Henry Louis Gates Jr. on Handling Bombshell Family Secrets in 'Finding Your Roots'
In a recent episode of PBS's 'Finding Your Roots', Henry Louis Gates Jr. addresses the ethical considerations involved in uncovering family secrets. When a non-paternal situation arises, he reaches out to the guest's publicist to facilitate a conversation, giving the guest the option to learn more. He references Joe Manganiello, who found out that his grandmother had an affair with a Black man. Gates highlights the importance of trust and notes that many who choose not to learn do so because the person involved is still living. In Season 12, America Ferrera uncovers her lineage from a free mulatto, while Sanaa Lathan discovers her connection to a wealthy white slave owner. Gates also shares his interest in potential guests like Beyoncé and discusses the impact of AI on genealogy.
Key facts
- Henry Louis Gates Jr. hosts 'Finding Your Roots' on PBS since 2012.
- Season 12 features America Ferrera learning she is a descendant of a free mulatto and a distant cousin of Ava DuVernay.
- Sanaa Lathan discovered she is descended from a wealthy white slave owner.
- Gates has an ethics protocol for revealing non-paternal events to guests.
- Joe Manganiello learned his grandmother had an affair with a Black man, leading to ongoing research for a potential special segment.
- Over 90% of Africans captured in the slave trade were taken by African merchants.
- Gates's wish list includes Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Clint Eastwood, Jay-Z, and Gladys Knight.
- The show's research takes at least six months on average.
- AI is used as a 'liquid encyclopedia' for research but cannot yet generate full family trees.
- The series evolved from focusing on African Americans to all immigrants, inspired by Stephen Hawking.
Entities
Artists
- Henry Louis Gates Jr.
- America Ferrera
- Ava DuVernay
- Sanaa Lathan
- Joe Manganiello
- Tina Fey
- Deepak Chopra
- Téa Leoni
- Delroy Lindo
- Beyoncé
- Taylor Swift
- Travis Kelce
- Clint Eastwood
- Jay-Z
- Gladys Knight
- Barbra Streisand
- Stephen Hawking
- CeCe Moore
- Don King
Institutions
- PBS
- Harvard University
- The Hollywood Reporter
Locations
- United States
- Honduras
- Africa