Unlike other immigrants who got to relish in their own 'cultural roots' Africans had to change their names, forget their motherland...even change their food. That is heavy.
It's interesting that when white celebrities find thier ancestry in Europe, the countries are accurately pinpointed. But it's different when African ancestry is discovered in an individual. it's just so vague. Why ?
You won't have a name for a relative or a history but with the DNA they can tell where exactly in Africa your ancestors came from. Not much but it is a start.
The pain on his face when he read the word 'Africa' is a powerful reminder that the legacy of slavery is very real. My privilege has blinded me to how relevant this is today. Thank you for sharing, Dr. Gates.
We searched for my spouses ancestors in Chile, it was most interesting. Besides native Americans, Spaniards and Germans there were two men born in Congo and Angola. Even their African names were registered: Tongo and Purrai. They were brought to Chile in 1600. The only woman who was registered as a black African had only her Spanish name written, Petronila Ruiz, ”property of Petronila de Valenzuela”.
Very interesting. Too often when you hear about Black history we think of the US alone, forgetting a) the diaspora of the African slave trades and b) how early it starts. I am curious about your African ancestors who was in Chile in 1600. Could you tell us more?
@@elizabethwilk9615 Even if they sacrificed their own people, they didn’t bring their people group to extinction like the europeans did when they massacred them.
This is beautiful. People underestimate how much importance a sense of belongingness holds in a person's life. Capital will never replace sense of community and identity. God bless all those involved in the making of this show.
Aren’t all of our ancestors though, especially if we’re African American? Our DNA may not trace back as far as that, WHEN IT COMES TO FINDING OUT OUR HISTORY, but we know that it does.
What was very empowering about his last response is "I can now join in this conversation " not a lot of us have that opportunity so when we talk about reparation and accountability this is the reason why. These people intentionally tried to wipe out our history and when I see other who are able to trace their history that dont look like me it hurts. So its bigger and people need to understand that.
this hits home so hard. as black and latine, maybe even indigenous peoples, we don't have access to not just our real history overall but also our personal family history. in case white, asia, etc people didn't know- that part when he said he can join in on those convos about ancestry, yea... that made me cry because that's most of us. glad to see and feel his closure.
I agree on west African, but not really Senegalese. Senegalese, Malian and black Moritaniens have (most of the time) another type of face. He is more Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria type.
That's I was quick to press play I was hoping it would confirm my thoughts. He looks like he can be Mandinka, Wolof or any tribe part of the Manding empire
I'm so sorry that your people had to endure such a horrible thing as Slavery. I will never understand how anyone can make another human being a slave. Never. It's an ugly part of humanity i truly wished never happened, to anyone of any ethnicity.
Thank you for this, but almost white person in America most likely has ancestry that traces back to an African, due to slavery, so you saying that our people had to go through this, should also be targeted to them as well. I didn’t have to go through this, and I’m glad I didn’t, my ancestors did though. I’m not going to say “I’m glad that they went through this because of where we are today” when in reality, if this never would have happened, we would have our culture, Africans wouldn’t hate African Americans, and we wouldn’t be pitied for our history. None of us are really as sympathetic as we make it seem, we just want sympathy 💁🏾♀️, and when we ask for that sympathy, many of us come off as disrespectful and start disrespecting white people to the point where they can’t even speak on the subject, as if it never happened in history.
I do not mean to lessen the horror or long-term ripple effect slavery has had on African Americans but their story is only one chapter of a much bigger story. You for know that Africans were not the only people to be enslaved, don't you? Unfortunately slavery is as old as mankind. Every culture, dynasty, empire has had slavery. Thd Pyramids were allegedly built by slaves. Also of all Africans captured and sold into slavery only a small percentage ended up in what is now the USA.
I too have been able to trace 1 of my 5th Grand parents back to Africa based on a 1870 Census as well. Way to go. We refer to him and it's been passed down through generations as Father Africa.
Seeing him cry because he read the word 'Africa' made me cry too. I am so lucky to have been born in Africa and never taken away. I wish he finds out where he is from, since it's such a close relation. I wish all diaspora Africans could know the places they truly come from.
Sterling is one of my favorite actors, this was a really beautiful clip to watch. Walking in this world not knowing your family history properly and fully is a terrible experience, and I am happy Sterling has some closure now. My background is not African-American at all, but I cried when I saw that - that is how powerful genealogy can be, it makes the history we read in books and see in movies, very real and tangible. Dr. Gates' love of history and humanity are inspiring, he has the most wonderful job in the world.
Thanks for sharing with us, @kekebaby. We hope this will inspire you to record the history that you do know about and the ancestors that you can find from your family lines.
I started to cry when Sterling did! I always say as a gabonese(Gabon, central weat Africa) , or us african born in general, who grew up thwre have our families there, our roots there, we know all of our ancestors because we are from our native lands even if we go live and travel other places, we can trace them back. But for afro americans its heartbreaking different story sometimes because they can’t trace it back past just knowing their ancestors were slaves that were brought from our mother land. This sort of misplacement really plays a huge role in generational psyche dysfunction, along with the white segregation and abuse committed on them and identity crisis of a lot of Afro Americans. There’s a lot of healing Americans still need to do as a whole.
Why did I think he was going to say where in Africa? Perhaps that was too much to hope for. I guess it gives him an idea of when they were transported, which many people don't know.
My favorite show. I've the desire of wanting to find your roots. I interviewed and recorded my 84 years old cousin on my maternal side for a paper I needed to complete for my graduate class. It was such an enlightening and joyful experience!
What a beautiful video! I am Brazilian and my ancestors came from Portugal, France and Italy and I remember how surprised I was when I found out who they were. The names their stories. AFrica is the motherland of all humans. The differences we have are superficial, it says only how long it’s been since we left Africa. ❤️
Try African Ancestry or AfroRoots DNA. They're both black owned DNA ancestry testing companies. I can explain the difference between the two if you want?
I love seeing this ....this makes me feel whole to see them reconnect and reclaim what was once ripped from them . . I wish I could learn of my African enslaved ancestors....
They were still bringing them long after 1808. They would just dump and burn the ships, hide the slaves out for a few days, then put them on the auction block. Love this show, but felt that part was not explained in details. They still found other ways to bring them here illegally.
@@petej7002 My roots on my paternal side go back over 200 years all over Alabama. Lived and help build Africa Town. I'm almost certain some of them were on Clotilda.
Omg! That man is so handsome & talented. This is us, is one of my favorite shows! The Beth & Randall, relationship is my goal! I'm so happy, that he got the chance to learn this, about his family💜
The genealogist in me got excited for Sterling and I cried at the same time. It’s frustrating for me to go back generations sometimes so I can’t imagine what this must mean for him. I am happy for him. My husband is black and I’ve had great, extensive success with his family tree. This is what I hope to get to one day for him and our kids ❤️
don't cry brother you have a lot of family's in Africa from north to south from east to west . africans never forgot theirs brothers and sisters anywhere in the world. a big hug from your brother a north African.
You can see the excitement in his voice knowing where his family is from and the emotions why he crying in happiness. And on a side note I have a you tube channel type in Russell Mills May 22, 2017.
So happy for him. My ancestry DNA has taken me back to the 1100s in England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, Sweden and Africa. Every new discovery increases my pride of my mixed heritage. I too shed tears of joy.
Hi, Roslyn. Thanks for commenting. We're so excited to hear how much you enjoyed this segment of "Finding Your Roots." These episodes are so inspiring.
It would be nice if Dr. Gates and Ancestry could do a segment on a random not so famous indivual or family with each episode. Maybe do a contest or lottery and each winner will appear on his show. Just something I have been thinking about since the show first aired.
I'm so waiting on the day!!! I'm 38 and my mom & siblings don't even know their grandfather/mother. Its sad when your kids ask for ancestry information for school projects and you can't give any details.
We would love to help you do this! Have you thought about taking an AncestryDNA test? If you were to take our test, you'd be matched with any other relatives who've also taken our test. Some of these matches could potentially be able to help you piece together the information you're looking for through their own family trees. We have a great article on how to best use your DNA matches for research here: support.ancestry.com/s/article/Making-the-Most-of-AncestryDNA-Matches. This article has tips for figuring out how you're related to your matches: support.ancestry.com/s/article/Uncovering-DNA-Match-Relationships. If you'd prefer to stick with more traditional means of research, we have a great article linked that is designed to help break down walls within your research. You can access that here: support.ancestry.com/s/article/Brick-Wall-Solutions. Best of luck!
My great great great grandfather was born in Africa. He’s listed it on the 1880 as being born in Africa, as well as both of his parents. It truly opened my heart and my eyes to the strength and heritage of my family 🙏🏾🖤🙏🏾🖤
Thanks for checking out Sterling K's story, SimpleeKomplex! Each episode never fails to fascinate whatever the topic and we're delighted that you found this short clip of interest. Make sure to check out our many more videos and thought provoking stories here and call on our team anytime you need our assitance in your own research : www.youtube.com/@AncestryUS. 🌳
I love how Mr. Sterling K. Brown is happy to find his family roots in HUMANITY. I felt very emotional seeing the ships manifests for my grandparents and great-grandparents from Finland. I am the second generation born in America. My DNA says 77% Finnish, with Tuscany and Spain thrown in (41 generations, so far, Tuscany staying strong in that). I'm happy for him!
I was so happy to meet Sterling during a This is Us shooting 😀 I originally managed a commercial building on Beverly Blvd in Los Angeles. In the episode, Randel goes to a job interview and is interrupted by a phone call regarding his real father. Sterling took the time to introduce himself, shake my hand and made small talk with me. It was a blast.
These revelations always bring tears to my eyes. People underestimate the power of knowing your family history. Lucky are the ones that can trace the family genealogy!
Hey Echo47. Thanks for taking a minute to check out this short video and for sharing your thoughts on family history more generally. It's true that each research project is unique and its not always easy to progress. Nevertheless, it can be so rewarding to finally uncover the answers you seek and we always encourage any budding researcher to never give up! Rest assured that we're also always happy to point any researcher in the right direction should a stubborn brick wall appear. We appreciate your thoughtful comment and please let our team know if we can ever assist you in anyway. ❤️
Don't whitewash what happened. They didn't "come" to America. They were brought by force. *It's not the same thing!* And, it's still not even close because Africa is a continent, not a country. He still has no idea where in Africa his ancestors were born or what ethnic group they belonged to. You really didn't even think before you typed your comment.
This was news to me that we weren’t documented until 1870. Makes sense as earliest census I’ve found of my ancestry is Louisiana 1800’s.... I have Nigeria , Benin, and Congo ancestry.
I would have lost it if I saw what Sterling saw! Blackness is an Beautiful Experience but not an intact culture and our African souls know this and they know when they are being reconnected to who they really are. Blown away!
That's a pretty powerful moment. I'm trying to trace my Latin American surname back to Spain -currently stuck in 1718- and even if/when I find the connection I know it doesn't compare to this. Also have a 2z-ggm listed as a free mulatto and am curious to see how far back that line goes.
Both of my parents were born in Trinidad. I figured my family tree was pretty much lost to me past my grandmother, who I knew and what she could tell me about her parents. I knew that her father was Scottish though, and her mother was a native of St. Vincent, but that's all. I did the Ancestry DNA thing and after taking on the membership I was able to find my grandmother's father's parents as well. Because they were Scottish, I have a much better chance of at least tracing that line back further than the Afro/Caribbean part of my history. I guess it's something..
