Up Next
Back to Show
Finding Your Roots
A Family of Sharecroppers
Brown University President Ruth Simmons grew up in a family of sharecroppers, a notorious system in which farmers pick cotton and live on someone else's land for a share of the profits. But they had to pay such high charges for rent, they often fell into a cycle of debt.
Support Provided By
52:09
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. heads west to map the family trees of Sara Haines and Tracy Letts.
52:09
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of basketball stars Brittney Griner and Chris Paul.
52:09
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of actor Lizzy Caplan and comedian Hasan Minhaj.
52:09
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the Caribbean heritage of Liza Colón-Zayas and Delroy Lindo.
52:09
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the family trees of rapper Wiz Khalifa and actor Sanaa Lathan.
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:09
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. uncovers America Ferrera & Darren Criss’ immigrant ancestors.
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:10
Family mysteries are solved for actor Laurence Fishburne & scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:10
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of actor Sheryl Lee Ralph & historian Lonnie Bunch.
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:10
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces the family trees of actors Debra Messing & Melanie Lynskey.
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:10
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of married actors Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard.
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:10
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. meets musician Rubén Blades & journalist Natalie Morales.
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:10
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the ancestry of notable chefs José Andrés & Sean Sherman.