Anthony Ramos Traces His Roots Back to His Ninth Great-Grandparents

Anthony Ramos learns about his father's mother, and her roots back to his ninth great grandparents.
#findingyourroots
FOLLOW US:
Facebook: / findingyourrootspbs
Twitter: / henrylouisgates
Instagram: / henrylouisgates
TikTok: / ucpheki0n7lsnay_y2gtysja
Shop: shop.pbs.org/shows/shop-by-pr...

[@BilondaMusic]

Him saying “That’s bananas “ after finding out they originated from the Canary Islands is hilarious. Bananas export is one of the top industries of the archipelago.

[@BORN-to-Run]

That's what I was thinking...😄

[@catherineroberts8270]

Thats funny.

[@tkm1875]

He's also from New York. We say that alot, lol.

[@DVD927]

He’s a really smart man.

[@johnwayne2103]

That's a street way of speaking, just like "Know what I'm sayin" or "keeping it real" or "I ain't gonna lie"

[@medusagorgon8432]

He is very lucky! I would love to know 500 years worth of family history.

[@career5690]

Same here

[@nadinewebster5861]

Me too!

[@johnwayne2103]

The Spanish were very good at keeping records since the Monarchy wanted to know where all their assets were.

[@marianavarro7797]

Wow

[@medusagorgon8432]

@@johnwayne2103 That makes sense!

[@ms.bonilla8059]

Oh,the pain in his eyes when he talks about his father and him not having a relationship with his grandparents, ay mi corazón 💔.

[@preciousgemini3578]

I know the exact feeling. I didn’t know any of my grandparents either

[@kalia2cute]

He’s so NY! I love it 😂

[@abelcolon5370]

lol yes he is 😂❤

[@priscillamarsh4623]

A lot of people from the Canary Islands emigrated to the Caribbean, bringing with them the accent, the culture, and a lot of words that we are still using.

[@anyelinaaybar6731]

Marsh...hmm I Know a Michele Marsh and a Marie Marsh.....

[@sbsTnHC]

La guagua!!!

[@SeroxMorales]

Yes. I've heard many times that their accent is kinda similar to us Puerto Ricans and they even use some of our slang words. 🇵🇷🇪🇦

[@fernandoquintana3675]

Guagua for example

[@beyourself2444]

Very true

[@bahiras]

500 years of personal history…that’s crazy! God Bless Anthony and his Peeps!😊

[@billgreen1861]

It not that crazy ! It isn't a secret to anyone living in the island of, Puerto Rico, that 80% or more of the inhabitants ancestors came from, Tenerife or Malaga. My ancestors came to the island from, Corsica in 1512 and we still have family in, Corsica that we visit every now and then.

[@FG-xc5qj]

@@billgreen1861who cares?! You are going from post to post saying the same thing.

[@billgreen1861]

@@FG-xc5qj Sorry, I hurt your feelings. BTW I only wrote this to one other commentator (so that is twice) as a FYI because I thought it applied to the comment. Again, I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings.

[@123benny4]

He still didn't get to know them personally or visit them. He just knows about them. By the way, I didn't grow up with grandparents either.

[@EmelyPhan]

@@FG-xc5qj You replying shows that you care a bit.

[@NightOwl_30]

He is so dreamy.

[@michellehernandez2840]

Right? It's something about him😍

[@teena82]

Yes he is❤

[@mac609]

LOL. I was looking for this comment because I was thinking the same thing. 😂

[@extrashotofespresso_]

Especially in the transformers movie. 😍

[@Bob-rh4zb]

he’s been dreamy to me since she gotta have it i wanted nola to stop playing and be with him 😂😂

[@loislewis5229]

I didn’t grow up my maternal grandparents either. I know how that young man feels, I’m glad he had this opportunity to find out his heritage.

[@billgreen1861]

It isn't a secret to anyone living in the island of, Puerto Rico, that 80% or more of the inhabitants ancestors came from, Tenerife or Malaga. My ancestors came to the island from, Corsica in 1512 and we still have family in, Corsica that we visit every now and then. -

[@sunshinenday3439]

@@billgreen1861Well it is when they had no connection to the elders in the family to let them know...

[@patricia_feliciano]

I relate to Anthony's story. I'm also from Brooklyn, NY, and was born in 1991. I'm Colombian and Dominican. Like Anthony, I didn't grow up with all four of my grandparents and my parents don't know much about their families either. My grandparents never saw the importance of passing down information about our family history to my parents. It's a terrible feeling to be clueless about your own family that you were born into, especially when there's a lack of communication among family members.

[@bosse1092]

Wow… that’s so interesting because when you think of Hispanics, you think of large families with layers of generations and for you guys to have the opposite is so interesting

[@Eyeris625]

Hispanic families specially the older generation tend to keep secrets... how do you think the telenovelas came to be?? I know my family did

[@patricia_feliciano]

@@Eyeris625 exactly !! well said !! 💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@patricia_feliciano]

@@bosse1092 I want to clarify that not all Hispanic/Latin families are the same as mine. However, there are times when you can be very close and still struggle with communication or hidden family secrets. Despite this, I love my family wholeheartedly. It doesn't matter if they live down the block, with me, or on a different continent.

[@bosse1092]

@@patricia_feliciano no clarification needed … I’m from NY and grew up around and in the culture personally … I know exactly what you mean ☺️

[@HopeVenetta]

Dr. Gates' work is phenomenal. I'm in awe every time.

[@nereidofdoom]

Anthony is so Nuyorican, much like my father was. Yeah, a lot of us have Canarian blood flowing in our veins. And we Boricuas sound a lot like Canarios. Love to you, mijo. 🇵🇷

[@LucyBall-ox8dc]

Him being able to track his history in that way is crazy!

[@msbynum1391]

I've recently been able to trace the European side of my dad's family back to my 19th grandmother. I always wondered how did that come about as we are black americans. 19 generations.

[@PHlophe]

uh.. when i was little , people born in the 19th century were still alive. it really isn't far back enough for you to be surprised.

[@pamelagilmore7222]

@@PHlophe19th grandmother not 19th century that’s 19 great grandmothers back

[@madi_beee]

Loool wut ​@@PHlophe

[@isaiah3872]

That's incredible, wow. The genetic diversity from her generation to yours is amazing

[@Jolene8]

Migrations. Europe wasn't always as politically homogeneous as it's been in the last few centuries. So many ethnic groups have moved in, around and out of that region over so many years +. They inter married, created new family lineages and settled where they did. Being European can mean anything. I'm sure you know how you came to be known as a Black American... It's that simple.

[@amyellen3845]

You're rich in family and history. Congratulations!

[@SorenAlba54]

Couldn’t agree more.

[@calvinewr]

I know that feeling of not having grandparents, I had my mother's mother's for only 7 years. None other.

[@mariahoulihan9483]

I never met either of my grandfathers. Died before my birth. I would have like to have from stories I heard.

[@soulanstreets222]

I was fortunate enough to have known 3 out of 4 grandparents for several years. Only my two grandmother’s are still around and I cherish it.

[@reneeharrell7075]

Anthony's smile at the end was priceless. Great job Dr. Gates!

[@TheAnitdote]

The Latino Terrance Howard.

[@MrFunkadeIic]

I didn't see it until you said it

[@nataliawilson8891]

His reaction was truly heartwarming ❤

[@enidmercedad]

I want to cry. My grandfather was a little boy when he got on one of those ships. He was 45 when he married my grandmother. A little Indian girl from the peak of the mountains. I always thing of how he even got there. An hr away from the closet shore. No car, no money, no cell phones. Just jungle. My mind is blown. After that we have no 8dea of his life.

[@thewooo..5067]

Thank you for this episode. It answers a lot of my questions. My father name is Ismael Rey Otero. Ada was my father’s second cousin and Demetria Rey was my father’s first cousin. Demetria father was Jose Rey. My grandfathers brother. Most of us still live in PR and in CT. I was always told if u have the last name Rey we related some how some way. The name isn’t common. If you would like to know anything else about that side we are here. Don’t be shy. We don’t bite.

[@elaine8013]

I saw Martinez and Bracero on that chart. Not many Bracero but there is a branch married to Martinez out in Lajas, Puerto Rico. He is blessed to have all his relatives accounted for.

[@aGwEENapple]

May he have everlasting comfort with his newfound identity! Seeing the pain in his eyes after learning when his grandmother passed was heartbreaking! We all have a story to tell!

[@ravenrebel3183]

I was able to trace my Puerto Rican side all the way back to 14th century France, possibly to battle with William the Conqueror in the 11th century, but I’m still verifying those connections. The Europeans kept amazing records, so if you have significant European heritage you may be able to trace it that far back. I was even able to see a painting/portrait of my 5th grandmother (and read a letter from her!) who traveled from England to France, then from France with my 5th grandfather to Puerto Rico in the 17th century. I was able to zero in on what my family did for a living back in France before they came to Puerto Rico to start a large farm/plantation. I found out it was coffee on the plantation, and being successful salt trappers/running a saline in France. It’s so cool to find so much out about your family history!

[@daisy9910]

My mothers cousin traced our family back to 13th century Florence. Apparently, our ancestors were at war with the Medici, and they had their own tunnels to get around the city.

[@godsloverevealed5003]

I watched the episode, Anthony Ramos' impressions of his Dad are hilarious. Ramos is a true entertainer.

[@jenniferlyons4150]

😊 What an amazing story. Not knowing grandparents is sad to hear.

[@EmiIsHerexo]

I can't imagine not knowing my grandma and grandpa while growing up. They were sich an important part of my life and my story. I've also lost my mom and dad, and the same goes for them. Not always in a good way, but I've learned to accept that. I'm so proud of Anthony and everything he has accomplished over the past decade. He's a star! ❤

[@Carly4now]

2:55 🥰 Anthony’s face! 😮😂 I love this! ❤

[@dr.100purrscent5]

Aww, I am so Happy for him. What a Lovely Gift to have restored to you. I believe each and everyone of those Grandparents were guiding him to this revelation. I can imagine them all just joyfully waiting for him to discover a piece of their story. Now he gets to share his own personal journey in a much more enriched way 💗

[@dakotac180]

Anthony is such a talented guy, what a great deep history especially knowing the boats name and location of where his ancestors come from.

[@IVY-jr7io]

I remember as a kid. He lived near my house and went to school not too far from my aunt's (Bushwick)

Man i wish they could go this deep for average paid people. I would love a deep dive like this with photos. Wow. Beautiful

[@terrinyc29]

I love him. He loved hearing this

[@stephanieyee9784]

Wow! That is an epic family tree with some great interesting surprises in there.

[@kathleens.laroche754]

That was wonderful! What a phenomenal heritage. Definitely worth that big smile at the end!!

[@lawtonsfinest8622]

😢 He's like me I've never known my grandparents & the one grandmother I was just start talking to the Lord took her away 😢💯

[@cherylharewood6125]

He knew where his ancestors were originally from, I had no idea where Tennarifre was. Awesome DNA, your strength and Super-power.

[@MissAnonima1]

Tenerife :-)

[@jenna_gia]

Tenerife, home to the deadliest aviation accident in history

[@MissAnonima1]

@@jenna_gia😅wow, you couldn’t highlight something positive. Dios 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@WhitmoreReads]

Love Anthony ❤❤

[@ttp436]

Nice young man

[@jazzythecat918]

Thats so cool he can trace it so far back to his 9th grand parents. I can trace my paternal side back to my 10th great grandparents 1570. Any further back and it gets super hard to find info.

[@adayah30]

So handsome

[@malonamission7092]

Need water ?

[@aGwEENapple]

​@@malonamission7092 he quenched her thirst ☺️

[@malonamission7092]

@@aGwEENapple you need water too ?

[@vanessagrayman2194]

I like him so much

[@patriciajrs46]

A very cool story. Thank you. What a lucky young man.

[@KSUgrad79]

I lost my father just after my 4th birthday, never really knew much about them. I met my paternal grandparents only twice, once in 1974, and again in 1976, by which time Grandpa had dementia. It’s been so frustrating not knowing much about these folks. I know that Grandpa was Welsh and Grandma was English/German, but…not a whole lot more than that. My Welsh great-grandmother died just prior to her 100th birthday when I was around 3 years old, but I don’t remember her. I’d love to know more about my father’s people and even though I knew my mother’s family quite well, there are some hidden secrets I would LOVE to know more about. I know I am of Irish descent on my mother’s side but we didn’t talk much about the ancestors because Grandma was a northerner from Massachusetts and Grandpa was a southerner from Alabama. So…yeah, we didn’t talk about their ancestors who probably fought against each other in the Civil War. That was a big no-no to talk about that subject. 😕 Wish Dr. Gates could help me break through generations of “great family silences” to uncover the truth about my ancestors. 😕

[@KSUgrad79]

I have heard rumors that some of my father’s ancestors *might* have come from Ireland, but…darned if I can substantiate that. I’ve heard more rumors that they came to Ohio from Maryland, but…that would imply that they were Catholics, wouldn’t it? I heard that Grandma (my father’s mother) knew a great deal of our genealogy, but she died decades ago and I never got to know her. Which frustrates me to no end. I wish we hadn’t grown up not knowing my father’s family. Just leaves a Mack truck sized hole in my knowledge of who he was and where his people came from. 😕

[@jonesy9035]

Go get yourself a DNA test! It will lead you down incredible paths of discovery in your family! It is an amazing journey!

[@ijustneedmyself]

​​@@KSUgrad79 I'm sorry you lost your dad so young. My husband died in September and our son turned four 8 days later. Thankfully my family lives a few minutes away and my husband's family very much wants to continue to be a part of our son's life. One thing that I've been worried about is how much he will remember of his father. I know everyone is different, but do you remember anything? Also, what did your mom do to keep your dad's memory alive?

[@KSUgrad79]

@@ijustneedmyself, I do remember a few tiny fragments of my father, not many, but just a very few memories of him. I was so young when Daddy died that it’s hard to remember now all the way back nearly 63 years ago. My mother died almost two years ago now and honestly, we rarely if ever spoke of Daddy: we were estranged from his family (old weird religious stuff…long story…) so we didn’t even get to know his people. Once in a very blue moon, we could get our mother to talk about Daddy, but…he was rarely ever brought up in conversation, unfortunately. So he remains a shadowy figure whose surname I bear but about whom I know almost nothing. It’s incredibly frustrating and now that my mother is gone, it’s even worse. That entire generation has passed and nobody’s left to tell me about him. So I have to dig and see what I can find out about his life. Just tidbits like he served in WWII (1943-46, United States Army, discharged as a Corporal) and was at work on his Ph.D. at the time of his death in a 1961 car accident. Wish I knew a lot more about his life and times, but I know too little to be satisfied that I knew him. I truly didn’t, unfortunately, and it’s left a huge hole where I feel an emptiness and have my whole life. I’m dying to know more about who he and his people were. Such a loss that has left too many unanswered questions. 😕

[@Ethereal-Flower]

I love this actor! I’ve been wanting a dive on his ancestry!

[@nataliawilson8891]

The fact that he knew where it was 😮

[@ecaldwell9]

Yeah, he’s right. It gives you a new found identity. This is what I tried to get my mama to see when she was dismissing things, when I started my genealogy research.

[@sbsTnHC]

A lot of the puertorricans have canary ancestors. Myself included. A lot of people came in way back in time till the XIX century from the spanish islands. Now I know why. I didn’t know about the incentives. Great!!!

[@beyourself2444]

Many people in Trinidad too

[@lagunn327]

Amazing!So happy for him to have that connection!

[@vallariniver4224]

Such an amazing gift!

[@TrueWalker88]

Amazing how far back they can go.

[@martinh.wilson2897]

Not too surprised cause a lot of people from the Canary Islands immigrated/colonized/populated PR and Cuba too.

[@caraqueno]

Also, coastal Mexico, Texas, coastal Colombia, Venezuela, and Dominican Republic, plus coastal Louisiana.

[@ShmaAdonaiEhad]

that's right

[@265lgkp]

That explains the accent

[@isaiah3872]

The Spanish Caribbean (the islands and most mainland coastal regions) is full of their descendants, literally

[@kelvinmartinez4770]

In Dominican Republic, we use a lot words from the Canaries Islands

[@Jas-sq5er]

Incredible!!! Happy for him, this is wonderful ❤

[@HausOfTheBat]

Same I only knew my maternal grandmother until she passed when I was 12! My mom’s dad and my dad’s parents died before I was born.

[@viviangonzalez793]

What a blessing!!! ❤

[@MdmLuna]

Woow this is soo cool" I'd love to know something like this.

[@paulrosner1967]

Awesome for him!

[@charletfoster8917]

Powerful!!!!

[@Buttercup17asc]

I saw the full episode and my grandfather was also a Borinqueneer in Korea.

[@extrashotofespresso_]

Thats interesting!

[@user-dv4bx7nt5h]

AMAZING!!

[@NinaSimone24U]

EXCELLENT 👏🏽

[@mikegreen5502]

Dude looks super young for 33

[@terrydennis22]

I love this! Congratulations Anthony.

[@tellysmuse5069]

I have always been a fan of his work ❤❤❤❤ i love this 😊

[@DenaSimone]

Oh how I wish I could map my roots back this far. I am only familiar with as far back as my great grandparents.

[@guidrydale]

Enjoyable clip and so satisfying to watch

[@denisegreene8441]

My mum worked for years doing the genealogy of my dad's family. With help from church records and a very excited municipal service worker in Quebec ( we lived in BC) they were able to go back to the first family members to reach Canada in 1673. That was following my father's surname. There are of course just as many female lines all the way back but at least we know the names of all our grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins within the direct paternal line. It's amazing to have that information. My dad's direct line ends at my nephews generation. I had two brothers but one died before having children and my surviving brother has only one child, a son, who does not want children. My dad had one brother who had three sons but they all had daughters so this line.of my dad's surname is done.

[@ryanscottlogan8459]

Very cute!

[@TheGypsysoul69]

That's soo wild. Love it. I need mine done

[@enough1494]

I am from Lares, high in the coffee country. Las Canaria’s are home to many of our ancestors as are Corcicans.

[@moisepicard195]

There's a lot of Corsican blood in Lares. A lot of Corsicans have been in Lares?

[@fernandoquintana3675]

​@@moisepicard195 and yauco

[@moisepicard195]

@@fernandoquintana3675 What's Yauco?

[@osoperezoso2608]

Most people from the Caribbean don't understand that their blood comes directly from the Canary Islands. Not all of their blood, obviously. But lots of people from PR, Panamá, Venezuela, Cuba, etc can trace their roots back directly to the Islands.

[@crystalmyers2770]

Beautiful his ancestors had the opportunity to relocate and given incentives to prepare or build their lives .. .. opportunities like that isn’t given to many truly a blessing..

[@Egr-et6ar]

Opportunity taken from the actual locals of the land.

[@Dangic23]

Puerto Ricans know that most ancestors came from Canarias or Andalusia. That’s why there accent is similar.

[@sabinoluevano7447]

Part of my wife's family, who is Hispanic/Mexican, also migrated from the Canary Islands, and for those that don't know, Canarios are a mixture of Spaniards and African Berbers.

[@ask4theupgrade359]

and Portuguese.

[@josequintero4770]

That's cool bro.

[@bosse1092]

😂He’s so New York ! ❤❤❤🎉🎉

[@o.g.tommye7580]

Yo! That was nice to see him say I got 500 years ! I only have 200 years.

[@july713x3]

Hugs Anthony

[@victorbetancourt3105]

I’ve been told the same thing that my family roots came from canary island to Puerto Rico

[@Gkrissy]

I can relate to that. I only know my maternal grandmother. I would also hear stories about my friends grandparents

[@callalacey]

My heart feels so sad that he missed out on having grandparents

[@TheeTwanSolo]

I've been doing my own personal genealogy for about 8-9 years. As a man who descends from slavery here in the States, I've only had the opportunity to go back a few generations because I've hit the dreaded wall. I've also done my 99.9% European wife's tree with DNA testing. I was able to trace her roots back to England in the 1390s. It has absolutely blown our minds & it's something we've shared with our children. I also discovered that my wife's grandfather wasn't her biological grandfather. It was actually a 90 year old man living in Texas with 6 other children besides my mother in law. Thankfully, the biological grandfather & his children were very welcoming to my wife's family. They even had the chance to play catch up for all of the time missed. When he passed away last year, he even put my mother in law into his will & absolutely loved his biracial great-grandchildren. He is missed by us all.

[@trapecista0313]

The canary islands folk sound like Boricuas. It's wild.

[@aquastar5314]

I too lived 4.5 short yrs of my mom's mom too. I'm in my journey

[@marilegonzalez1376]

Nuestros ancestros En Canarias 🇮🇨 emigraron muchos a Cuba 🇨🇺, Venezuela 🇻🇪 y otros países de centro América… felicidades eres originario de las islas 🌴 afortunadas.

[@MissAnonima1]

Se habla poco, pero muchos tambien emigraron a Puerto Rico y Republica Dominicana. Desciendo de Canarios por ambos lados. 🙂 Que orgullo.

[@user-ji6sz7gu5z]

Yes and around the 16th and 1400 the indigenous people on these lands were of Afro descent sub-Saharan afro descent and with a few percentage of them being mixed with either Portuguese or Spaniard

[@ShmaAdonaiEhad]

Asi es.

[@joop9883]

@@user-ji6sz7gu5zthey are African people!

[@marialalasmith9562]

No they weren’t. The indigenous Taino are not the same as post-colonialism. Afro-indigenous populations came after 1500s… two separate ethnic groups.

[@theclimbingroseaffirmations]

Melecio's and Baez, checking in from Dorado, Puerto Rico

[@brittanydenton9966]

My mom is half PR and he looks like he could be her son lol I wish Dr. gates helped us regular folks

[@taurusjn59]

Moat my frrinds didnt have a grand parent alive. Growing up i had two great grandmas two grandmas and 3 grandpa's alive. The last of my living of my grandparent past away in 2019 i was 47 years old. I think we should al live until we are in our 90s.

[@Cantetinza17]

That's crazy, Wow.

[@Bhgh-kq6qc]

Awww my family is from t he vanity islands as well

[@nathanmedina2809]

I didn’t grow up with my grandpa on my mom’s side. I met him like ones or so at a younger age. It was a strained relationship in the family. He past away around 10 years ago. I believe my uncles or just one(I don’t know) went to his funeral but not my mom and her sister. I would have went

[@sunnidayz856]

Is this guy an actor? Did he play Mars on She's Gotta Have It???

[@noahisuku5338]

Yeah

[@savoryflan]

To this day us Puerto Ricans still keep some of the idioms and accent from Canarias.

[@timbuktu93]

Keep telling yourselves that.

[@wc2195]

@@timbuktu93cope

[@marialalasmith9562]

They rather cling on to colonizer history than the Taino and African that actually created the PR culture.

[@Originalking]

Like creating hip hop 50/50 😂. Much love but Couldn’t help that one 😅

[@brianorta3638]

@@marialalasmith9562bullshit the taínos all die they never have new baby’s. No even the black the white man were the one having woman pregnant. White man we white woman and white man we black woman. The % of Native American dna in puertorriqueño is 1% and come from the woman. The education system in United States is trash.

[@benjaminlibertarianscorpio]

I saw this on PBS a couple weeks ago

[@RaimondNomar-gs6qc]

Puerto Ricans speak identically as Canarians I had always thought their accent was native to Puerto Rico until I visited Spain and met people from Canarias within Spain territories accents are completely different.

[@shodannadohs4045]

Most Puertoricans Spanish ancestry comes from the Canary Islands. You can tell cause our accent is the same.

[@wannacashmeoutside]

One of the branches of my family is from the azores (I’m Brazilian). They went there after the Lisbon earthquake and fires

[@capeverdeanprincess4444]

Azoreans also have a lot of North African ancestry.

[@ajthetruth2051]

I wish I had the money to ask finding my roots to help me find out who my father was and the history of my mother's family

[@monkeyton5]

i dont even know who this guy is but i love the show anyway

[@priscillamarsh4623]

He’s mostly on Broadway. He was in the original cast of Hamilton.

[@Eagle00pr]

That’s right 22 towns of Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 were founded by the Canaries

[@glowchet]

I was hoping for more information on Taino links , very interesting nonetheless as I too am Puerto Rican born in Brooklyn with roots in Bushwick like him ♥️