Top 20 Most Awkward Moments on Finding Your Roots

[@MsMojo]

Would YOU ever want to dig into your ancestry? Let us know below, and be sure to also check out our video of the Top 10 Most Dramatic Moments on Finding Your Roots - kzbin.info/www/bejne/j56Wp5qroNiFe6s

[@catgrrrl5]

I would love to be able to have stuff like this figured out for us a large part of my family tree is missing and several of us can't figure it out

[@FlyOverZone]

Funny, I don't recall the passengers of the Mayflower being big slavers. Other than their being 400 years difference why would people of the Mayflower differ so much from their great granddaughter? In fact, weren't the passengers of the Mayflower fleeing oppression?

[@JaneAustenAteMyCat]

I already know my great grandfather was a crook. He took his family on the run. They had to squat in a cellar. By all accounts his wife, my great grandmother, was a saint, putting up with him. I wonder if she was too ashamed or just resigned to her lot? Because in those days you didn't get divorced and as a mother of seven she couldn't exactly leave, not in those days

[@cbeuning]

I have tested mine & family DNA and found previously unknown information. But nothing as shaking as some of these. Well, except for that one curiosity I have not puzzled out yet.

[@FrankOgden]

I would want help tracing my family tree. I have done a lot of research, but I am looking for confirmation of what I have found. I am working on the confirmation but would like some help.

[@msl0101]

How could Sunny not know that she'd have Spanish ancestry if all Puerto Ricans are a mix of indigenous Taino, Africans, and Spaniards? There is no such thing as "Puerto Rican" DNA markers. It'd be a mix of Caribbean indian, European, and African. I though everyone knew this.

[@snideremark]

She lied to herself.

[@rosameryrojas-delcerro1059]

Yes, people from the Caribbean are some of the most genetically ambiguous people in the Western Hemisphere. Sad that US history classes ignore the history right off the southern coast of Florida as if we don't celebrate Columbus Day when he never set one shoe on the continental US..

[@rosameryrojas-delcerro1059]

Too bad that US history classes don't even mention much about the history just South of Florida, as if we don't celebrate Columbus day even though he never set foot in the continental US. People from the Caribbean are some of the most ethnica//y ambiguous people in the Western Hemisphere because of that history.

[@csnide6702]

i mean... just LOOK at her .... looks Latin.

[@snideremark]

To only rely on history class for your education about anything is pure laziness. Sunny Hostin is a grown adult who should have an understanding of many things beyond what the classroom may have taught her.

[@diontaerespress3602]

Being a black American and being suprised that you have a white ancestor is crazy to me. Also all familys have secrets at some point, none of this is that wild.

[@Sababbby]

It's just disheartening not surprising - because no one wishes for their grandmothers to be abused.

[@blakpearl1038]

Not all African Americans have white ancestry.

[@cavsomecadence6117]

@@blakpearl1038Then they are African… but we have proof now… but why do people care that much? It’s The LACK of mixing is important .. esp before having children.

[@diontaerespress3602]

@blakpearl1038 not sure when I said that but ok

[@parabelluminvicta8380]

@@Sababbby It's just disheartening to see there were black slavers owner too but in america nobody talks about it. Hipocrisy at 100%

[@Onora619]

A nice reminder that if you go back far enough we're all related to heroes and villians, commoners and kings.

[@cmaden78]

That England sent crooks to the U.S. makes "Florida man" make sense 😂

[@ariel393939]

@@cmaden78 😂😂😂

[@cheryljones5327]

And each other

[@celebrityrog]

We aren’t all related but we may have a single piece of DNA in common which isn’t indicative of direct lineage. This is disclosed when you take DNA tests and it shows a result like say Charlemagne as a relative isnt a direct relative but that most Europeans share a single strand in common.

[@johnconnor4040]

And Outlaws

[@ankina86]

Larry David's mom Regina had to be born in Poland because by her name there is "nieślubna" written. In Polish it means that she was a child born out of wedlock. It could explain why she didn't want talk about her past and I don't blame her because folks were really judgmental back then and she probably went through hell.

[@lcarlson6631]

Thank you for that tidbit of information! I had no idea.

[@bogeyb200]

nieslublna simply means unmarried. Was that in reference to Regina? or her child?

[@shaldana]

This is an awesome show, but these people are millionaires. They get presented with this beautiful book with expensive research -- which they can afford. I'd rather watch a show where this is done for those who can't afford it.

[@angelaj8958]

Years ago, I requested a quote from Ancestry for help finding the lineage of a single individual ancestor, and was quoted $2500

[@seedy80]

Serious question. Are these people celebrities? I only recognised two or 3 names.

[@ronallens6204]

They are celebrities in their field... never a fan of van halen so no big deal to me.. most "guests" are lefties so fawn over and they DO fawn over them for rateings, but it is always fun to see the black sheep trotted out only because once the bones are dug up, they cant be buried again in the digital age... i remember a research project where like this show, they compared the "respectable" line of a historical person with the illegitimate like of the children of his mistress. As many famous people came from the "respectable" side as criminals of repute frim the dark side... it was an interesting article

[@LadyScaper]

Are all these people millionaires? Not all celebrities are millionaires. You’d be surprised what celebrities actually get paid.

[@helenemathee6416]

I printed out all the documentation I could find and made my own scrapbook. I got the idea from seeing that black book. I laminated most to preserve and are thinking of gifting the different branches of our family. There is a thrill whenever I find new information.

[@ricardoleonor1647]

This lady was half Puerto Rican....and she was SHOCKED that she had Spaniard Slave owner ancestors....really? Shocked.... we Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans all know this...

[@idgafjackson6686]

Puerto Rican is a nationality not an ethnicity

[@unicaonesimo]

Just wondering. it implies that ALL Spanish inhabitants of Puerto Rico were slave owners, which I highly doubt.

[@emem2863]

Yeah. She didn't come off as very knowledgeable. In the picture,her mother looked mostly white, which would mean her mother is mostly Spanish.

[@tefachay]

bro known nothing of puerto rico. XD soooo american she thinks puertorican are a race that poofed out of thin air

[@traceymcgowan8323]

I loved it when they find out they have white Ancestors and they have Ancestors who were slave owners, the shock on there faces, is a thousand words 🤣. The Democrats all come from slave owners ?

[@imagesinla8575]

I was working as a photojournalist, and I was covering a big annual arts event in Laguna Beach, California. I saw LeVar Burton with his wife, and I asked if I could get a photo of them for the newspaper. He was reluctant, and he said his wife was distracted with something else at the moment, but he'd find me later so I could take the picture. Naturally I thought he was brushing me off, but about 30 minutes later, he found me and said they were ready to have their picture taken. LeVar Burton is a class act.

[@edwardfletcher7790]

It's LeVar, and yeah he's an awesome guy 👍

[@WilfChadwick]

That's all very nice, he's also a racist MFer!

[@imagesinla8575]

@@edwardfletcher7790 It's actually LeVar not Levar.

[@edwardfletcher7790]

@@imagesinla8575 Cheers, fixed 🙏

[@rambledogs2012]

@@imagesinla8575 It's actually La Forge

[@mazeyJazz]

I'm so fascinated by the fact that some of these African American actors activists who are light skinned, didn't think there was European ethnicity. .....

[@evamaria644]

It's ALWAYS the light skin blacks who claim they are so black when everyone knows by looking at them that they have white somewhere in their line, especially, people like Angela Davis.

[@ky11622]

Right like how can you not know?

[@GCKMimi]

I think in America, there's a mental block of sorts. If you look white, have white-looking parents, and don't see anyone of another race in your immediate family, you assume you're white. Same with being black. And if it's something you take pride in - for good or ill - learning otherwise can be a shock. I'm white as paper so I would be shocked if I had a non-white ancestor just because that's not something I've thought of

[@littlemy1773]

It’s amazing how racist and full of hate they reveal themsleves to be as well. Imagine if a white celeb acted all grossed out by black ancestry the world would melt down

[@tanishawannaminaj]

right??? lmao they are all very dense 💀

[@mnellis23]

After my father passed away I found out his Great Grandfather was born a slave, in South Carolina 1836 He escaped slavery and fought in the Civil War not once but Twice. I have been on a journey to find out more about my dad's side of the family.

[@dawnfrancis2247]

Bless him.

[@sylvialawrence4431]

Yes, my roots are traced back to Augustine Washington, Jr. (George's half-brother).Both my paternal and maternal great-grandfathers served in 54th of Massachusetts during Civil War. Our family was always fortunate to have preserved genetic/historical records. Also, not to be mean-spirited, but just wanted to correct you...he was born INTO slavery, rather than born a slave. We are all born free, created in the image of God. It's man's evil ignorance that can sometimes interfere with that. ❤

[@JesusIsLordLasVegas]

What is your racial appearance & how do you identify today?

[@mnellis23]

I am white, however, no one really knew about my great great grandfather. I am fortunate that a cousin of mine found out the truth about my family. My great grandfather was white, while my great grandmother was mixed, according to the census marked her as black. After the civil war mixed races could not marry however, they found a way to be married all the same. My great great grandfather was on the steps when Lincoln signed the emancipation, approximate was signed in 1863.I have a picture of my great great grandfather, his daughter (my great grandmother) and a photo of my grandmother. My great great grandmother was a very beautiful lady and I wished I could have met my grandmother but she passed 2 months before I was born. My great great grandfather fought along with General Custer.

[@mnellis23]

Your right, but my great great grandfather was born in Charleston South Carolina, and he was listed as a slave. He escaped slavery by hiding in the cargo area of a ship and we went on a boat.by the means of the Erie Canal. He found freedom in Onondaga County NY

[@hannibalbarca4372]

It's always amazing to see obviously mixed people "Shocked" to discover that they are genetically part European...

[@virtuouslady5679]

no one is mixed....smh

[@kyontherocks]

@@virtuouslady5679 Actually, everyone's mixed.

[@wettermoney]

Exactly.

[@melaniewalker4060]

Ikr?!

[@melaniewalker4060]

​@kyontherocks that's just not true. There are 100 percent people.

[@MyrandaMallory]

I wish everyone could access their own family history despite cost. I think everyone deserves to learn about their direct ancestors, even more so adoptees. Wishing everyone love

[@AMAPOLAKAI-xy3pr]

There's numerous sites available online you can use for your search for free

[@skywalker6648]

You can if you take time to go to a library or do some research. The records are there, and you can also order documents at a low fee. To go way back into the 1600's may require a genealogist tho depending on your background.

[@randolph69]

You can do it yourself for free. All you need is a metro library account to access their genealogy websites. Without the library card, you'd have to pay. Fold3 and Ancestry are amazing

[@robinN-xl3sx]

My great 6:29 kept a diary since she was a child. And through her daughter I was able to find out about my Great Great grandfather who was a slave and enlisted in the Cicil War when Lincoln allowed African Americans to join the Union Army. He enlisted, then he was transferred to the Navy and came home a freed man and was able to purchase land along with his 2 brothers in law. I also have an official government record of his slave owner filing for and receiving reparations for losing her " slave" due to his enlistment. I also have letters that he wrote when he was trying to receive his Naval pension.

[@I_Of_Providence]

@@skywalker6648 unfortunately for Polynesians like me it's not really possible since Polynesians have no written language and everything passed down is through oral history. which means by the time it comes to you, the story and the details have most likely significantly changed. at least my descendants can know about me since i live and grew up in America.

[@Aksk907]

Being Puerto Rican and not thinking you’re gonna be Spanish is wild. Mexican for example literally means mixed indigenous and Spanish.

[@el-Cu9432]

Not necessarily.

[@Aksk907]

@@el-Cu9432 yes necessarily. That’s what the word means. Weather or not a person is that by dna is another story

[@uncleruckusnorelation6705]

it is called criollo.

[@VeronikaByrne]

No, it doesn't, at all. It comes from a word in Nahuatl: "mexica". The word "mexicano " is made out of three words: "metztli", which means moon. "Xictli" which means navel or center-and finally "co" which means "place". So "mexicano" could mean something like “in the navel of the moon” or ‘in the center of the lake of the moon’. So no, nothing to do with Spanish people or being mixed or anything. Literally.

[@Aksk907]

@ you can explain without being a pedantic a-hole ya know ✌🏼

[@Andy_Mark]

Viola is a giant of a person. "Silence is always interesting..." That's strong.

[@naturallynobay5850]

I was thinking that also. She has immense presence. Almost intense

[@speedypaint7221]

You should watch that episode, she's so intense. Said some very interesting things, that clip was just the tip.

[@TheSapphireSprit]

I was adopted and found my birth mother before DNA companies started. My birth mother told me who my father was. I had a half sister that was born before me so I signed up for every DMA site possible. The father that my mother had listed lived in Georgia and absolutely none of my relatives lived in or near Georgia. I finally decided that what she had told me was false. I hired a genetic genealogist and found my real father. Though he was deceased it was absolutely amazing. I was abandoned by my mother at one month and placed in foster care. I was adopted by a highly abusive family where, outside of school, I worked day and night. My father was abandoned by his mother at the age of one, then placed in an orphanage. He was taken out by his uncle when he was old enough to work on the farm. He was abused and worked to the bone. Talk about your generational trauma. Good news is I met my half sister (his daughter) and we aren’t physically alike but our personalities are amazingly similar.

[@JoDo777]

Similar. Both sides were whacked😂❤😂

[@JeanetteFaith]

How sad. My mother was also a horribly abusive woman. I used to wish someone would adopt me. Oh well. I survived but I never loved my mother.

[@PanglossDr]

That's a tough start.

[@karencreighton7939]

Wishing you all healing ❤

[@hilaryjohns4049]

​@@JeanetteFaithSo sad to read what people have suffered. I had wonderful parents and wonderful parents in law. I was blessed. 🇬🇧

[@slmmgurl6783]

My mother always said old people have some deep secrets.

[@skywalker6648]

Fact is, talking about certain things could result in serious consequences, even death back then.

[@misstrcarter]

Oh my goodness! My sister used to work in a nursing home and she said those deathbed confessions were something else.

[@WarrioroftheAges]

The boomer generation and above are the Keepers of Secrets. Sadly, most of the secrets get found out and they can be severely traumatizing for the ones who stumble upon the truth.

[@DavidNefelimSlayer]

and deep secretions.

[@skywalker6648]

@@DavidNefelimSlayer Probably just you. Must run in the family, lol.

[@TheDivayenta]

This show is fabulous because Dr Gates is a great historian and storyteller. You get the entire historical context which makes it such a learning experience. Watch the one with Bernie Sanders and Larry David. Huge surprise finding!

[@carolharrison-gj1zi]

I am a certified family historian and have written over 30 family histories. Nothing surprises me anymore. You learn of families and backgrounds that the research family never knew. It is shocking to the families but I often hear it makes sense. So don't be afraid to devl into your family history. If we let this pratice go, the younger generations will never know their family backgrounds. Remember "Your family name was given to you from many removed gernerations. Respect who they were and who you have become. Happy Hunting!

[@DeborahWright-j7f]

Hi Carol! Do you only write family histories from.the USA?

[@evangelinasmusic]

Hi! Since everyone in the comments talks about how expensive this is, can you give an idea of what the ballpark price is for this service?

[@shaleighreynolds3494]

@@carolharrison-gj1zi how do you start

[@irisshalurhad7901]

Did Suni know nothing of Puerto Rico’s history before the show? 😂

[@gorillaonbarscalisthenics2866]

Exactly lol made mo sense as Puerto Rico is Spanish and black mixed

[@hannibalbarca4372]

Average American ...

[@sacredshogun6325]

Puerto Rico is a melting pot of beautifulness. So many parts of the world, so many cultures into one that proudly say “We are Puertorricans even if we were born on the moon”. Our ancestry is rich and skin color means nothing, to ancestry we say “and your grandma, where is she” again, meaning we are a melting pot, a gorgeous melting pot. 🇵🇷❤️🇵🇷

[@raysha9932]

@@gorillaonbarscalisthenics2866and also arawak indian

[@ShantalhaitianPrincess]

well they dont teach anything about the island in American schools

[@cjoseph2045]

I am related to Malcom X, a fact my grandmother thought was not really worth mentioning. She was surprised anyone in the family found this interesting when it eventually somehow came up.

[@notaytguru8214]

Grandma, what the hell?! 😂

[@skywalker6648]

Lol.

[@mistersniffer6838]

You were caught with a mistress too, ehy?

[@SousChef77]

cjoseph...please read Alex Haley's Book, Malcolm X if you haven't already...then for further reading, martin and malcolm and america by james cone. The books are so much better than the movies, because they do not leave out anything. Mr. Shabazz and his family will Bless you. Truth is powerful. Be Blessed.

[@spencerantoniomarlen-starr3069]

​@@SousChef77 Alex Haley is the one who admitted making up most of what was depicted in roots though.

[@LM-zh9lf]

Not an American - but why are the black Americans so shocked to hear that they have white/european ancestry? Just on skin colour alone they are more coffee/tanned than ‘blacker’ African people. Plus all people have been mixing (marriage, affairs etc) for a few hundred years. No one is ‘pure’ any race. I wish the colour of a person’s skin wasn’t such a focus. Peace & love to all 🫶

[@JeannetteAbrahamson]

Not sure. It’s weird to me.

[@imagesinla8575]

@@LM-zh9lf They're not shocked, they're mortified to have it confirmed.

[@8beautylover8]

Think the shock comes from this little 400 year blip in history called the trans Atlantic slave trade.. hope that helps, peace and love

[@BronzeSista]

Its not accepting because of slavery in the United States.

[@Mimi-ht6xr]

I wouldn’t be shocked because both my parents come from long lineages of interracial marriages. I think it’s cool to be triracial but then l’m the daughter of a Creole and a Cajun so there’s that ⚜️💜💚💛

[@karatekoala4270]

10:17 this shows either extreme ignorance or Xtreme copium. Puerto Ricans by definition are a blend of Taino, African and Spanish. It's because the Spanish brought their African slaves there and bred them with the Taino that weren't already killed. For her to be Puerto Rican and be shocked her ancestor was a Spanish slave master would be hilarious if it wasn't so sad.

[@wildwoman2520]

😂 Puerto Rican is not a race. The aboriginals of the land are phenotypically negroe.

[@lulubutterfly7499]

Soooo ignorant of her. She doesn’t know what is a Puerto Rican. I do, and proud. 💜

[@Jimyjonescones]

Isn’t she from the view and super pro reparations? If that’s the case she gona be super embarrassed, and poor if that actually goes through considering she’s got direct ties to the slave trade

[@karatekoala4270]

@@Jimyjonescones most FBA have DNA from slave owners cause RAPE is a thing. It isn't like that ancestor married into the fam. Also reparations wouldn't pull from former slave holders. Why? Cause the money will come from the place that gave slave owners, native Americans, Japanese and Jews reparations. The only metric that matters when it comes to reparations is, are you direct FBA that's it.

[@ep3865]

I thought the same!!!! I don't understand how she thinks she is just Puerto Rican. Puerto Ricans are mixed Tainos, Africans and Europeans from Spain. Wow and you would think she's smart to know that how ridiculous

[@olive3700]

Finding your roots -- where light skinned black Americans are shocked, shocked, to find out they have a white ancestor.

[@Kisanii-LizQuilts]

Not so strange.Slave women were raped by white plantation owners.

[@DiBaozi]

Fr😂

[@aashleyainlong4191]

That is because the concept of the one drop rule is emblazoned on the consciousness of American identity. Being any sort of black is an exclusion from whiteness. So finding out you are not purely black when you are embracing the only identity socially afforded to you when you chose to follow those rules can be breaking of ones mind. The one drop rule is exclusionary not including. Its to not acknowledge humanity of a people by their skin or heritage by another people who have afforded themselves privilege, power and primacy. Its artificial and increasingly becoming obsolete. Largely because science has verified all life came from " black" Sub-Saharan African land. However, they have not dare publish that because of this new scientific reality that by virtue of the very one drop rule. It has made all Americans constitionally Black.

[@men8ivqt117]

​@@aashleyainlong4191very well said

[@sr2291]

Ikr?

[@Whyarewehere53]

My sister has spent years researching our history. She went back to the 1500's I believe. We found we are descended from a man named Christoph Froschauer who was the first printer of the Zurich bible in 1531.

[@PolferiferusII]

Our history on my father's side abruptly came to a halt sometime in the 1700s due a male ancestor in what is now Germany fleeing military conscription from one German state to another disguised as a woman, taking on his mother's maiden name (my surname). We don't know who his father was, but I'm guessing he was born "illigitamate". Personally I feel no shame in this, but rather just find it interesting.

[@KeishaTheTruth777]

😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😅😅

[@garthwright4064]

@@PolferiferusII Good, none of us need be shamed by anything our ancestors did. We had no say in the matter.

[@pbezunartea]

@@garthwright4064 _...none of us need be shamed by anything our ancestors did. We had no say in the matter._ Exactly, try to teach that to Ben Affleck... :)

[@thomaswhiddon7638]

@@garthwright4064 How do you feel about taking pride in having VIP ancestors?

[@marcellalaurentius1742]

After years of researching my mother's ancestry, i started on my father's only to find out that I was an adopted daughter. I was 41 years old and my mother was still hesitant to tell me!

[@daniaa.oliva-pena7338]

Angela Davis story was the most shocking . I'm sure after hearing her ancestors coming on The Mayflower was not something she ever expected.

[@catinthehat906]

This is what makes me laugh, why would you be embarrassed about being descended from refugees fleeing religious persecution, unless are you just obsessing about their skin colour?

[@psp785]

​@@catinthehat906 if you know who she is it's was shocking

[@celticmulato2609]

The woman is obviously Mulato ( Black and White mix) why would she be surprised is beyond me! 🤔

[@modvsone]

@@celticmulato2609because usually those roots doesn’t go back like. It’s usually a slaveowner using their property and their ancestors just go back to Europe. Considering her being a life long civil rights activist, it’s shocking to have ancestors from the mayflower. A story that is foundational to American propaganda.

[@celticmulato2609]

@modvsone No its not shocking! She is obviously Mixed race and alot of American Mulattoes are in denial of their European heritage and looking at her I highly doubt it had anything to do with a slave master as slavery ended in 1865 and that Gates would have mentioned that if it was the case. All that woman had to do is just look at her family and look at herself in the mirror and notice that real or most or predominantly Black peoples don't look like her ; she is just feigning surprise just like Sunny Holstein was surprised that her mum is White and has Spanish ancestry despite being from Puerto Rico.

[@richardcanedo1614]

How in the world is Don Cheadle not on this list?? He was told that his ancestors included enslaved African Americans, which he fully expected, but also indigenous Cherokees, which he did not expect but was intrigued by (even happy about?), and that those Cherokee ancestors OWNED SLAVES, at which he was stunned, to say the least. On his face one could see his whole sense of "self" crumble and change. I remember this vividly because Cheadle is one of my favorite actors -- he's in many terrific movies, but even in poor films he always gives interesting, subtle performances. As always, we are not responsible for our ancestors' misdeeds, but learning about them can be a shock, especially when they run so hard against our expectations, assumptions, or what we've been told.

[@evamaria644]

I think it's foolishness to think that everyone has a distant relative that was good. People has got to know that we are descended from bad people too. In America there is nothing pure about us we're a bunch of mixed nuts period. This is why I didn't want to know my relatives. I know the stories of the rascals that were alive so, am I to think the past were any better?

[@corneliusalterego6527]

One of the important things to keep in mind is that there was a lot of diversity between different groups, even within what you would call the same tribe. Some Africans were indeed slaves within the tribes. But some we’re free, but were listed as slaves in order to satisfy societal norms.

[@richardcanedo1614]

@@corneliusalterego6527 I'm not sure what you mean here: "listed" where? Census forms didn't include slaves (since they were legally "property," not people), and Cheadle found out that some (one? I don't recall) of his ancestors held slaves through probate/inheritance records. So I'm really asking: where in Oklahoma records of any kind would a free black person be listed as a slave, and how would that fulfill which "societal norms"?

[@RingletsOfLight]

His beautiful bone structure makes that easy to believe

[@char2905]

Cheadle had no indigenous ancestry but was almost 25% European. Goes to show you that skin complexion means nothing when it comes to genetic makeup.

[@interestedbystander196]

Sonny Hostin didn't know her ancestors were Spanish? Well, where does she think Puerto Ricans come from?

[@bananasmoothie5960]

“I always thought of myself as Puerto Rican. I didn’t think my family was originally from Spain “ like yes sweetie you are still Puerto Rican but Puerto Rico was colonized by Spain almost all of Latin America has. Has she never opened a history book? 💀💀💀

[@kimstringfellow6493]

Magic

[@Riddlewrappedenigma]

Now you know why she qualifies to be on “The View”

[@handsomeman-pm9vy]

@@bananasmoothie5960 DemonCrats open a history book? Never happen. How can a college graduate not know the relation between Spain and Puerto Rico? Oh well, that is our education system.

[@JorgeGonzalez-bz1nx]

Hahaha...yup

[@globalfamily8172]

Almost all of these situations happened in my ancestry. Affairs, illegitimate children, mixed marriages and slavery, lies about age, name changes, the Mayflower, abandonment due to infidelity, and untimely death. Would make a nice book.

[@nikitab92]

@@globalfamily8172 I hired a genealogist who had a business advertised on Facebook. I was looking for my bio grandfather for years prior to that! My grandmother was 17 years old back in 1930, when she had my father and gave him up for adoption the day after his birth. The Genealogist found my grandfather for 600$ and in less than three weeks time! 🥳 SHOCK!!! 😵‍💫 He had been 34 years old when he impregnated my G-ma at 16!! 😲 Also, they both died in the same year in 1937! 😳

[@EEVictory13]

My great grandmother was a Baker, related to Norma Jean Baker. Aka Marilyn Monroe -she’s my third cousin. After I found out, whenever I see her, I think cousin Marilyn.

[@RonGerstein]

Norma Jean Morrison

[@DS-uh6ss]

@@RonGerstein Mortensen. She's my cousin, too!

[@mememefinally]

Mortensen was made up in birth certificate because she wanted to name Mortensen as her father even tho he probably wasn't.

[@emom2]

She my 8th cousin apparently.

[@nfh688jfnie]

No one cares or is impressed as much as you think they do.

[@gladyspuyarenavalentin4]

Puerto Ricans are mix of European, African, and Taino. Of course, there most be ancestors involved in the slave trade. It may be hard to accept, but it is history.

[@samanthab1923]

Regardless Sunny has whitened herself up from her college days! 😮

[@Mimi-ht6xr]

@@samanthab1923….thats your negative view of her. She’s married to another mixed person like herself and adores her very multiracial and multiethnic children. I share a mixed heritage like Sonny’s and l detest when strangers make derogatory statements based on their own bigotry and envy.

[@samanthab1923]

@@Mimi-ht6xr But you can see the difference in the photos, right? It’s like a different person. So what’s up with that?

[@LemGray]

@@samanthab1923 I legit don't know what you're seeing? Are you talking about the black and white picture? Like, huh? If you're talking about the photo with her parents, she actually looks lighter in that photo.

[@samanthab1923]

@@LemGray Her features look blacker to me sorry

[@simonederobert1612]

My maternal Grandmother may not have had much formal education, but that did not mean she was in any way intellectually challenged. And she knew the genetic connections of everyone in "her neck of the woods". I used to stay with her summers when my parents were working and school was out. Grandma and Granddad were farmers, feeding their children and selling the surplus of their efforts to their neighbors up and down the creek where they all lived. There was this young man who would come to buy eggs or milk. He was cute, and I was just at that age wherein I was beginning to notice that sort of thing. Grandma noticed. She then proceeded to let me know that "you can't marry that boy!" I did not understand. So then she enlightened me to the fact that not only were "that boy" and I 3rd cousins, we were also 5th cousins! She so very much elaborated to me the kinships all over the place where we lived that I just KNEW that I would have to leave the state to find a husband because I was likely related to everybody in that state.

[@pattigriep6575]

🌹

[@Stoned_Silly]

The host of this show is SOOO perfect!! They couldnt have found anyone to do it better!! Ive actually saw epidodes where it came out he was a cousin to the person on the show, it happened several times!!

[@madisonkai]

The show as his idea and his own and he makes most of the money from it

[@carmenm.4091]

Sunny Hostin’s reaction is priceless. Thinking that when your mother is from Puerto Rico you must be half native Puerto Rican. Madre Mia 😂

[@Dee_nyce]

Puerto Rico is a nation not a race.

[@Papabear4564]

There may have been some native people but they would have been one of the carribean tribes native to there, they would call themselves by their tribal name..the fact that sunny doesn't know that despite being from Puerto Rico is astounding to me

[@gilmer3718]

@@Dee_nyce How is it a nation? It's part of the USA.

[@unapoligeticllyisrael2066]

​@@gilmer3718 That didn't come about until recent history! Puerto Rico is an island

[@enn4983]

@@gilmer3718 It is an annex of the US.

[@Itsakindamagic]

I learned as a teen that my great grandfather killed a man, stole a horse and fled to the Dakotas. He changed his last name to the name of the man he killed (my last name should have been Schultz) I found this interesting, my brother went ballistic and could talk of nothing but being descended from a murderer for days. It was not my or my brothers doing, it was two generations before us. That was demonstration of how differently people react.

[@a.5326]

Right! I'm adopted and learned that my uncle on my mother's side was a monster. He SA'd my birth mother with his friend when she was 18 after both of their parents had died. Later, hehad a baby with a woman he would beat and tried to sell his daughter on the black market for drugs. Suffice it to say, I hope he's dead, but it has nothing to do with who I am as a person.

[@TheSapphireSprit]

@@Itsakindamagic that’s crazy. My ancestral roots on one side had 3 people on the Mayflower (including one that got so drunk he fell off and the ship’s records showed there was a debate as to whether to go back and save him. My other side had a murderer and several thugs. It’s interesting but not pertinent to my life.

[@revelskid]

My native American ancestors participated in executing my husband’s 8x grandfather (Colonel William Crawford) by making him the first white man burned at the stake by Indians. The crime they revenged with his gruesome death was the horrific slaughter of an entire village of dedicated pacifists. Only 2 young boys escaped. The sad part was, they got the wrong Colonel.

[@matrixphijr]

Villain arc 😂

[@Eugene-pt5lu]

​@teschchr122 It's not about being pertinent to life, but about comprehending your life proceeded from treachery.

[@cindydowning2141]

We are who we are. We become what we choose

[@ElizabethEaton-q8p]

Wise words

[@garyrobbins5505]

I like your idea!

[@byanymeansnecessary9329]

enslaved chose to be enslaved? oppressed chose to be oppressed? how privileged is your mindset?

[@armand5584]

Bravo

[@Andre-wf8cb]

You wish how's the high thought but we know history has been muddled with mudded

[@celesteguillory7]

It's always enjoyable to see this program and the family stories that are debunked. This happens in every family and should not be viewed as negative. Keep up the good work.

[@francescaboone7993]

My grandmother ALWAYS said she was a descendant of Thomas Moore...well she was, but NOT THAT Thomas Moore. She also insisted that we were descendant from a particular pastor who made it into history books as the fighting parson. Well, she was wrong there too. Although there are several generations bearing the same exact name...the one son (of the pastor) that we were supposed to have descended from, never had kids (!) so that wasn't true either. I only found this out while doing genealogy work on my own, and by happenstance came across a distant cousin who informed me of the facts~and she had the paper trail to prove it. So much proof that the DAR actually edited some of their records. Genealogy has always fascinated me

[@SirSlayto]

Man, this was just more proof that Levar Burton is a freaking gem. His thought was how the revelation could help bring the world together a little more. Just beautiful.

[@flazada]

He's one of those special alien humans you don't think exist, like RuPaul and Tim Walz

[@johnhurley4700]

He thinks hes Kunta Kinte the African plagiarized by Haleys fake roots. A white man wrote roots Haley stole it.

[@godlygirls62]

Sorry dear. The revelation is sad and actually quite disgusted. This YTE man SA a black woman who had no recourse 😢😢😢

[@SirSlayto]

@godlygirls62 I think you should work on your reading comprehension. I didn't say what happened was beautiful. I said what he felt to do with the revelation. White people get away with it all the time.

[@flazada]

@@godlygirls62 it is quite sad, unfortunately I believe it happened far more than we even realize.

[@clintonjurgens7239]

I had a black friend many years ago who told me that almost all American-born blacks have white ancestors, some living. He knew his white grandfather. I figured this must be common knowledge among blacks, but apparently not.

[@AnthonyOMulligan-yv9cg]

I have an Afro American friend who's grandparents are a White Man and an Afro Woman...... this was 1940's South so they moved to California

[@gladitsnotme]

It is common knowledge, this is a written TV show. The director encourages extreme shocked reactions. How old are you to believe what you see on TV from actors and actresses?

[@KammInNJ]

My high school history teacher informed everyone that only approx. 20% of black americans will turn out to be "black all the way back" which became a catchphrase & why all of us still remember it from waaaaaay before the testing they have now.

[@barbie_mylife_milan8787]

I love this! I’m always intrigued by ancestry research and history in general.

[@pirobot668beta]

I did an Ancestry DNA test...turns out I was adopted! Changeling, swapped at birth, mix-up in the maternity ward... Explains a lot...I always stood out at family gatherings.

[@pbezunartea]

Wow! Did you find out who your biological parents are?

[@sORrYiMLaTe_wHAtdiDiMisS]

Wow. That's a lot.

[@Basauri48970]

That's amazing. Did you always have a hunch that might be the case or was it a life shattering moment when you found out? Could you find any biological relatives in any DNA database? Did you find out how the 'changeling' happened and who your biological parents are? You have an interesting story to tell, if you ever feel like it. I think I speak for everyone when I say we'd like to know more :)

[@handsomeman-pm9vy]

Be careful about researching your ancestry. You just might find out that your relative was the "Town Butcher." And I do not mean the guy at the meat store.

[@lissaslighthouse8475]

LIKE IN THE MOVIE HITCH 😂😂​@@handsomeman-pm9vy

[@senoramariposa]

My mom always suspected her father wasn't her father. She wondered if it was a certain friend of the family. All she knew about him was that he was French. The father she knew was Irish. Well, I did the spit test in 2018. Turns out there's no Irish blood, but I'm 25% French.

[@actual_doge3221]

My mom thinks she is not related to her parents because she was abused a lot, and there was favoritism for her siblings. I believe it's possible because there is another relative who was adopted even though the family was poor. I want to know if it's the truth.

[@freelikeyve]

which test did you take? i dont think my dad is my dad either and we do not have a close relationship. i was gonna do a siblings test with a "sister" i have on my "dad's" side

[@freelikeyve]

@@actual_doge3221 same exact situation with me. and the parents that i have refuse to help me get a DNA test. red flag number 1

[@adjectivenoun12]

My husband's grandmother was very angry about his 23andme. Her dad couldn't be her dad. And other family members said that it had been a rumor when she was a kid.

[@Manuel-e2t]

​@@freelikeyveeven without their help, you should still do the DNA! You'll find out what you need by omission. Good luck!

[@deniseedodson1938]

I'm 75. What I think I might find (based upon the relatives I've met) they were probably all escaped from an insane asylum. It's okay. Times were hard back then.

[@dianenecaise1776]

I can relate to that statement!

[@Wyz369]

Those asylums were used to house all sorts of sad cases.... depression & anxiety was seen as reason to commit people even in mid-20th century. Even the British royal family has this in their lineage.

[@evetsegap]

@@Wyz369 Sadly the humor went over your head, or you are humorless.

[@KeishaTheTruth777]

😂 nice take!

[@withgoddess7164]

😅

[@vallyn62070]

I like these clips about find your roots. I been digging into my ancestry and it’s been very telling. I’ve connected with long lost family. It’s great

[@nishottara777]

Do people think Puerto Ricans just popped up in Puerto Rico and Spanish is their main language??🤣🤣

[@novaplex4760]

This only proves what we have known all along… Sunny Hostin deludes herself regarding reality and she acts pretty dumb while doing it

[@DavidSantos-xl4wm]

Puerto Rico settled by european spanish, while Taino Indians had already settled there way beforehand...question is who was there before them?

[@Swisspastel80]

People are idiots

[@Catmom2004]

The PENMANSHIP in those records is absolutely beautiful!

[@arod5002]

I’ve always noticed that. So beautiful.

[@purityandplants]

Right!

[@lynnestamey7272]

It's sometimes called "copper plate handwriting". I wonder if that is because it looks like it is engraved? Anyone know?

[@andrewg79]

Surely there are surprises here, but the "shock" is overblown...

[@SarahNGeti]

The ones upset are racist against themselves lol 😂

[@keithkoenig5320]

Not if it was YOUR story!

[@SarahNGeti]

@@keithkoenig5320 everyone is mixed, people need to realize that.

[@staceywright7294]

It IS a TV show, so I imagine that the show's producers ask the guests to inflate their responses in some kind of way. That makes for "better" TV viewing.

[@BronzeSista]

I was very shocked when I found out I had a lot of European relatives. Great grandparents up to the 5th great grandparents. I had so many if I were drinking person, I would be drunk from this, to take it all in. You must not realize that many Black people have been told not to accept or talk about white European heritage. The only heritage Black people are taught to accept is the Native American heritage, because it wasn't done through rape. And yes I have contacted some of these white relatives who seem to be embarrassed that they have a Black relative. The Europeans responded a little bit better than the white American relatives.

[@desvikingthoreson2867]

I love this show.Mr Gates helped my crippled war veteran neighbor who happened to identify as Black but was thrilled to find out he had native American and white as well. He said it just showed we were all family. Yes sometimes we don't like some of our family but we can learn to love them ( and not be hateful towards entire group of people because of their race, beliefs or politics Sunny.

[@cosaosa2855]

If there's a moral of the story, it's to not put any importance on your pedigree. You have no control over it, and it's easy to overcome. Not to mention, it could be embarrassing to discover the truth.

[@susanrichardson631]

So that being said what about racist white people who discovered they have black ancestry?. Many people simply decide to disregard it and act like it doesnt't exist

[@andrewmack2161]

It is quite amazing that so many people in 'The New World' have so little understanding of the ethnic make-up of those territories. To think someone from Puerto Rico (or any south/central American country) would not have a substantial amount of Spanish heritage is astonishing.

[@mareerogers364]

That's why we have idiots like Kamala Harris running for President. She doesn't even where or been anywhere except India evert summer to visit her grandparents and living in Canada. Dense can easily describe 95 % of America.

[@stecaton1541]

I saw a non descript south American man do a dna test and found out he had no Northern European dna but loads Spanish dna. He celebrated and said , and I quote ‘ Yey I don’t come from coloniser blood ‘ 😂

[@andrewmack2161]

@@stecaton1541 Yes, it's also amazing how little people know about their own history and the few that do know some, rarely understand it's context in the world at that time.

[@actual_doge3221]

Does she even speak Spanish? It sounds like she doesn't. Because how the eff could you come from Puerto Rico (or even if it's just about the ancestry not the language) and not know that information? It's fine if she doesn't speak spanish, but still. You know what I mean?

[@marcellacave2843]

Has no one had a history class? Where did you think your ancestors came from?

[@clod8]

Puerto Rican shocked by having Spanish ancestry🤦‍♀️

[@WesleyWilkins-qf2ky]

Yeah this show makes some of these celebrities look stupid. How laver Burton could be surprised to be mixed with European is astounding

[@joelspringman523]

She's famously stupid.

[@bobbyblazini]

As a Puerto Rican, I expect to me related to everyone.

[@elva9351]

I think she fakes not believing she has Spanish ancestry. How could she not assume it since her mother is Puerto Ricaña

[@germainnavas8966]

There are north Americans without native ancestry...

[@norielli12]

As a Puerto Rican, Sunny not thinking she was Spanish AT ALL was the most uneducated thing ever. If any Puerto Rican knows the truth of our island, they know where we come from. There are so many shades and features and reasons for them.

[@irenem3854]

Life is messy. People are flawed! And we are no better than the people in the past. I hate the graceless judgment of history.

[@BetterMe981]

You hate that rapists are being judged?

[@irenem3854]

@BetterMe981 Lord, you are a simpleton. You and I are most likely the result of r*pe in the distant past somewhere. That doesn't mean I'm a r*pe apologist. It means that history is full of people who did terrible things, great things, and everything in between. Just like us. It's pure narcissism when people judge the past with today's lens. It's not fair. And it doesn't take into account that given the same circumstances, you may have done the same. Humility is a wonderful quality.

[@irenem3854]

@BetterMe981 Lol, of course not. You and I are most likely the result of a r*pe somewhere in the past. The people of history did terrible things, wonderful things, and everything in between. Just like us. It's pure narcissism to think, given the same circumstances, you wouldn't behave the same way. Again, human beings are flawed. Even you.

[@dunbarf2413]

I hate the graceless self righteous modern people who take license to mock and ridicule the history of the formerly American enslaved and their descendants. Who apathetically only want to justify and falsely equate the evils, wrongs, misdoings of people long dead along with themselves....zero attempt to understand, zero compassion given yet want all the understanding and compassion for themselves.

[@evetsegap]

@@BetterMe981 Her post, as well as the historical context, went over your head.

[@soggytomales893]

sunny: ''wow i didnt know i was Spanish'' her mom literally being light skinned and blonde

[@wdhatfield287]

@soggytomales893 She needs to pay representations ! Lol Lort - college educated and just ignorant Blinded by hate

[@Miettes-ti2oj]

What on this PLANET does 'being Spanish' have to do with 'light skinned and blonde?'

[@soggytomales893]

@@Miettes-ti2oj umm if your from a latin country and you have light skin and blonde hair, you more then likely have a lot more Spanish in you, thats just common-sense judging from our history. Spainards are white, many of them have light skin and blonde hair,

[@lucindapick2986]

Wanda Sykes episode was so shocking it became part of her standup routine. Worth the watch!

[@MsJay-cr1id]

Tell me you don't know anything about American history.

[@lucindapick2986]

@@MsJay-cr1id Oh but I do! Love it!😘

[@elizabetharnold5849]

You are so right! She was hysterical,talking about how her mom couldn’t blame her for being lesbian anymore! On the Roots show, not her stand up routines

[@lucindapick2986]

@@elizabetharnold5849 I saw where she found out she descended from freed indentured sevants, not slaves. Said it ruined her street cred. LOL And how she's married to a white woman with two white kids and how she's the maid around her house. Said she ruined her legacy. ROFLOL

[@Donna-6516]

I like Wanda, she's so funny.

[@blueswadeshoes4012]

Could you imagine this show in 60 years. The host is going to be like : “can you turn the page. And that is your third times great grandfather : Mr Nick Cannon. Nick fathered fifteen children by eight different women “ 😂

[@gardener3017]

I love the ones that are faced with the fact they are what they've always hated, and they aren't what they thought they were. I think that's such a great life lesson. I'm proud of my people. All my people, even the crazy ones. They are why I'm here.

[@amenra13]

Who said they hated anyone? Are you projecting? 😆

[@Moss_piglets]

@@amenra13 OP is talking about the folks who weren't pleased to hear about their heritage like Gail King. She may disliked that she is part white but she can never change that. It's who is she.

[@BilboBrainery]

The “oh, no, no, no” and the “no, I am not ready for that” was some indication.

[@chriseggleston7573]

Exactly

[@johnlabus7359]

I have some thoughts. 1) Any white person who takes pride in descending from among the first Europeans in America shouldn't t be surprised that there are slaveowners somewhere in their past, even if their family wasn't from the South 2) Anyone with Puerto Rican ancestry shouldn't be surprised to see Iberian/Spanish DNA in their own. 3) Anyone who knows that they descend from the slave trade shouldn't be surprised that they also have some European DNA as it's well known that slave owners are known to have raped their female slaves. There are definitely some rarer surprises here like having free black ancestors who were slave owners themselves, but most of these things aren't that surprising.

[@moorek1967]

And any white person whose ancestors did not have slaves should not be made to feel guilty for crimes they did not commit. And any white person today whose ancestors did have slaves should not be made to feel guitly for crimes they did not commit. No Puerto Rican today should be made to feel guilty for crimes they did not commit. No black person today should be made to feel guilty for crimes they did not commit.

[@shepshape2585]

The part I always find surprising is when someone like Gayle King or Angela Davis act surprised when they find out they have white ancestors. Ok Halle Berry and Bryant Gumble.

[@amyholman354]

@@johnlabus7359 Once you know it, you recognize the probability. But many people didn’t pay enough attention in school, or just weren’t taught those correlative facts. They’ve kept away from history. Their understanding of personal history is limited to what they were told. Once one window is open, and you look out of it, more windows open.

[@reginathompson-rj9ug]

Black and white slave owners

[@tarrynmunro5393]

While it’s truth some don’t want to hear they are truth none-the-less. However, the question (specific to slave owners, traders), should the descendants be punished for their ancestors? Should they be treated as if they are the evil? I understand the sins of the father haunt the sins of the son, but the question is - should it?

[@iluvcamaros1912]

Them: I am basically Malcolm X. Him: Your grandaddy was Robert E. Lee Them: 😮

[@abbysomeone4525]

@@iluvcamaros1912 Also them: Robert E. Lee RAPED my grandmother.

[@MsJay-cr1id]

So you do know the majority of American Negro ppl have European ancestry? This isn't a gotcha.

[@MsLhuntMartinez79]

💯! I was looking for my mighty Zulu or African ancestors as an "African American". Nope! I'm related to President John Adams, President John Q Adams, President Fillmore, and President Taft. Also Abraham Lincoln's wife Mary Todd (through the Shelton line). She and I share grandparents. LOL It's life.

[@jandramardges3368]

@@MsLhuntMartinez79That’s remarkable!!!

[@MsLhuntMartinez79]

@jandramardges3368 Thanks! I didn't do anything. I was just born. LOL

[@darkangel_1978]

In my maternal line, we have a good variety of different races, and a lot of them surprised me, because until I did DNA testing, none of my mother's sisters knew any of this. If my mom was still alive, I think it would have surprised her too. Some examples of what I found, was Peruvian, Indian (Gujarati and Punjabi), Sri Lankan Tamil, and Bengalese. We're excited that we have this and so much more.

[@shaleighreynolds3494]

So I love how it’s always affairs…. I wonder how many were actually rapes…it’s nice to spin it as love and kisses, but there is no way to know for sure.

[@reeree3641]

Absolutely!!! The reason the romanticized story of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings always frustrate me. The idea a slave who was a child would willingly fall in love with her slave master (who was a widower at that point) and have multiple children by him who all remained enslaved until his death (in his will he only freed the 2 older girls) defy common sense.

[@Liliarthan]

@@reeree3641for many defenders of patriarchal customs, marriage and slavery are not dissimilar.

[@enn4983]

@@Liliarthan Slavery was a horrendous and cruel thing. But even then many people fell in love and fancied each other and babies appeared. And in our free world rape is a big evil and many people get born as a result.

[@melodywalls4693]

Like pelosi changing the sexual abuse of children to...molesting. she said it was softer or some crap like that

[@leslieschott754]

Good point!

[@MandyRRAh]

In Australia, we consider convict ancestry as our own type of royalty. We also hope that our ancestors did not massacre Indigenous People.

[@GenXOriginal1972]

This must be the Oz Caucasians insiders joke ☝🏽 🤷🏽‍♀️🙄 As an Original First Nations SURVIVOR of Australia (3% of us left); the colonisers, convicts & prostitutes descendants truly do thrive on exercising cognitive dissonance, cruelty & distortion to reinforce their systematic racist abuse. Fact: average Caucasian Australians have no idea where their ancestors lineages derived from. I ask the descendants: are you from the aristocracy or the convicts & prostitutes? They really don't shout royalty to me 😂

[@enn4983]

Blood is thicker than water, good to hold on to love. They certainly mistreated those they found there. A few generations ago humanity was rife with cruelty, don't over romanticize things.

[@WilmaFistdu65]

I think i am royalty 😅😅😅I descend from James Squire the brewer. Convict + beer. Lol. Not many ppl know he was Romanichal Gypsy. And my 6 x GG was the Last Gypsy Queen Esther Faa Blythe. Even though research says the Gypsies of Yetholm were scoundrels I'm still so proud.

[@nigelcleveland5651]

im australian, and my ancestors include john martin and john randall, two african-descended first fleeters, one likely a former slave in the usa. one married to others daughter by his irish wife. ... if only she had been accused of witchcraft...

[@ekdaufin1485]

😂

[@Nurichiri]

My mom was adopted and while she found her bio mother she was never able to find more about her bio father than a name the egg donor provided. I took a DNA test through Ancestry after her death and found some second cousins on mom's side with names that didn't match up. Turns out egg donor either lied or was mislead about sperm donor's identity. One of the second cousins reached back out to me and we figured out who sperm donor was. That was a family that has a load of drama to this day.

[@Nella87745]

“Egg donor”?! So not adopted then?

[@songoftheblackunicorn666]

Yeah my mother told everyone I died of a heart defect and then I was sold to a couple for 1000 dollars to a couple who should not have been given a humane society cat.

[@Nurichiri]

@@Nella87745 Egg donor = bio mom. The woman rejected my mom and caused her all sorts of rejection issues. I used "bio mom" first to establish who she was, and her bio dad = sperm donor possibly never even knew my mom existed. From what I can tell neither family knew about mom.

[@alg94]

@@Nella87745 no still adopted. egg donor is another term used for bio mom. usually used when bio mom is a turd of a person,

[@lauracarrolldebolt9233]

I have a friend who found her “first” (birth) mother. First mom identified the father as a guy she hooked up when he was on a break from the women he later married. He met her once but would not do a DNA test or anything. Years went by and then my friend gets a paternal DNA match to someone else entirely. First mom had legitimately misidentified the biological father! DNA tests were done and 1st mom wrote a letter of introduction to this guy she doesn’t remember sleeping with. My friend was born in 1978, so it wasn’t all that long ago. Bio dad turned out to be shocked but cool.

[@brucerichard2904]

I'm impressed with the number of racist comments that are laughed off.

[@nunyabiznass909]

For real

[@Blend-24]

That Sunny was Puerto Rican and was surprised to find out she was part Spanish? WTF? How stupid is that.

[@MistyMcCarthy-cf3kx]

well,,,,,,,,she is a democrat

[@handsomeman-pm9vy]

A college graduate does not know what part of the world that Spain colonized??? History is not taught any more.

[@armand5584]

being part white goes against her very public agenda

[@edwardfletcher7790]

She's no MENSA candidate....

[@virtuouslady5679]

She is black with spanish heritage. You are what your dad is.

[@jant7881]

So, a light brown celeb finds there's a white ancestor and they are actually surprised. Really? I could look at each one and tell them that without doing a ancestry background.

[@gmmartines7331]

Yes because black people come in all shades. There are tribes in Africa with light skin and no European ancestry or you know could be Hispanic or Asian. White people aren't the only ones in earth with naturally light skin. Use your brain

[@hwgray]

So what? Are you saying that black Americans should be consciously aware of their European ancestry in the same way that they're consciously aware of their African ancestry? If they were, what would change? They would still not be white, but they would still be black, right?

[@robinpesek3657]

@@hwgray Triggered much?

[@jinakaye]

Most of us aren't surprised that we have Euro ancestry, irregardless of skin color, because slavery was nasty in colonial & the U.S. of America. We're not even shocked on the how--because, again, slavery was nasty here. What we are often shocked by is how it connects to our overall history. Sunny, for example, thought she was more indigenous than Spaniard--since indigenous native people in the Caribbean & the Americas varied by skin hue. It must have been shocking to her to learn she descended from conquistadors.

[@robinpesek3657]

@@jinakaye Slavery was particularly brutal in all cases on every continent all throughout time. Very few, if any, people of the world escaped slavery in all of its forms and brutality. In truth, the American slaves had it better, in terms of brutality, than untold millions throughout the world and time.

[@madtheghost337]

"It's not who you are underneath, it's what you do that defines you"

[@DavidA.-bv8xy]

Usually said by people who do not know who they are.

[@tonyborelli.]

dumbledore?

[@madtheghost337]

@@tonyborelli. yup!

[@enn4983]

But what we do is shaped a lot by who we are underneath.

[@sneakypenguin2861]

​@@tonyborelli. Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins

[@AnnEvelyn7]

The only "surprise" I find in digging in someone's ancestry is how much people slept around back in the day. We try to believe that we had much more morals in our past, but that isn't true.

[@Rachel-xu4br]

Neil being excited about his ancestor burning at the stake doesn't surprise me considering he thought a dead Amy Winehouse cake was a good idea for a Halloween cake after her death.

[@leslieschott754]

Yeah, he doesn’t impress me as being very smart. Me…… I would have been shocked and dismayed at knowing an ancestor had been burned at the stake. What a horrific way to die, and he laughs.

[@2riel]

My immediate thought too

[@Fthismess]

Neil Patrick is a gay bobble head,,,another Blu kennedy😂

[@JAMIEFITZHUGH-yb4sv]

Very creepy.

[@ladypi7978]

Yikes I forgot about that

[@boyd501s]

I'm suprised how shocked some of these people are, like did Angela Davis think she got her complexion from, drinking too much milk?

[@JeffMontville]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@WISHBONEL7]

Genesis chapter 2

[@Dominque-se5dx]

Black come out all colors, without having mixed ancestry. Stop attributing light-skin with a mixture. Everybody isn't desperate to be mixed with something and it can be a DISAPPOINTMENT to find non-Black people in your DNA.

[@ffotograffydd]

I’m sure she knew she had some European ancestry, it was the fact her direct ancestor arrived on the Mayflower that was surprising to her. It would be to any American.

[@kevinriley6320]

Man, Blanche took it better when Dorothy told her that she had a relative born in Buffalo & that she was Jewish.

[@Zombichh]

LMAOOOOOOO 💀💀💀

[@MayimHastings]

After my grandmother died a few years ago, my dad found a picture of his great great grandfather... From Rochester NY. He is still genuinely distressed by the idea of being the descendant of a yankee. It has given me such joy 😂

[@randeepatillo1982]

@@kevinriley6320 Lord, I remember that episode! 😆

[@MALAKYT]

“…a yankee doodle dandy!” 😂

[@truthbetold8863]

99 percent of this dna was forced on little black slave girls.

[@tinamarcum6170]

Sunny being told her ancestors owned slaves was a mic drop moment, I laughed out loud😂😂😂😂

[@fuunygurl10]

I think that while the more palatable answer is Grandma/Great Grandma/etc had an affair, it’s important to acknowledge that there is always a distinct possibility that it was not a consensual act. SA reports are low now, imagine what they were 50, 100, 200 years ago.

[@bigblackdogfiberarts]

This was my first thought. I guess it is more palatable to assume your Grandmother had an affair than that she was a victim of the alternative.

[@ninagezellie4206]

That's EXACTLY what I thought snd said also! They are being raped twice.

[@jetwills7264]

@@bigblackdogfiberarts But lets be honest, the SOLE reason consensual vs non consensual is even being brought up is because in Ciara's case, the father was white, and this took place around the year 1900. Had this been a same-race situation, it would be considered "a passionate love affair", by default.. unless given PROOF otherwise.

[@bigblackdogfiberarts]

​@@jetwills7264 Considering I know someone whose family has experienced finding out about the SA of a family member long after the fact (gotta love spitting into a tube and having someone still alive you can ask questions of), I'd say no, that isn't the reason it came to mind. Turns out Grandma wasn't sure if the neighbor who assaulted her was the father of one of her children or her husband was and she was too afraid to say anything at the time - late 1920s. Turns out he was. Husband, wife and neighbor all had the same skin color. The possibility is there no matter what the race of the parties involved. And as the original person to whom I was responding already said, SA has low incidence of report now. It was even lower historically. We shouldn't jump to Grandma was having an affair just because the DNA says Grandpa wasn't the dad.

[@WatchingyouWatchingme-p5s]

​@@jetwills7264well DAM what was wrong with the white women that so many white men were creeping around with the black women??

[@imakat154]

On my husband's family history his 4th Great grandfather, Rezin Reed and 4th Great grandmother, Elizabeth Fordyce had his 3rd Great grandfather, William out of wedlock. On his birth certificate Elizabeth gave William her maiden name of Fordyce. A few months after he was born, they got married but they never changed William's last name to his father's last name of Reed. If they would have changed his name, then my husband's last name would be Reed rather than Fordyce. One decision had a direct effect on all of their descendants. Pretty amazing.

[@ny3683syr]

In old age I discovered that everything I'd believed about my ethnicity wasn't true. I always believed my European roots were from Ireland. I do have Irish DNA, but I am much more English and Scottish. I had no idea that my ancestors were from either nation. I also have many Dutch ancestors, too. On top of this shock, my genealogy is incredibly well documented as I descend from more famous people than you can shake a stick at, and that includes famous people from both sides of the Pond. My ancestors fill the pages of history books. I had no idea about any of this, until genealogy data became so readily available in the past couple of years. I can trace my family back for hundreds and hundreds of years. Truly all of this has astonished me.

[@Xmaslightsallyear]

Be wary of fake, for profit, genealogy. Im supposedly descended from the Duke of Marlboro. Yea, sure. I don't buy it for a minute.

[@ellehan3003]

Which test did you do? I'm english born and bred with one irish grandfather. My irish shows up, but the rest shows as scandinavian mainly. I've found that many english people get this too, where english just doesn't seem to show up on dna tests.

[@lavenderoh]

​@@ellehan3003I had the opposite experience. Most of my family has heavily mixed European DNA, but I got 97% English & Irish. Wasn't exactly a shock that I had a lot since my dad is literally English and on my mom's side her moms family were Irish immigrants. But both my parents are 30-40% French/German as well, and I only got 3%. They both have a small amount of African heritage as well. My husband is Indian and he got 99.9% South Indian so I do believe in the tests but no clue how I'm nearly a purebred 😂

[@peziki]

Remember Dinah Shore? Singer & TV star. It was a sensational tabloid topic when it came out that she was "part black". I was a little girl & even at that time I thought..... so what!! She's talented & beautiful. What every woman would want to be.

[@jerryiverson8872]

Angela Davis saying her ancestors did not come over on the Mayflower is a trip. Paradigms are crazy.

[@joelspringman523]

She's an America-hating radical communist, so no surprise.

[@user-rx162r]

Mayflower was commnies on a power trip. Same.

[@joelspringman523]

@@user-rx162r Well, they passed those genes on down to her.

[@sunnyblossom_711]

​@@joelspringman523both of you are so wrong. the people on the Mayflower were religious zealots. look it up

[@joelspringman523]

@@sunnyblossom_711 You're wrong for so many reasons. I suspect drug abuse.

[@grudgejudy9736]

It seems like the takeaway from this show should be that we can’t be responsible for the mistakes of our ancestors, we have to look towards a better future, but too many people look in the past. There have been so many mistakes throughout history, it’s inevitable that every person will find something they don’t like in their ancestry.

[@kathy6853]

Exactly right on point. Just because there was no social media to report our ancestors missteps does NOT mean that they lived their lives with perfect behavior. They, too, were human.

[@runningfromabear8354]

I think it's invaluable learning lessons from our ancestors mistakes. Certain traits repeat I families. My mothers family tend to be barristers (lawyers in the UK). We know that one of our ancestors was the Bloody Judge and we've been telling our kids about him for generations as a warning. Instead of serving the law, he served the king and political ambitions of friends to hunt down all of the participants of a peasant rebellion. He was brutal and cruel. And this wasn't the only example of him being a cruel person who only used the parts of English law that served his purposes and ignored those parts that would have served the people. So much of my family are still involved in law, it's important we remember him and aspire to be much better than him. We also have much better examples in our family ancestry that we can be proud of and we share those stories too. It's just worthwhile learning from our mistakes in order not to abuse any status we rise to in life. It's easy to remember the composers, the politicians and writers in our ancestry. But we need to remember the ordinary farmers and those who abused their positions of power too.

[@Klaaism]

Its is possible to become bogged down in the past; however, Ignore the past at one's peril.

[@8_six7_five3_09]

I think an equally important thing to take away from this is maybe people need to stop running around judging other groups and people and backgrounds thinking they're better. You have no real idea what's lurking in your own. We are far more alike than we are different.

[@nancywages7029]

Agree. It's like accusing German kids today that they are responsible for what happened during WW2. A documentary came out not so long ago about adults today, that were never told of their role in that period. They were devasted and shocked.

[@DulceN]

I have no idea who Sunny Hostins is, but if she thought herself Puerto Rican, who did she think the Spanish language spoken in the island came from? It should not be at all surprising that she has Spanish blood…. Her surprise only shows her level of ignorance about history and her origins… 🙄

[@kimwalter8753]

Hm hmm..

[@cynthiasullivan8233]

Yes very! Considering she was a lawyer!

[@kimstringfellow6493]

Her level of ignorance is high indeed.

[@lqboren47]

She is someone who believes "white" people owe reperations to "black" people. She believes she is still owed reperations even thou it was proven that her family moved to Puerto Rico taking their plantation of slaves with them after their home country out lawed slavery. She is a host on the View.

[@letsomethingshine]

She is only 7% indigenous Puerto Rican. In the island many make a proud fuss about having native blood and never about their heritage from Spain. She thought of herself as half Puerto Rican, so she expected less than 25% Spaniard.

[@TheMuffinManTT]

Issa Rays learning for the first time that black people also were slaveowners is really great.

[@joelwright4317]

You’re not responsible for your ancestors. You had no control over what they chose to do. Any surprises should be at worst merely interesting. Getting upset about it is weird and pointless.

[@nancymoore1240]

I completely agree. I get tired of hearing ppl whine that they don't know who they are, where they come from . YOU are he person that YOU choose to be. You are not your ancestors.

[@rosameryrojas-delcerro1059]

Amazing what we find out. Only a couple of my great grandfolks ever talked about thier parents (my 2great grandfolks) to thier kids. 3 of my great grandfolks were already gone before my parents were born. When I finally tracked my unknown 2great grandfolks (of 16) I discovered that 3 had dumped thier kids in orphanages, 1 of those had a second family later. Another 3 abandoned thier kids to be raised by single moms. Two of the men who dumped thier kids had long wrap sheets and were mentioned in local papers. 1 suffered from schizophrenia, and one died. The remaining 8 were fine. The number of dirtbag 2great grandfolks I have was unbelievable to me. No wonder why 5 of my great grandfolks never mentioned one or both of thier parents.

[@66limelight]

That's what I was thinking during Ben Affleck's part. He tried to hide that his ancestors owned slaves but why? He's not responsible and he has nothing to be ashamed of. But then, given the fact that he leans far to the left politically, I'm wondering if he has been supportive of reparations for descendents of slaves. If so, he might be pressured or feel a sense of pressure to pay reparations out of his own pocket. And as we know many people are very generous.....as long as isn't with their own money. I was also surprised by Levar Burton's reaction. He seemed disappointed and upset that he's just a wee bit Caucasian and that an ancestor served in the Confederacy. Such ridiculous reactions IMO.

[@nancymoore1240]

@@66limelight Affleck: could be but it always seems to be about his image of himself. BTW, not all lefties are the same. I am very liberal but not woke or progressive. IMO, "reparations" is unworkable, and, frankly a ludicrous idea. I believe in free speech and JK Rowling, who is absolutely correct and NOT transphobic. Neither am I but hard science is against the notion of XY persons competing against XX persons. Old fascist men have no business deciding to change women's rights.

[@Kate-qq3ez]

You are right , we cannot look back in time with our today’s eyes.

[@billwalker790]

I am surprised how some reacted to the different race of their ancestors . Considering they would Not have existed without them . History is unchanged past and can be unsettling even shocking but to seem ashamed ,bitter or denying is foolish. My ancestry is Black, white & Jewish and have always gotten a smile when I think of my past relatives.

[@hwgray]

"Black, white & Jewish" So, which of them do you identify as on the census? Or do you go with "Other"?

[@billwalker790]

@@hwgray jewish

[@danduntz2539]

@@hwgray Why does it matter?? That’s his business, not yours.

[@lqboren47]

American Mutt here

[@PYRAMlDION]

@@hwgrayGood question.

[@jls4382]

Can you imagine if someone white, like Diane Sawyer, or Nora O'Donnell for instance, learned she was 'one third Black' on national TV and spat out "You Take That Back!!!" Wouldn't that be considered a racist statement?

[@inacook2285]

Of course. Why do you ask?

[@narrowroad62]

Absolutely. And it proves that they’re racist.

[@juliodyarzagaray]

@@inacook2285 Lol.

[@soysaucegirl2007]

Keep acting dumb, pretending that being a slave owner and a victim of slavery were exactly the same thing. Do you feel better? You're embarrassing yourself.

[@aenglegurl]

@jls4382 exactly what I was thinking lol. I was scared to say it though. I'd actually think it would be really cool . I'm adopted and have no clue what or who I am, who knows what would show up for me!

[@deborahjones5289]

Love your video, and loved the rambling stories 😊

[@jenniferburns2530]

I don't think anyone can claim they are of a single race or ethnicity. Humans have been moving around, meeting travelers and neighbors alike, and otherwise connecting to others since humans left Africa. We all have ancestors from a wide range of places, classes, and traditions. I hope Angela Davis joined the Mayflower Society!

[@d.e.b.b5788]

I have a distant ancestor from somewhere in Africa, named 'Lucy'. Short little lady, I understand.

[@enn4983]

@@d.e.b.b5788 While many people have seemed to have inhabited the fringes of their societies and are cheerfully mixed up, there are lots of thorougbreds.

[@YvonneWatson-ff5ex]

@@jenniferburns2530 The only thing I’m 100% of is European according to Ancestry, but then again that’s changed 4 times since I joined. 😂. Don’t get too comfortable in what you think you are because it’s bound to change.

[@2anthro]

I have cousins in Ireland who are 100% Irish. I'm only 50%.

[@GoldStarDaMachine]

@@jenniferburns2530 but we know most likely our ancestors were RAPED! There were LAWS, actual LAWS FOR MURDERING AND RAPING BLK WOMEN! It comes from a different place! I know why yt folks are upset! If BLK folks have white in their family it’s because of RAPE!

[@3monsters014]

I find it funny that all these light skin black people all think they are 100% black. I am light skinned, so I don’t pretend that I am 100% of Hispanic origins . My research shows just how mixed I am. I find it fantastic that my family didn’t see race as an issue and went for what they wanted regardless of the times.

[@DarrenMoore-le6pg]

I find it funny that you think Hispanic is a racial category. 🤣

[@carolinemcgovern8059]

​@@DarrenMoore-le6pg What? Hispanic is a BAME.

[@cps525i7]

Lucky for you that you didn't encounter a lot of discrimination. Not everyone is so fortunate.

[@carolinemcgovern8059]

@@cps525i7 Discrimination is not just about colour.

[@cps525i7]

@@carolinemcgovern8059 Who said it was?

[@gngirl1]

How do Educated people still confuse race with nationality.

[@Yaapin_Nyauwi]

Affleck trying to erase his family history def didn't surprise me. It's easier to turn a blind eye when you don't have a connection

[@lynnmanning2795]

Wonderful program. My thanks to your researchers for their incredible work. Love your program

[@karencreighton7939]

It’s fascinating how generations can switch from criminal to pillars of society. My kids’ dad had a dad who had a long criminal record and was a horribly abusive dad, but all the grandkids turned out to be super talented and well-loved people who contribute wonderfulness to the world.

[@manxkin]

Why would someone from Puerto Rico be surprised to find that they have Spanish roots? I’m not embarrassed by the actions of those who came before. Why should I be? Interesting reactions from the African American people featured here when they find they have white ancestors.

[@tessdean2523]

sunny is always cloudy. shes not the brightest or kindest

[@mememefinally]

They are like "oh this explains why they speak Spanish in Puerto Rico" 😂

[@ThomasJones-sz3sx]

@@tessdean2523 Well...She's On "The View", That Tells Me All I Need To Know!!

[@jeromepowell1873]

They don't like to think about how they became their ancestor.

[@jeromepowell1873]

​She probably doesn't like the idea of being related to the Spanish conquistador.@tessdean2523

[@sues.8384]

I seriously wouldn’t be affected by what is in my family history from 3+ generations ago. It has nothing to do with me. However, it would be very interesting. Every person has a story no matter what generation.

[@JD-jz8vl]

Why are people so surprised to learn there are white or black or asian ancestors is ridiculous. Dont they realize we all have thousands of ancestors??

[@MrSophire]

Well depends. If you are a blonde and blue eyed, it would be surprising to have an Asian ancestry. The ones who should not be surprised are the “people of color” having white ancestry is they live in the New World. My family is from Mexico. Knowing basic World History it isn’t surprising that most of us are mix.

[@earlemorgan5068]

Exactly

[@lavenderoh]

​@@MrSophire even then.. my family is white, lots of blondes and blue eyes too. There's still African heritage in the DNA results.

[@MrSophire]

@@lavenderoh Yes but I said it would be more of an excuse to be surprise. Asians would also have more of an excuse but Blacks and Latin America have no excuse knowing history. Some of these people had very lite skin and they are shock they have European blood in there.

[@Andre-wf8cb]

And this proves what that we're really one there's no such thing as a black and white race 🎉

[@RussVerbofsky]

When conducting family roots research, expect to find the good, the bad, and the ugly facts. The stories the family told you may not be accurate.

[@sulleys1929]

Stories may not be the most accurate, but the whispers perhaps hold the most truth.

[@csnide6702]

ya think..?

[@handsomeman-pm9vy]

Be careful about researching your ancestry. You just might find out that your relative was the "Town Butcher." And I do not mean the guy at the meat store.

[@porterbrass]

My ancestor is also William Brewster. We are all cousins, making prejudice and racism seem even more rediculous and pointless.

[@Alyson_Turner]

Thank you for posting this 🎉 Ms

[@buggyroberson9922]

Levar probably thought of Roots and Reading Rainbow's episode about slavery...but he was also right about discussing family history with others to help understand each other better.😊❤

[@RonGerstein]

LeVar

[@Lacesoflove]

Roots actually was proven wrong. White people didn't capture slaves. Black Africans captured the slaves and sold them. Black Africans had been running slavery long before the North Atlantic slave trade. Black Africans still own slaves.

[@lqboren47]

Alex Haley, the author of Roots: The Saga of an American Family, wrote, "I was just trying to give my people a myth to live by" in a private note to a critic. Haley also referred to the book as "faction".

[@jasondashney]

Watch this whole episode. He was really upset he had white blood in him. His reaction was absolutely disgusting and if things were reversed he'd be cancelled for sure.

[@danas3765]

Roots is a work of fiction

[@AmerIndianMe]

These celebrities act as well in this show, as they do in their movies..😂 Like the irony of Lavar Burton's situation, seeing he starred in "Roots" and all..geesh

[@romecottrell6444]

Wow ! Finding out who your family members are is sometimes more shocking 😲.