Ep 2. Mystery Men

In the second episode of season 5 of Finding Your Roots, entitled "Mystery Men," host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. delves into the family trees of three men whose ancestry has long been shrouded in mystery.

The first guest is Terry Gross, the host and executive producer of the radio show Fresh Air. Gross has always been curious about her paternal grandfather, who died when her father was just a child and left little in the way of clues about his past. Gates and his team are able to uncover some fascinating details, including the fact that Gross's grandfather was a passenger on the infamous ship the Lusitania when it was torpedoed by a German U-boat in 1915.

The second guest is Marc Maron, a comedian and podcaster who has been making audiences laugh for decades. Maron has always known that his father's family was Jewish, but beyond that, he knows very little about his ancestry. As Gates and his team dig deeper, they discover some surprising facts about Maron's family history, including the story of an aunt who was murdered during the Holocaust.

The third and final guest is political commentator and author Ana Navarro. Navarro grew up in Nicaragua and always suspected that her family had a rich history, but wasn't sure where to start looking. With the help of Gates and his team, Navarro is able to trace her roots back to the Spanish Inquisition and uncover some fascinating connections between her ancestors and some of the most important figures in Latin American history.

Throughout the episode, Gates and his guests discuss the importance of knowing where we come from and how it can help us understand who we are today. They also grapple with some of the darker aspects of their family histories, including racism, prejudice, and violence.

Overall, "Mystery Men" is a fascinating look at the power of genealogy and how it can shed light on some of the most important events in history. Whether you're a history buff, a genealogy enthusiast, or just someone interested in learning more about your own family tree, this episode of Finding Your Roots is sure to captivate and inspire.