Ep 6. Black Like Me

In Finding Your Roots season 4 episode 6, titled "Black Like Me," host Henry Louis Gates Jr. explores the ancestral histories of three African American guests. The episode explores how the legacy of slavery and racism has affected the lives and family histories of these guests.

The first guest is political strategist Donna Brazile, who discovered that her great-grandparents were slaves on a Louisiana plantation. Gates and his team of genealogists also uncover an inspiring family story about Brazile's great-grandfather, who, after being freed from slavery, became a successful businessman, landowner, and community leader in his area.

The second guest is actor and musician Ty Burrell, who knew almost nothing about his father's side of the family. Through genealogical research, he learns that his great-grandfather was a successful businessman who owned multiple properties and became the first black landowner in his small Alabama town. Burrell also discovers that his great-great-grandfather was a slave, and that his family history includes a surprising connection to one of American history's most celebrated African American leaders.

The third guest is filmmaker and writer Tonya Lewis Lee, whose research takes her on a journey through the stories of her enslaved ancestors. Lee discovers that her great-great-grandfather was a slave in Virginia, and that her family can be traced back to some of the earliest African American families in the country. She also learns about the challenges her ancestors faced during the Reconstruction era and the legacy of slavery that continues to impact her family today.

Throughout the episode, Gates and his guests discuss the ways in which their family histories have affected their lives and how they see themselves in the context of American history. They reflect on the resilience of their ancestors, who endured unimaginable hardships but still managed to succeed and prosper despite the odds.

As always, Finding Your Roots provides a compelling and thought-provoking glimpse into the complex histories of some of America's most accomplished and inspiring figures. Through the power of genealogy and storytelling, the show explores the fascinating connections between past and present, and offers a unique perspective on what it means to be black in America today.