Skip to main content
Donate

Up Next

Leslie Odom, Jr. on How “Hamilton” Changed His Life

Leslie Odom, Jr. on How “Hamilton” Changed His Life

Video
1:06
Leslie Odom, Jr.'s 5th Great-Grandfather Was a Slaveowner

Leslie Odom, Jr.'s 5th Great-Grandfather Was a Slaveowner

Video
1:14
Nathan Lane’s Grandfather Died in a Workhouse

Nathan Lane’s Grandfather Died in a Workhouse

Video
0:51

Joe Lane Becomes Nathan Lane

Video
1:11
Leslie Odom, Jr.: His Ancestors Were People, Not Possessions

Leslie Odom, Jr.: His Ancestors Were People, Not Possessions

Video
1:38
Leslie Odom, Jr.’s Great-Grandfather Comes to America

Leslie Odom, Jr.’s Great-Grandfather Comes to America

Video
1:29
Regina King: “This is Pretty Fantastic”

Regina King: “This is Pretty Fantastic”

Video
1:20
Regina King: “Seeing it Written Hits Differently”

Regina King: “Seeing it Written Hits Differently”

Video
1:20
We’re Two Generations Removed From Potential Obliteration

We’re Two Generations Removed From Potential Obliteration

Video
1:32
Damon Lindelof Learns of the Horrific Fate of Relatives

Damon Lindelof Learns of the Horrific Fate of Relatives

Video
2:07
Erin Burnett Learns About Her Ancestors’ Rare Divorce

Erin Burnett Learns About Her Ancestors’ Rare Divorce

Video
1:27
Amy Carlson Loves Her Great-Great Grandparents’ Meet-Cute

Amy Carlson Loves Her Great-Great Grandparents’ Meet-Cute

Video
0:42
Back to Show
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.
Support Provided By
Coming to America
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:10
Season 6 Episode 16
Coming to America
Nancy Pelosi, Norah O’Donnell, and Zac Posen discover surprising roots.
Breaking Silences
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:10
Season 6 Episode 15
Breaking Silences
Gayle King, Jordan Peele, and Issa Rae discover surprising roots.
Flight
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:40
Season 6 Episode 14
Flight
Scarlett Johansson, Lupita Nyong’o, and Lidia Bastianich discover surprising roots.
War Stories
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:40
Season 6 Episode 13
War Stories
Julianne Moore, Bill Hader, and Kehinde Wiley discover surprising rates.
DNA Mysteries
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:45
Season 6 Episode 12
DNA Mysteries
Téa Leoni and Joe Madison discover surprising roots.
Fashion's Roots
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:46
Season 6 Episode 11
Fashion's Roots
Diane Von Furstenberg, Narciso Rodriguez, and RuPaul Charles discover surprising roots.
Criminal Kind
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:16
Season 6 Episode 10
Criminal Kind
Laura Linney, Lisa Ling, and Soledad O’Brien discover surprising roots.
Italian Roots
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:41
Season 6 Episode 9
Italian Roots
Jimmy Kimmel, Marisa Tomei, and John Turturro meet ancestors who made immense sacrifices.
Slave Trade
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:41
Season 6 Episode 8
Slave Trade
Ava DuVernay, S. Epatha Merkerson, and Questlove discover unexpected family histories.
Science Pioneers
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:41
Season 6 Episode 7
Science Pioneers
Francis Collins, Shirley Ann Jackson, and Harold E. Varmus learn their family histories.
Secrets & Lies
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:11
Season 6 Episode 6
Secrets & Lies
Sigourney Weaver, Justina Machado, and Amy Ryan unearth surprising family histories.
Beyond the Pale
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:41
Season 6 Episode 5
Beyond the Pale
Jeff Goldblum, Terry Gross, and Marc Maron uncover unknown family histories.
Show more
Active loading indicator