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Finding Your Roots
Lena Waithe Learns the Source of the Name “Waithe”
“It’s painful because your name is such a huge part of your identity. So for someone to put their identity onto your family, it just feels unjust,” Lena Waithe reacts to hearing that her surname derives from her ancestors’ slave-owning family in Christ Church, Barbados.
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Henry Louis Gates, Jr. solves mysteries for 3 everyday Americans chosen to be guests.
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Henry Louis Gates, Jr. uncovers the surprising roots of Michael Douglas & Lena Dunham.
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52:09
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps family trees of comedian Tracy Morgan & actor Anthony Ramos.
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Henry Louis Gates, Jr. shares ancestry with actor Danielle Brooks & singer Dionne Warwick.
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Sunny Hostin and Jesse Williams discover ancestors from very diverse places.
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Bob Odenkirk and Iliza Shlesinger—two very funny people whose family trees brim with drama
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Sammy Hagar and Ed O’Neill discover the dramatic stories hidden within their own roots.
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LeVar Burton & Wes Studi grew up fatherless, haunted by questions about their family trees
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Henry Louis Gates, Jr. unearths the hidden roots of Valerie Bertinelli and Brendan Fraser.
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Explore the roots of Alanis Morissette and Ciara and their hidden connections to history.
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Henry Louis Gates uncovers the lost roots of actors Billy Crudup and Tamera Mowry-Housley.
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Journalists Jim Acosta and Van Jones uncover the ancestors who blazed a trail for them.