Issa Rae’s Dramatic Family History Is Like a “Soap Opera” | Finding Your Roots | Ancestry©

Actress and producer Issa Rae gains clarity on where she comes from… with a surprising twist ending that she likens to a soap opera! Watch as Henry Louis Gates Jr. walks her through her family history on PBS’s Finding Your Roots.
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[@AncestryUS]

Were you as blown away discovering your family history as Issa was? Share your experience in the replies!

[@loislewis5229]

Not me , as I am first generation American with Northwestern European roots, so I pretty much new my family history. But I did surprise my daughter-in-law when I traced her ancestors back to European royalty starting with Charlemagne 😊

[@alexismerry]

I have been searching for years to find out who my grandmothers father is - I can’t :( it hurts my soul to see a blank spot where her father should be on my family tree.

[@AncestryUS]

Hello Alexis! We're sorry to hear that you've not been able to find your great grandfather so far, we know that it can sometimes be really difficult to fill these blank spots in our family trees. We'd be eager to assist a little and can suggest the following guides, with tips on overcoming roadblocks and suggestions on how to use DNA to look for unknown biological relatives. Maybe you can find some tips within these guides. Overcoming Roadblocks in Your Research: support.ancestry.com/s/article/Overcoming-Roadblocks-in-Your-Research Finding Biological Family: support.ancestry.com/s/article/Finding-Biological-Family Many thanks for stopping by and for exploring your family history with Ancestry. We wish you much success with your continuous search!

[@tyekeshamarshall2127]

This is extremely fascinating! I’ve been trying to trace my roots on my mother’s side. Ever since I was little, I was told that I didn’t resemble my family. I do know that I was adopted by my grandmother. So many different situations that were unexplainable happened during my life. One day I was told my great great grandmother was a dark skinned woman with eyes as blue as the sky and that she was accused of voodoo. I have so many questions with no answers, my grandmother passed away and my biological mother passed two weeks after my 21st birthday, but I had dreamt about her a week prior to her passing. I fear I’ll never get answers 😢

[@alfredorundell1989]

Most blacks have a connection to Louisiana

[@tek5692]

Issa could turn her actual family history into a compelling drama

[@AncestryUS]

Issa could make anything and we would watch it, and love it! 😂

[@kennethdrake7686]

100

[@tek5692]

@@kennethdrake7686 And honestly, this is the American history we all need to see.

[@breebarry4422]

Better tell somebody...

[@adriennebrailsford6291]

She is clearly a story teller for a reason

[@carminhasantangelo8402]

She is so beautiful. Her complexion and bone structure. Just vibrant. 👑👑⚘⚘⚘

[@tracysimon7972]

Absolutely beautiful

[@bellepierre24]

Yes she is! Her father is Senegalese, she clearly looks Wolof or Mandingo.

[@notaytguru8214]

Absolutely STUNNING 😍

[@tinyking11]

She’s hella beautiful 😩🔥🤌🏾💕

[@MsTropicalRookie]

visually stunning. it's all i could think about everytime she was on camera.

[@carmellabrown3335]

Most black slave owners bought their family and friends as a means to keep them safe and often freed them. Check out the slave narratives and the slave memoirs in the Library of Congress. It's a very interesting experience to read and listen to these people life story from their view.

[@angelg.4465]

Right like, why didn’t he add that part in.

[@jrniiji7847]

Facts! Thanks for pointing that out... There were a lot of black slave owners in the south and most of their slaves were there family members. The etymology of the word family means servants a.k.a. slaves.

[@jrniiji7847]

​@angelg.4465 He's doing it on purpose to fit the false slave narratives taught in the schools systems.

[@Quinnfos]

And as this is true, in South Louisiana, there are also true narratives told where it was simply just a business for some. So both truths of history have to be told to rectify it 💯. Global yt supremacy really did a number on our people 😢😢😢😢.

[@falsettogod5853]

@BunnyHop2So, what are you saying happened?? That certain black people owned slaves, so we’re just as culpable as the whites for our current place in society?? Explain.

[@vhead612]

Her complexion is perfection. 😍

[@ibrahimadabo9417]

And that's only her mothers side. Her father is Senegalese and for sure has interesting stories within Africa

[@hello_04]

Hopefully not a slave trading ancestry 💁🏽‍♀️

[@TheSuperNats]

@@hello_04most likely no. Most of the slave trading occurred in west Africa.

[@ibrahimadabo9417]

@@hello_04 I doubt that. Her last name is Diop, very common name in Senegal, one of the most proud tribes and I believe they fought hard against colonisation, so probably against slavery too

[@GalaxyGirl08]

@@TheSuperNatsAnd where is Senegal located?

[@pump1180]

@@TheSuperNats Senegal is in west Africa 😂

[@gatorgal4095]

Wow! She's a member of the Charbonnet family, they have a strong prominence in New Orleans.

[@simplydivine4122]

I was just thinking that. I'm from New Orleans, and I know a few Charbonnets.

[@KHooks]

I'm a 39 years old Black American, last year through Ancestry I found that My 6x grandfather was a Patriot in the Revolutionary War, I had 7 ancestors including two grandfathers who fought for the Colored Troops in the Civil War. I have free Black ancestors on the 1820-1870 census in Wayne County, NY. So many other amazing finds in my story but these were the most profound.

[@AncestryUS]

What a jaw-dropping finding! Thank you for sharing!

[@BrownGirlsThink]

Is it a service you paid for?

[@nolacreola]

As a person of New Orleans creole descent, this is similar to a lot of our family histories too. My family has been in New Orleans for hundreds of years and before that Haiti. I never knew how I and my city were connected to Haiti until I researched my family tree.

[@AncestryUS]

We appreciate you sharing this fascinating insight into your research with us, Tiffany! That's so interesting. 😊

[@nana8135]

❤

[@summera4019]

Issa always leaves me in awe. She’s just that woman. I look up to her. She makes me proud to be who I am🫶🏽

[@dainnesejackson7177]

It was her face expression when she found out her great great great great grandfather was white. Girl your not alone my face would of dropped

[@nardagraham1002]

But that is is so so so so common among black people who have been in the Western Hemisphere for generations. We usually have at least one white man in the family tree. And usually it's a slave owner or his relative.

[@patrickfranks2734]

@@nardagraham1002 So True My Great Great Grandfather was a White Slave Plantation Owner in Alabama.

[@Afrocreolebombshell]

@@patrickfranks2734mines was too in Alabama and it was a big family 💀

[@crich8956]

I am of Haitian descent. I just recently found out after Haiti won independence alot of French and slaves moved to Louisiana because it was still owned by the French. I clicked on this expecting Haiti to pop up and what do know. It definitely makes you look at how connected we are.

[@afrolofi]

That's interesting! I never saw the Haitian connection with French and Louisiana (especially New Orleans)

[@LYSVIAV]

Haiti help the USA get Louisiana from the french!.

[@brielax4441]

I have Haitian roots byway of my mom’s father and they are from Louisiana. Many people from Louisiana have Haitian roots.

[@ShanyShannon]

@LYSVIAV It was called the Lousiana Purchae, BUT it was NOT truly the Lousiana we know today. The land mass area stretched and reached much, much more, lol. Saying JUST Lousiana is an understatement because a lot of people are misinformed on what present-day states were a part of the Lousiana Purchase. Anyone who doesn't know anyway can just look up the map it is in the school books, but a lot of people won't and are in denial of Haiti's help. Without the Haitian revolution, France still would have had all of the Midwest and Louisiana.

[@traveline52]

​@@LYSVIAVSlavery expanded when they sold tge Louisiana Purchase.

[@EarthQueen-1111]

Would love to hear her Senegalese side as well💛

[@sanskretro]

Me, too. ^_^

[@HelenMarieOC]

There are some well-known Diops in Senegalese film & music, tho it is a common name there. I wonder if Issa Rae (Diop) is related to the famous Senegalese director Djibril Diop Mambéty (I can definitely see a resemblance there!), and by extension Mati Diop and Wasis Diop. Talented family, i'm sure she would fit right in.

[@dana.j9062]

I Love Issa Rae!! She is a straight shooter and strong Beautiful Woman!!

[@AncestryUS]

Couldn't agree more, Dan!

[@NoLineNoWait123AbC]

Wow. She’s gorgeous.

[@SuperRockadoodle]

Her family story is some what my story. Her Grandparents Joyce and Ralph are my grandmother Laura Ives Williams first cousins. Amazing!

[@Rai_S82]

🤩

[@rayy4pres194]

Wow!

[@Tee-kk6tj]

Both of her grandparents are related to Your grandmother? Are they related On different sides?

[@dondieseliman654]

That means she’s your cousin too.

[@RoniForeva]

Issa's father is Senegalese which was a former french colony. Its interesting that part of her heritage didn't come up.

[@each6002]

I didn't know she was American. She publicly claims Senegalese. I'm sure it didn't come up because this show is about American roots.

[@mabinty]

​@@each6002oh yh that's why they had lupita on the show

[@mmd195401]

This is what I like about Dr. Gates and this show. Family history shoots straight from the hip. It can't be talked away; it is what it is. It's a leveler for all of us.

[@AncestryUS]

You're right, there is no denying facts!

[@ChristopherDeMero]

Glad this story came back on. Wish I could find my story.

[@mssshep]

Yes.

[@aminakhalia9505]

Start with ancestry, so far I have found a lot of information.

[@mareerogers364]

Stop acting like you don't have ancestors. You here ain't you😂

[@creamycazz1]

You guys are gonna think I’m weird but I always get told I look just like Issa by friends & strangers alike. Oddly enough my mom’s family is from Jeremie (where one of her great grandfathers was from) and her mom looks almost identical to my mom, except her mom’s from Louisiana and my mom’s Haitian. I’m thinking there’s some kind of relation somewhere. This is wild. 🤯

[@brielax4441]

It could be!!!

[@sweedy3333]

There were plenty of exchanges between Louisiana and Haiti

[@crystalcleer....5544]

​@@brielax44410455i

[@ShanaGreen]

You should do one of those dna ancestry tests and see if it links to her

[@theresamay9481]

I would not be surprised one bit if you are related

[@Decadancehallking]

Ever since I found out that there was much more of a connection between the black folk of New Orleans and Haiti, I keep hearing about people who are connected to both, and Issa is just another example. History is so interesting!!

[@mikejones-wn1sw]

@Decadancehallking lies just because we too speak French amend have French names does not make us the same people. And it all comes out in the wash. Haitians are definitely not us and more so related to a jamacian or some other random south american

[@TheEasyname23]

@@mikejones-wn1swyou’re unaware of the history of New Orleans if you don’t know about the Haitian influence lol

[@creamycazz1]

@@mikejones-wn1swjust say you’re ignorant and go.

[@mikejones-wn1sw]

@@creamycazz1 just symay your tether and go home

[@ShanyShannon]

@mikejones-wn1sw You're very ignorant if you didn't learn that basic piece of INTEGRAL US HISTORY in SCHOOL! Without Haiti, the US would not have acquired the very large land mass area known as the Louisiana Purchase. I literally learned this all my life on US History from elementary to AP in high school, lol. Stay in denial. Shows you're weird and probably don't like Haitians since you want to dissociate and discredit them so badly.

[@DamnDemi]

My great grandfather was a Frenchman. My great grandmother was a Khoisan woman from South Africa. On my father's side, my great-grandmother was a slave & she fell in love with a Frenchman & they ran away to an island to be together & eventually found themselves at the Cape of Goodhope, now known as Cape Town.

[@HughJass-jv2lt]

u sure about that last part? ❤😜❤

[@DoubleBeezy]

I only know my yt great grandma because she passed when I was 14 at 96 yrs old, she was native American and french, my mom side which I grew up with eat seafood all the time and instead of BBQ it's fried fish and gumbo 😂

[@dodallen23]

Issa, if you're reading this. Please consider turning this into a movie

[@carminhasantangelo8402]

I know before someone else does.

[@agl5132]

We all have twists and turns in our history if we look deep enough and close enough.

[@Quinnfos]

I love love love this so much for Issa Rae! YES, WE Louisiana Creoles are STILL ALIVE! We're aound da world actually. Our culture still exists and we are unveiling, facing, and rectifying our past and present. Mo lamou nouzòt

[@funsizedazzy6708]

Facts

[@carminhasantangelo8402]

I love the people of Louisiana. They are so genuine. I don't have roots in the South in the United States. But I am a good reader of energy.

[@Quinnfos]

@@funsizedazzy6708🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾

[@Quinnfos]

@@carminhasantangelo8402 love this comment 🤎. It’s appreciated and it’s true. As so many, we’ve gone through so much yet we have to acknowledge when we did have some type of privilege as well 💯‼️

[@carminhasantangelo8402]

@@Quinnfos That's right. There is nothing wrong with owning your rightful place in society. Past, Present and Future.

[@meacelestin]

I knew it! I am Haitian and the names alone started ringing alarm bells. And at 5:07 Saint-Domingue link! Hopefully, Louisiana schools talk about the interconnected history of England, France, Canada, the USA and Haïti in history class.

[@anndeecosita3586]

Since her mother’s side is Louisiana Creole, she should look into records from the Catholic church. Also more than likely a lot of her ancestors didn’t speak English so she might need someone to interpret. This is similar to Ava Duvernay’s family story. Fleeing Haiti for Louisiana.

[@mojooo4996]

Great idea! Issa Rae is fluent in French so she really could look into these records! In my case, I would need some help.

[@RoniForeva]

@@mojooo4996 Issa's father is Senegalese which was a former french colony. Its interesting that part of her heritage didn't come up.

[@AncestryUS]

Hi there and thanks for dropping by. We just wanted to address this with you. It's important to bear in mind that even with a perfect knowledge of the history of your ancestors, DNA can still show some unexpected results. We each inherit 50% of our DNA from both our mother and father but exactly what 50% we inherit is random. This is known as genetic recombination and can cause unexpected DNA results for many members who do not inherit a region that they know their parent(s) has. Please see the article we've linked below which delves into inheritance and how it works. We hope this helps clear up any confusion. support.ancestry.com/s/article/Understanding-Inheritance?language=en_US

[@Fe_licia7]

Do you guys also do this in Europe??

[@AncestryUS]

Hi there Felicia! Our DNA test is available in 128 around the world, which you can check out here: support.ancestry.com/s/article/Countries-Where-AncestryDNA-is-Available?language=en_US Our site also hosts over 40 billion records from 80 countries around the globe, which can be accessed with our Memberships. You can see what records are available per country in our Card Catalogue, which you can review here: www.ancestry.com/search/collections/catalog We hope this helps!

[@Rai_S82]

Her skin!!! 😍😍😍😍

[@myrabodian526]

I need these stories to be more long!!

[@glammaspeaks3861]

I completely understand. I’m Creole and a descendant of Acadian, Spaniard, & Portuguese men.

[@tijan8948]

My own family is very similar to Issa Rae’s, it’s amazing. My Dad is Senegalese, like her’s which is why her last name is Diop. Senegal was also a French colony like Haiti but on the continent of Africa. On my mothers side we are descendent from free blacks as well. The namesake was a French man with a black wife, the children of whom had documentation that they were not to be enslaved! I wouldn’t be surprised if the woman was Haitian actually. Pretty crazy. It’s also worthy of note that the descendants of free black families may have fared better than those who’s ancestors were still in bondage.

[@AncestryUS]

What a connection, Tijan!

[@tijan8948]

@@AncestryUS 🙏🏾

[@shalonsmith3653]

Yes some black people owned slaves and it was mostly to keep families together and free them.

[@user-kj7io6fb7j]

She is so beautiful. Her complexion and bone structure. Just vibrant. ⚘⚘⚘. Issa could write a Roots movie about her history.

[@bahiras]

Incredible, but not shocking! Isa handled it well. Great story!

[@MicroDotTV]

thanks to Ancestry, after 50+ years, my adoption papers were unsealed, I found out I had 2 younger brothers and sisters. I found them a year apart and ever since, the 3 of us have been video chatting on fb and I couldn't be happier! So many holes and unanswered questions FINALLY answered, what an amazing gift!!!!

[@AncestryUS]

This is such an incredible story! Wishing you and your siblings the best on your new journey 🙏

[@seed2harvest89]

I just started rewatching "Insecure". If you're familiar with the show, embedded in it is a primetime parody drama with a storyline set during American chattel slavery. And Issa's real ancestry sounds like the makings of a wild story. The irony.

[@HighMaintenanceMinimalist]

I remember hearing about instances where freed black people would buy their family and friends to later grant them freedom.

[@PhilipVaughn-ri8vb]

that's very convenient

[@ccdale5942]

Issa Rae is sooo absolutely stunning just drop dead gorgeous !!! ❤❤❤

[@keyfrom92]

Executive/Writer Issa Rae. All Love 🧡

[@fakeezi51]

Wow. I wish the genealogy wants so expensive because I’ve hit brick walls on my family tree

[@jeremiahdavisj]

Same! I’m stuck in the 1820s with a couple named Jack Cross and Jane West. They were enslaved by a man named Edward Cross who was born in 1780 in Virginia. Jack was born in an unknown place around 1825 but Jane was born in Virginia around 1826 (Keep in mind this is in Georgia meaning that Jack and Jane may have been willed, sold, etc.) I found them in an 1858 estate record with their children and other enslaved peers when their enslaver Edward Cross died. I unfortunately can’t get passed 1858 because I don’t know what caused them to get to Edward plantation. I’ve finished looking through deed records and I finished listing all of Edward’s deeds and I hope I obtain new information. I hope you also solve your brick wall as well!😊

[@mzscott19851]

Same here!!! And my brick wall is my great grandmother

[@tidalwavetarot]

I paid for ancestry and am still stuck. Don’t feel bad. Not everyone gets answers

[@Larenztatewife]

Right

[@reginaandrews9570]

Same

[@sharonkaysnowton]

This was a great story for Issa and her family to hear about. I enjoyed this video.

[@multiseducer1]

Dr. Gates, you're the best. Thank you!

[@chel-leitwyman1114]

Glad you are back. I am graduate school. Welcoming any advice and tips. Glad you are back.

[@meganroyal1100]

I’m from New Orleans and it’s so cool to me how a lot of us are connected.. especially if you have creole roots. So amazed to see she has roots to a prominent New Orleans family that are still prominent. Love it ❤

[@jeremiahdavisj]

Hi! This is such an amazing program😊

[@AncestryUS]

We love it too, Jeremiah!

[@1717Warrior1]

❤ the truth is empowering! Bonjou pase yon bèl jounen

[@Dr.yaya1711]

Please turn this into a series Issa!

[@thezmanchar]

She is so pretty she has the most perfect features . She is gorgeous.

[@kemartini]

Her mom is creole so seeing all the french ancestry makes sense.

[@ruriva4931]

This is an amazing story. All my ancestors were slaves but unfortunately we don’t have many records on them and not for a lack of trying.

[@AncestryUS]

Hi Ruriva! Thank you for your comment. We're sorry to hear that your research into your ancestors hasn't been going quite as well as you'd like, but we wanted to reach out to make sure you know that we actually do make all of the records relating to enslaved people available for free on Ancestry®, in case your efforts have been focused elsewhere! You can find the 12 Million records collected here to help you while researching, if you haven't had a chance to look at them already, we'd absolutely recommend it: www.ancestry.com/search/categories/records_of_enslaved/

[@leekleek1971]

This was beautiful and we Love you Issa❤

[@TheeTage]

I need Miss Rae to write up something cause wow 🤯

[@martinborba6268]

I love this actress. A genius, transmits incredible energy. I want more seasons of insecure!!!

[@bamarealist]

Wow, just beautiful!😊 I don’t view Issa Rae as a comedienne, but rather, a renowned film producer, and an actress. Nice French pronunciations by Mr. Gates, by the way.👍

[@AncestryUS]

Issa is multi-talented, that's for sure. 😊

[@be.amazingkelly]

SO BEAUTFUL!!!c Her makeup is FLAWLESS!

[@yanafridabinaev]

Fascinating!

[@trueeternallbeauty6220]

This was actually a very interesting story to listen to it has raised my interest in knowing my family history now.

[@AncestryUS]

Thanks so much for watching! We're glad you enjoyed the clip, and do appreciate your interest in diving in to your family history research. If you'd like a few tips to help you get started, please don't hesitate to check out Crista Cowan's guide for beginning your family tree: kzbin.info/www/bejne/poaopaWVl5tmeaM Cheers!

[@Plum_bird]

I’m from Louisiana, the Charbonnet family owned a very successful funeral home. The building is still there on Claiborne and St. Bernard street. It’s across the street from the historic Circle Food store, which got its name from the shape of the building.

[@charleslewis6815]

Love your show!

[@AncestryUS]

Thank you, Charles!

[@in2blueoblivion]

Great video but I need to know what foundation Issa uses!

[@tfh5575]

oh her history is super fascinating

[@tinyking11]

I love Issa Rae. She’s so gorgeous. I enjoyed this so much 🥲💕🔥

[@afrikurl]

What about her senegalese heritage on her dad’s side? It would be interesting to know more about that as well.

[@oladeebiazazi4538]

Probably can’t trace it

[@QueenK88]

I'm sure she probably chose to do her mother's side

[@Chloeeezyyy]

Likely is easier to track. Meaning she probably knows it already.

[@lawyerlady35]

@@oladeebiazazi4538 WRONG They are clannish and know their history. It is African-Americans, Caribbean, and South Americans who have these issues because of the slave trade. Yes there were Africans here prior, however, they too got caught up in slavery.

[@HawrarLyrics]

​​@@lawyerlady35 I am Somali and I can count the full names of my last 25 ancestors, I think the Senegalese have similar culture. So every body knows all his clan.

[@angeleyes3396]

Issa could write a Roots movie about her history

[@mareerogers364]

Issa's story is not that unusual. She's a celebrity so Gates makes it sound extraordinary. We all have amazing stories to explore. We know that New Orleans has a french,Indian,African,French ancestry.

[@mareerogers364]

Wake up, every ADOS story is a Roots story.

[@ArtTheSinger]

Issa came a long way..!!! 👏🏾👏🏾

[@mareerogers364]

ADOS in America have come the longest way!

[@kinkykurlskulturecyndi8780]

Wow, just awesome!

[@gh2543]

I always felt like Issa has Haitian roots for some reason. I just couldn’t find what it was. Her mannerisms, personality, resilience, talent, etc... something about her. Loll 😂 I’m glad to finally know that I was right.😅 Welcome to the family my sister. You were always loved. ❤⭐️🙏🏾🤗🥰🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹

[@02nupe]

very informative, she is indeed also ADOS and part of the black people who truly built America, a place where the diaspora have come to. We are more connected across the diaspora than we are divided.

[@sleek50]

Her haitian roots are white

[@sola2351]

Her Haitian roots come from a colonizer though…

[@daem1962]

@@sleek50lol a white french man born in Haiti. Who most likely raped multiple black women in Louisiana. Whose white father was killed by black Haitians most likely. I guess that’s Haitian roots though 🤷🏿‍♀️

[@godofthisshit]

@@sleek50 lol. Common sense isn't always common.

[@angelatweet4551]

Amazing

[@Lo.jo98]

I wish these were longer. Is there a full version we can watch anywhere else?

[@paulallen2919]

No. They make them short because people have short attention spans ig. But it would be so nice to watch longer ones

[@Trudloops]

I would really like to know my ancestry. It is so fascinating how people dont usually know much about their past.

[@barimelodybrooks]

Imma need Issa to turn this into a movie or mini series

[@neilybugg]

I'm always in awe of this woman's beauty.

[@doneecemcneil7826]

Hi edagdwg God bless this special story of what happens when you are blessed to know the truth about your own family stay strong and enjoy your life. God is always around taking care of his children life is soooooo real Linda j. Peace

[@SEA-dx1sv]

Nice!

[@sparkle3000]

Imagine someone telling you, you can't learn your own ancestry.

[@Ren0799]

Love love Issa Rae!!

[@stephanieyee9784]

Issa's Haitian roots are actually French. I wonder if they bothered to trace Amoble's family back to France? Probably not.

[@thesamardahab]

Why would she? We’re not very interested in colonizer history. We’ve learned enough of that.

[@quatroquatro859]

@@thesamardahab maybe her ancestor was violated.

[@thesamardahab]

@@quatroquatro859 exactly, that’s my point.

[@calmdown504]

I know a few Charbonnets and Beaulieus in Nola. Very popular family names out here.

[@lacecocoa6272]

Beautiful Issa ❤❤

[@youknowwhatflav9916]

2:52 her reaction hilarious 😂😂😂

[@LavendaMonroe]

Wow!

[@SweetEssie]

Welcome 🙏🏾 Issa. 🇭🇹 I knew you were family! 🇭🇹

[@blonderover]

Love her ❤

[@lollolowski8956]

Wow good to be able to find documents that old

[@AncestryUS]

Discovering them truly changes lives!

[@abbyklein5752]

each new revelation gave me whiplash

[@AncestryUS]

We hope not, Abby! But, these revelations can be surprising!

[@imaginelovepeaceandhappine3281]

Her skin is like creamy Hersheys milk chocolate. Just flawless.

[@TXejas19]

Issa is in every commercial and movie every time I look up😁

[@Wyntah888]

Senegal’s Issa Rae❤

[@princesspastortelaine8689]

I am so happy that I saw this, because for years I kept saying that my cousin looks just like Issa. Their look is quite unique…. My family is from Haiti.

[@AncestryUS]

Hi, thanks for watching. We are happy to see that you enjoyed this video!

[@nicoleeudelle6893]

Similar to Issa's story. I am half Caribbean (my mom side are from Antigua) but when I was younger I didn't understand where my last name came from ("Eudelle") which is French. Now that I am older, I did research and spoke to my mom and she explained that my great grandfather was a white French man born in France then migrated to Antigua in the 1800s he was also a slave owner. This information was confirmed recently by my cousin when he visited Washington DC historical records. My cousin made a copy of it and showed it to us and it completely blew my mind. It showed my great grandfather and the name of the slaves he owned 😳😳 Look we are all mixed no matter if you want to admit it or not. It is what it is and I like my last name and will never change even after marriage 😊

[@baz3575]

Many Americans are mixed but many people around the world are not. Most people marry within their own culture as is the case with my family. Each and every one of my ancestors in the last 12 generations (as far as I could take my tree) was born, raised and all but 1 died in our motherland. We all married within the same ethnicity and faith. I read and transcribed every single birth, marriage and death record available to ensure every ancestor was the correct one as it was common for people to give the same name to children.

[@kaulaml89]

How do you watch full episode?

[@lovemikijackson]

BLESS YOU.... GIRL🎉❤ BLESSING'S

[@j.decole5372]

She already knows who she is, she’s the actual accurate epitome of “African American”. She’s like first or second gen. It’s the indigenous Americans that gets African results that baffles me.

[@leilasaint-claire8616]

Did you mean indigenous?

[@valreg237]

How is she the epitome of African American when her father is Senegalese?

[@lawyerlady35]

Why baffled when we are originally from Africa. You can debate how we came here or how long we've been here but we are originally from Africa. I don't know how ingenious that comment was though.🤣🤣🤣

[@baz3575]

@@melc4308 White Americans are nothing like Europeans. They cannot be - Europe is a continent of 45 distinct nations as Africa is a continent of 54 nations. When I meet Americans who claim ancestry from my European country, I can tell you they do not think, act or feel like our people at all. They are deeply American. I have known so many Black Nationalists but all of them are so unmistakably American it is laughable when they try to appropriate different African cultures as their own.

[@bigpynk]

@@melc4308 Well most of us are not just Americans. Some of us are Créole, Gullah, etc.

[@giorvanialerouge5787]

🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹 let’s go Issa, Welcome to Zoe sis!

[@universaljustice7376]

Whites who were run out of Ayiti are also considered Zoe?

[@shirlstemple8741]

@@universaljustice7376no they are considered French colonizers. Hence, why they were run out during the revolution.

[@Cantetinza17]

That's crazy! Issa you need to put this on screen girl!

[@JohnThurman1018]

Where do you watch this episode @ ? It’s extremely difficult to find.

[@AncestryUS]

Hi John, thank you for the question. You can find full episodes of Finding Your Roots on your local PBS station or by heading over to www.pbs.org/show/finding-your-roots/

[@monasthilairejean1385]

Interesting thing is that there is an area in Haiti named ‘Beaulieu’. And I see that one of her family members has that last name.

[@kincamell]

Gratitude

[@tiaralasha1]

Thats quite interesting

[@califorevas]

Very interesting since she got married in France where her ancestors come from !

[@YeahmynameKiara]

Wow this is crazy😮