr 29

    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

    On Broadway

    Sunday
    May 2

    1 Hour

    Broadway veterans Audra McDonald and Mandy Patinkin investigate their family histories.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    On Broadway

    Monday
    May 3

    1 Hour

    Broadway veterans Audra McDonald and Mandy Patinkin investigate their family histories.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    On Broadway

    Monday
    May 3

    1 Hour

    Broadway veterans Audra McDonald and Mandy Patinkin investigate their family histories.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    Laughing on the Inside

    Tuesday
    May 4

    1 Hour

    Comics Lewis Black and Roy Wood Jr. learn about the hardships in their family trees which may have attributed to their ability to find humor in adversity.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    Laughing on the Inside

    Tuesday
    May 4

    1 Hour

    Comics Lewis Black and Roy Wood Jr. learn about the hardships in their family trees which may have attributed to their ability to find humor in adversity.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    Laughing on the Inside

    Wednesday
    May 5

    1 Hour

    Comics Lewis Black and Roy Wood Jr. learn about the hardships in their family trees which may have attributed to their ability to find humor in adversity.
  • Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: TVSS: Iconic

    Finding Your Roots

    Laughing on the Inside

    Wednesday
    May 5

    1 Hour

    Comics Lewis Black and Roy Wood Jr. learn about the hardships in their family trees which may have attributed to their ability to find humor in adversity.

WETA Passport

Stream tens of thousands of hours of your PBS and local favorites with WETA Passport whenever and wherever you want. Catch up on a single episode or binge-watch full seasons before they air on TV.