Top 10 Most Dramatic Moments on Finding Your Roots

[@MsMojo]

Which of these moments did YOU find the most dramatic? Let us know below, and check out our video of the Top 10 Awkward Moments on Finding Your Roots - kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmnYnZh3mtx1d5Y

[@mlynettepinky595]

I don't know why my comment keeps disappearing Anyway, keep the videos with Finding Your roots, because you're also giving a history lesson.

[@mlynettepinky595]

It's in the blood. People found out they are doing the same thing their ancestors were during.h John Lewis, LL Cool J, and Levar Burton found out they share the same thing has their ancestors. John found out his ancestors were involved in politics, trying to fight for civil rights. LL found out that he had 2 ancestors who were boxers. LL cool J use to box. Levar introduced a lot of kids to books and taught us how to appreciate reading. He had ancestors who were educators. It was sad when Mandy found out how his ancestors died. Joe Maganella found out he is Black. Lol It is a lot of whites whose ancestors were here during slavery, have Black Sub Sahara blood Just like it is a lot of Blacks who have white blood like Levar, Tracy Morgan, and Henry Gates Jr

[@mlynettepinky595]

It is the blood. People have no idea that they had ancestors who did the same thing they did. John Lewis, LL Cool J and Levar Burton They found out that they were doing the same thing their ancestors were doing. Levar educator like his ancestors LL Cool J had 2 ancestors who were boxers. He use to box too. John Lewis civil rights activist and politics Mandy's was sad when he found out how his ancestors were killed Joe found out he was black. It is a lot of whites in America who have black, Sub Saharan blood. Research said it is around 75% Blacks whose ancestors were slaves have European blood.

[@howi2546]

I may be the son of lucky Luciano. Would love to find out.

[@robertbyrd5219]

Mandy Patinkin, without doubt, the most heart wrenching …

[@Beth_Alice_Kaplan]

Sometimes watching the guests on FYR learn their family histories can be so overwhelming. I remember watching the episode with Mandy Patinkin when it first aired, and the way he fell apart in an instant broke my heart.

[@biegebythesea6775]

mandy is a man's name in america?

[@Beth_Alice_Kaplan]

@@biegebythesea6775 His full name is Mandel. Mandy is a nickname. The name Mandel is of German and Dutch origin, and is also a male first in families that are Jewish. (Although it’s usually more common among religious Jews…) I believe it means almond? There’s also a German city named Mandel.

[@zizzy0093]

Andy Samberg's story is also amazing. They were able to find his mother's biological mother and father.

[@dreyer8483]

I LOVE that episode!

[@yachtboy6756]

Being aware of our ancestral past can take us on an emotional roller coaster for sure. But we can take this information and use it to inspire ourselves to become better people. Each generation has the opportunity to be 'better' than the previous. Whatever 'better may mean to you.

[@daniellemhall1358]

As someone in the African diaspora, sometimes its alarming to think of how close and yet so far we are far we are from our enslaved ancestors. You hear stories and for a moment in time you reach out and touch them. My grandma once told my mom that HER grandma could remember her early life on the plantation before emancipation. Its just crazy.

[@rh81454]

There's actual recordings here on KZbin of former slaves talking to one another. I think it was from an ABC special

[@Laurie51097]

Quest Love’s story is amazing! I’d watch that episode over and over. His history, but also American history. ❤

[@Indypendy]

First I have to say there should definitely be a box of tissue paper on the table. Next Ms. Davis was very wise to hone in on what all of this information means. It tells you why your life has been difficult or easier and why you’ve had to overcome some things that you didn’t realize were an issue.

[@AprilB-vy6uq]

FYR is a wonderfully educational show, it also reminds us that humanity was not always kind. It reminds us to do better.

[@mickymouse2445]

We still are not. Look at Palestine.

[@AprilB-vy6uq]

@@mickymouse2445 There are many atrocities around the world. They all need to be addressed. We still have a long way to go and we still need to do better.

[@AlvinHackerman]

I knoe it isn't feasible but finding your roots should be on air everyday. But I'll take every time it's on thanks Dr Gates thsnks

[@BlueSaphire70]

I was really moved by RuPaul's story of taking care of his mother. He was a good son. ❤

[@justjulie2859]

Mr Burton has aged very very well. I was in kindergarten o first grade when roots came on tv. In my 40’s I checked out the dvd set of roots and found out I remembered about 5% of the actual series, where he was tied up and whipped. BTW, in real life at that time, I had never seen an African American, grew up in small town Wisconsin.

[@urbinverbiest9222]

He is related to a white Conferedard soldier.

[@shells500tutubo]

@@urbinverbiest9222 Well, if he is descended from Southern enslaved people that is not exactly an uncommon thing.

[@chesiedengun]

All of these stories are amazing.🥰

[@WendyDarling1974]

I was struck by Bernie Sanders, who had no real idea what his immigrant father had gone through or just how many of his relatives were murdered in the Holocaust. It was clear that to him it explained a lot about his childhood.

[@shells500tutubo]

Most of the Holocaust survivors, in the US at least, often did NOT talk about the details of the camps, and many of their kids first learned about the horrors in school.

[@Brenda-tr3sj]

The one gift these families have recieved is they get to give honor to their past relatives through their grief. Also those relatives are now remembered to this generation. Condolences 🌹and GOD BLESS YOU 🛐❤️🕊️🕊️🕊️❤️

[@TriforCeair]

Horrible. I cannot process all the pain and suffering they were forced through.

[@denisedarnell1641]

Mandys story broke my heart . His ancestors didnt survive the Holocust .. I am angry that so many folks were enslaved here and separated forever by their families too. That should have never happened to any human EVER But being burned alive or gassed is horrific even a baby only a couple months old. That is haunting AND WE NEED TO LEARN FROM THESE HORRIFIC EVENTS ...

[@shells500tutubo]

This has been going on from the beginning of humanity. Just read the writings of ancient China and Egypt, before the Europeans were ever writing anything. This didn't just start happening a few centuries ago, and I think things today, though bad, are not even close to the barbarity even two hundred years ago in Europe.

[@crazysexycool2569]

Sorry. are you attempting to compare pain and trauma and saying that the pain of the Holocaust is greater than the pain of slavery? Because that is problematic

[@SmartMouth7]

My mother, an Italian gypsy in a "normal" family, married an Osage Indian who walked out on her when I was born. He wanted a boy. Turns out he was a revolutionary, tried to over-throw the government (1929). The Feds were on his tail so he escaped to Colorado from Massachusetts, changed his name from McIntyre to Franklin, to pass for an Englishman, and stayed there lost in the mountains. Mother moved me back to her Italian family in Massachusetts. I have strong Osage traits - and Italian - and proud to have them. I love this program. We should all be proud of what and who we are.

[@FuzzyKittenBoots]

Amazing, is your Italian family still Romani in culture/language? I know it’s common for people to (understandably) hide when they are Romani but then again America hasn’t had the same racism toward Romani people as Europeans.

[@ykcirnhoj2225]

@@FuzzyKittenBoots are u 100

[@sherrinunya4079]

@smartmouth7 My Osage friends have head rights and get money from the oil from their land. I hope you can prove your heritage to the nation and you could get head rights $$! 🎉🎉🎉

[@estopesto2647]

Using two slurs to describe your heritage is an interesting choice.

[@sherrinunya4079]

@estopesto2647 There are no slurs here. I'm biracial and have antenna for that siht.

[@hollishaley-o5u]

I have always thought that it would be really cool to have Henry Louis Gates do a genealogy chart for me.

[@bethhall8487]

I would love if he could help me do my father's family.

[@mlynettepinky595]

I don't know why comments are not showing It keeps disappearing Anyway, keep up these videos Finding your roots, you're also giving a history lesson

[@jaclamb161]

Celebtrate their lives... Tragic hard sad ... But u are the gift they left/the product of their pain Sure they look down and smile Make them proud!

[@luciem5372]

Pharrell Williams' discovery of his slave ancestors was crushing for him. I almost cried. So many people living today are the fulfillment of a dream long denied.

[@LeslieLanagan]

Amy Schumer was the GOAT when Gates said she had a DNA cousin........... And it turned out to be him. She asked him for some money.

[@jo-annd497]

😂

[@AsTheCapeBurns]

😂

[@wendypatton1932]

I’m surprised these well off people do not know the information about their families. We have done research on both sides and it is so interesting it’s hard to put it down. We learned some mind blowing information, some amazingly good and some sad. On our own we got as far as the mid 1600’s England. ❤

[@cherierussell5017]

Mandy Patinkin's story was by far the best.

[@shells500tutubo]

But Joe Manganiello's was by far the most interesting.

[@JohnyComeLately]

Watching people learn relatives died in the holocaust is heartbreaking. Watching others have their traceable lineage end with a slave register for plantation always upsets me.

[@qcoe115]

Sorry but the best was when Angela Davis found out her ancestors came over on the Mayflower and that they were not slaves but they were Slave OWNERS . It absolutely crushed her.😅😅😅

[@golden8972]

😂😂😂

[@setaside2]

Yes. So funny. So. So funny. 🙄😑

[@CheysMama15]

It was the Mayflower part..... She wasn't surprised about the European blood.... Not with her complexion and country's history.

[@shells500tutubo]

If she seemed crushed it was just very good acting. I am certain she was quite aware of her European ancestry. She is VERY light-skinned. And to be real, most African-Americans with some European ancestry were probably descendants of both the enslaved and the slave owners.

[@Sheryl-er1ce]

The world can see she has plenty of white ancestry; therefore slave owners are who some of her ancestors would be. Why do you find it funny? Black folks in America are clear that we are related to whites because of the rape culture of chattel slavery. We carry European names French, Irish, Scottish, German Spanish, English names etc. Maybe it was just shocking to get proof of how many generations back her white lineage went. The Mayflower passengers were supposedly escaping oppression of the British empire but they were as oppressive as the system they fled.

[@samuelcollantes1175]

Joe Manganiello. Happy thursday morning, Phoebe, take care and God bless you. Greetings from Colombia to you as well

[@andrewgray8554]

Joe M. Episode was the most extraordinary I’ve ever seen. And on that same episode Tony Gonzalez is great too. That episode is a must view.

[@shells500tutubo]

Yeah, Gonzalez is something like the twelfth cousin of William Shakespeare.

[@ConstanceHurst-r8v]

I started crying when RuPaul spoke about taking care of his Mom. I felt the same way To be able to take care of who took care of you all of your life , wow🤙🏽

[@Takinthesepictures]

I truly understand the big secrets! I’m from a family knew the secrets very well. So well the kept the secrets of my 3 siblings and dad. They actually kept me off their 😮😊obituaries!!!!!!

[@JoieFatale]

People saying that one shouldn’t feel ashamed/proud of their ancestors are missing the point! The point really is knowledge is power. Knowing where and what you come from shows how far you’ve come from, and what a lightening rod for change YOU too can be. And more so, what Joe said: you (everyone) exist from a series of impossibilities! And that’s so ducking cool! (Leaving the autocorrect cause no edit).

[@jaclamb161]

No load to carry Their lives were theirs to live They are responsible for their choices/actions Not your life Celebrate that you are here Info is wonderful to know Be grateful

[@natashawall8131]

I believe in bloodlines. I dislike that families tell their children a bunch of lies. Often times that's why we stay sick because we don't know who our blood relatives are.

[@shellyt1453]

I found out about my grandfather's biological father just 3 years ago! I was shocked because I'm carrying someone else's last name 😮. But I Love 💗 My Family and would like to find my other paternal grandfather's biological family

[@saphiffertalbert1322]

😢😢😢😢😢 LeVar Burton his story touched me the most it really did.

[@REBELSCL]

I found it particularly difficult to watch both Eliza Slessinger and Mandy Potemkin learn of the murder of their ancestors during the Holocaust. I cannot imagine their sense of loss…. I feel for them… And send them healing thoughts and prayers…..

[@PandaHead602]

This is awesome

[@Jlashay325]

I wish I could be on this show to find my roots.

[@thefantasticretroreviewer3941]

Top 10 Favorite Frank Welker voices

[@kathleencharles7130]

All of them

[@maryjoyspohrer256]

I find it interesting that they didn't mention that Levar Burton also had a white ancestor.

[@valerieking5265]

They did mention it in another video of a MsMoJo episode.

[@shirleygottlin1445]

I wish i could find who my family were.

[@normanbrown9225]

A FAMILY Can Be CONNECTED by DNA, HOWEVER There is ALSO a SPIRITUAL DNA Which is MUCH STRONGER IN NATURE.❤

[@rondaallen7211]

Tony Danza had a pretty real reaction too.

[@Lowdninja]

I was so sure I was Pharrell was going to be told his ancestors were from Transylvania

[@maralisil]

Yup, Birth Certificates aren't always correct. It happens often, to me and a friend of mine!

[@mlynettepinky595]

This is no big secret. People lied all the time for different reasons People lied when they had affairs, under age pregnancy's, to hide their real race and nationality because of Jim Crow and etc. Black light skinned or biracial people who passed for white didn't tell their spouse that they were Black. On the babies birth certificate, it would say both parents are white. Some people didn't even have birth certificates. In the South, a lot of Blacks didn't have birth certificates. I have several relatives who were born in the 1930s and 1940s who didn't have a birth certificates. Men signed birth certificates thinking they were the father and later found out that they were not. They are still responsible for paying child support. This is nothing new, families kept secrets and didn't tell their kids or grandkids. Jack Nicksoln grew up believing his grandmother was his mother. In reality, his sister was really his mother, and the woman he thought was his mother was his grandmother. His mother had him when she wasn't married and a teenager.

[@mlynettepinky595]

This is nothing new. People lied on birth certificates or didn't know what to put on them all the time. People lied on birth certificates for different reasons. They had an affair, under age pregnancy's, they were trying to hide their race, because of segregation. Light skinned blacks and biracial people who could pass for white lied about their race to their spouse. People thought the black person were white, and they put on the birth certificate that both parents of the child were white. Some people didn't even have a birth certificate. This happened in the South a lot with Blacks. I have a few relatives who were born in the 1930s and 1940s who dont have a birth certificate at all. Men who sign birth certificates are thinking they are the father, later find out that they are not. What is crazy, they are still responsible for paying child support because they signed the birth certificate. Family members kept secrets all the time Jack Nicholson found out when he was grown that his mother was really his grandmother His sister was really his mother. His mother had him when she was a teenager and not married, which was a big deal back then.

[@mlynettepinky595]

This is nothing new. People lied on birth certificates or didn't know what to put on them all the time. People lied on birth certificates for different reasons. They had an affair, under age pregnancy's, they were trying to hide their race, because of segregation. To have a better life. Light skinned blacks and biracial people who could pass for white lied about their race to their spouse. People thought the black person were white, and they put on the birth certificate that both parents of the child were white. Some people didn't even have a birth certificate. This happened in the South a lot with Blacks. I have a few relatives who were born in the 1930s and 1940s who dont have a birth certificate at all. Men who sign birth certificates are thinking they are the father, later find out that they are not. What is crazy, they are still responsible for paying child support because they signed the birth certificate. Family members kept secrets all the time Jack Nicholson found out when he was grown that his mother was really his grandmother His sister was really his mother. His mother had him when she was a teenager and not married, which was a big deal back then

[@mlynettepinky595]

This is nothing new. People lied on birth certificates or didn't know what to put on them all the time. People lied on birth certificates for different reasons. They had an affair, under age pregnancy's, they were trying to hide their race, because of segregation. To have a better life. Light skinned blacks and biracial people who could pass for white lied about their race to their spouse. People thought the black person were white, and they put on the birth certificate that both parents of the child were white. Some people didn't even have a birth certificate. This happened in the South a lot with Blacks. I have a few relatives who were born in the 1930s and 1940s who dont have a birth certificate at all. Men who sign birth certificates are thinking they are the father, later find out that they are not. What is crazy, they are still responsible for paying child support because they signed the birth certificate. Family members kept secrets all the time Jack Nicholson found out when he was grown that his mother was really his grandmother His sister was really his mother. His mother had him when she was a teenager and not married, which was a big deal back then

[@mlynettepinky595]

This is nothing new. People lied on birth certificates or didn't know what to put on them all the time. People lied on birth certificates for different reasons. They had an affair, under age pregnancy's, they were trying to hide their race, because of segregation. To have a better life. Light skinned blacks and biracial people who could pass for white lied about their race to their spouse. People thought the black person were white, and they put on the birth certificate that both parents of the child were white. Some people didn't even have a birth certificate. This happened in the South a lot with Blacks. I have a few relatives who were born in the 1930s and 1940s who dont have a birth certificate at all. Men who sign birth certificates are thinking they are the father, later find out that they are not.. What is crazy, they are still responsible for paying child support because they signed the birth certificate. Family members kept secrets all the time Jack Nicholson found out when he was grown that his mother was really his grandmother His sister was really his mother. His mother had him when she was a teenager and not married, which was a big deal back then

[@HappyThoughts-HAPPY-THOU-xx3gm]

Ancestry is incredibly interesting, I encourage EVERYONE to try it. Im apparently descended from 15th century french nobility or possibly knighthood/medieval celebrities (we had a sir-something-something name show up) and my family tree goes back to the late 1300’s. Also on my moms side I think we were upper middle class under Queen Elizabeth I.

[@HappyThoughts-HAPPY-THOU-xx3gm]

Also I get some people warn to not use ancestory because it could break families apart, screw that, everyone and I mean EVERYONE DESERVES TO KNOW. ESPECIALLY if that information was hidden maliciously. I say: Either you grow a pear and have a conversation. Or they take the DNA test and find out you’re a lying scumbag.

[@thefantasticretroreviewer3941]

We get to know more about these Folks

[@Tech95327]

Some of them truly are wild I think Issa ray’s situation would spin me didn’t know black slave owners happened in the US

[@Asianpears]

I want to find my roots.. how do we go about doing so?

[@octaviosanchez1051]

Do top 10 best tom kenny voice roles

[@sephius1999]

Joe Manganello being part African African was a surprise to me

[@MagalyCintron-f2l]

I would love to find my truth

[@biegebythesea6775]

'forel' williams?

[@eduardoasmiroeduardo]

This is my first time getting to know about this . . . But seems differently entertaining , just hope that is not choreographed 🎉😢

[@ube1kenobi]

It's not... there were some that just made me cry. But the history of their ancestors are fascinating. You can watch some eps on PBS

[@eduardoasmiroeduardo]

@@ube1kenobi thanks for the update

[@kataguilar8081]

I can’t find ANY info on my family tree. All I have is my birth certificate. I lived in an orphanage. No family no auntie’s no uncles no grandparents nothing.

[@nordesdouglas]

Yee I must find out my roots moresia brown hamilton

[@amybaker3551]

Wonder how many of these results of "scandalous affairs" are actually from assaults that no one wants to acknowledge?

[@Shiirow]

why would you wonder that? are you so hard up for it that you see it everywhere you go? something cant just be what it is at face value, you have to find something nefarious "hidden" underneath.

[@crazysexycool2569]

​@@ShiirowBecause assaults were more common , it is a fact.

[@LJoySMichael31]

Why was it an affair??? Why is it always " She had an affair" yall act like assaults never happened? Which is bullshit..

[@shells500tutubo]

To be quite frank, even the white women in the antebellum South did not really have affairs, let alone enslaved women. Women of every type did not have agency over their lives.

[@leahpea5613]

Assaults are usually not mentioned in obituaries. I would suspect an assault only if it was never mentioned in the woman’s lifetime.

[@donnatritz7865]

Also, in some cases, I suspect that couples wanted a child but the man couldn’t produce viable sperm. So they actually used a friend as a sperm donor.

[@crazysexycool2569]

Exactly! A lot of these cases could have been assault on the women. regardless of race

[@DebberaThompson]

Why doesn’t anyone share Native American roots. Oh it’s not cool right.

[@LadyHeathersLair]

Random comment but what the hell is in Questlove’s hair?

[@marquise2383]

It's an afro pick

[@IanCarlin-rm3cl]

I came as a big load too. Also ... What a weird way of saying that

[@roxanaescobar5645]

I’m sorry but all I can stare at is Terry’s clown like collar

[@PattiBrents]

Does this show ever do every day people.

[@deborahpolk5900]

ed o'neill civil war nurse

[@biegebythesea6775]

why did you tease with john waters then not show him???

[@LexyTheEbikeQueen]

Why do yall up load the videos

[@katherineknapp4370]

😮😢❤

[@jenniferrevay2378]

You only have 10 people per show. So why is difficult to pick 10 different people for each show. Instead you repeatedly put the same people on show after show after show This is no longer interesting anymore. It’s reruns

[@StephenCardinal-r3b]

i like your show if it becomes open to everyone ill like it even more ! please stop cherry picking !!!!!!!!!

[@susannew.d.6863]

While they are all profound. I found that Sunny Hostins discovery that her ancestors were slave traders from the Iberian peninsula, who were the original slave traders . Not the British, who abolished slavery.

[@robynpicknell7801]

Wrong. The original slave traders where the Africans themselves. First they traded amongst themselves, the they traded slaves to the Arabs, finally they began trading with the Europeans. Eventually they traded with all 3 at the same time. Also, it was mostly Africans capturing Africans to trade to outsiders as slaves. Europeans rarely went inland get far in the early days of the slave trade. Slavery in any form is an abhorrent and evil thing and should be rejected by any who encounter it in any form. More needs to be done to save and free people who are enslaved, especially in this day and age when it should not, but sadly does, continue to exist. And I do not care HOW anybody tries to rationalise or even excuse it today, it is simply an evil, evil thing to do to another human being in ANY time period.

[@rhondacollier9869]

​@robynpicknell7801 , Also, we must understand that slavery for Africans was more like servitude of a maid etc. Also it didn't last beyond seven years whereas American slavery was barbaric kidnapping children from their parents and abusing them in various ways which I will not discuss but imagine the worst forms of abuse. This slavery lasted for centuries with no way out but death and those lucky enough to die their remains were then monetized by sending to medical schools for experimentation. Hence the term grab robbers. Never compare any form of slavery to American slavery.

[@shells500tutubo]

@@robynpicknell7801 There are no "original" slave traders. Human trafficking is as old as humanity and has been found in various form throughout history on all the continents except Antarctica (I don't know about Australia).

[@Sheryl-er1ce]

​@@robynpicknell7801you're not as knowledgeable as you think. only repeating a phrase. 50 + African countries & only a few participated in the European slave trade. And the Europeans did not announce that the people being taken were not just going to be indentured nor that they would never return to Nigeria or Ghana, etc. European traders did not reveal the separation from family members once on the ship or once in America and the forced loss of the right to communicate in their own diverse languages and retain their religious traditions etc. There is more to than your simplified justification.

[@crazysexycool2569]

​@robynpicknell7801 It must be fun to make up lies huh 😅😅😅

[@IsaacGabriel-kh5ds]

Indignant Blacks had their narratives destroyed 😅

[@crazysexycool2569]

Troll

[@carl9729]

I find no value in looking back in this way, I have no interest in my DNA, I have but one life to live no time to look back only forward

[@JoieFatale]

And yet…time enough to be pretentious and to leave a comment. Lol😂

[@ahem....bullsheet3720]

Imagine a white person acting like lavar did finding out they had African ancestry? They'd be cancelled!

[@Beth_Alice_Kaplan]

What are you referring to, this statement makes no sense.

[@Ann-gk5sc]

What's wrong with him like other people having their preferences?

[@ahem....bullsheet3720]

@@Ann-gk5sc oh please imagine a white person in this day and age getting up there and throwing a damn fit over having black ancestry? They'd be sent to hell not just cancelled. Wake up and smell the coffee

[@ahem....bullsheet3720]

@@Beth_Alice_Kaplan he throws a fit when he finds out he has white ancestry! watch the show! He gets angry about finding out his great great grandfather is white.

[@rhondacollier9869]

@ahem....bullsheet3720, Lavar reaction was appropriate considering the ancestor you are referring to more and likely raped someone. I think he took it quite well.

[@ApethGrader]

Brutish men and loose women caused this. Huge surprise.