NEW YORK (AP) — Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr., a prominent Harvard scholar, has been the host of the popular PBS series “Finding Your Roots” for 11 seasons. On an upcoming episode airing on Tuesday, viewers will see a significant twist as Gates uncovers a hidden aspect of his own ancestry, specifically about his great-great-grandmother, Jane Gates, which reveals connections back to Ireland.
Expressing his emotional journey, Gates stated, “I was moved to tears,” highlighting that he had previously passed by her grave at Rose Hill Cemetery in New York, silently vowing to share her secrets. “Finding Your Roots” has grown into PBS’s most-watched program on linear television and also reigns as the leading non-drama show streamed online, with Season 10 reaching nearly 18 million audiences across various platforms, alongside its first Emmy nomination.
Gates emphasized the significance of the show’s messages, stating, “What has made America great is that we’re a nation of immigrants,” and stressed that despite our visible physical differences, “at the level of the genome, we’re 99.99% the same.” This season has included notable guests such as Dax Shepard, Kristen Bell, chef Jose Andres, and Amanda Seyfried, among others, each revealing profound family stories.
The season finale will see Gates share the screen with actor Laurence Fishburne, who uncovers details about his biological father, establishing a shared love for jazz between them. Dyllan McGee, one of the show's producers, noted how these discoveries underscore the lasting influence of familial connections on personal identity, even in unconscious ways.
The origins of “Finding Your Roots” trace back to 2006, initially titled “African American Lives,” a concept birthed by Gates. The show first focused on prominent Black celebrities, tracing their lineage back to slavery, employing DNA analysis when traditional documentation fell short. After receiving viewer feedback to expand its scope, Gates renamed the program to “Faces of America,” which had to be altered yet again due to naming conflicts. Along this journey, Gates adapted his understanding of genetics significantly.
Notable revelations throughout the series include Natalie Morales discovering a relation to a notorious Caribbean pirate and former “Saturday Night Live” star Andy Samberg reuniting with his biological grandparents. The show has also showcased unexpected familial ties, such as the discovery that RuPaul and U.S. Senator Cory Booker are cousins, as well as connections between Meryl Streep and Eva Longoria.
Gates often reassures his guests that they bear no responsibility for the actions of their ancestors, stating, “Guilt is not inheritable.” He emphasizes the importance of understanding historical contexts without casting judgments on past behaviors. His team, particularly genetic genealogist CeCe Moore, has found that the family narratives often handed down through generations can be riddled with inaccuracies, although they may contain essential truths. Gates remarks that there is often “a kernel of truth there” amid the falsehoods.
In his own case, it took researchers four years to clarify the identity of his great-great-grandfather, the man responsible for Jane Gates's pregnancy, which revealed inaccuracies in Jane's accounts of her children’s paternity. Gates reflected on seeing an 1888 obituary and a 1839 advertisement for her sale, noting, “I’ve seen a thousand bill of sales like it, but this hit differently.” This emotional connection was profound for Gates, leading to a transformative moment as he began to grasp the depths of personal pain reflected in his ancestor's life.
McGee recalled Gates’s reaction after the reveal, stating he called her and said, “That was the best day of my life!” This acknowledgment highlighted the collaborative effort of the team in providing Gates with a significant missing link to his family history, mirroring the gifts he has given to numerous guests throughout the series.
Gates believes everyone should explore their family lineage, which combats the notion that uncovering the past may create division. He emphasized, “Knowing about our ancestors is fundamental to knowing about ourselves,” asserting that understanding our history is crucial for comprehending our present and future. He quoted William Faulkner, stating, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past,” reiterating its ongoing influence on society and individual identity.
