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Finding Your Roots

Great Migrations

Season 12 Episode 2 | 52m 09s

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. introduces rapper Wiz Khalifa and actor Sanaa Lathan to ancestors who left the American South in search of new jobs and better lives in the North, boldly breaking racial barriers . Journeying into the depths of the Jim Crow era, Wiz and Sanaa reimagine themselves as they learn the heroic stories of the people forever transformed their families.

Aired: 01/12/26 | Expires: 02/12/26
Corporate support for Season 11 of FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. is provided by Gilead Sciences, Inc., Ancestry® and Johnson & Johnson. Major support is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Support is also provided by Ford Foundation; Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation; Candace King Weir; by the Inkwell Society together with many of its members; and by public television viewers.
Extras
Watch • 2:55
Finding Your Roots
Season 12: Extended Trailer
Finding Your Roots returns, telling stories that illuminate America’s fundamental diversity.
Preview: S12 | 2:55
Watch • 4:12
Finding Your Roots
Laurence Learns About His Great-Great-Great-Grandmother
Laurence discovers the identity of his great-great-great-grandmother.
Clip: S11 E10 | 4:12
Watch • 4:14
Finding Your Roots
Skip Discovers His Great-Great-Grandfather
Skip discusses Jane Gates, his oldest known ancestor up until now.
Clip: S11 E10 | 4:14
Watch • 0:30
Finding Your Roots
Finding My Roots Preview
Family mysteries are solved for actor Laurence Fishburne & scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Preview: S11 E10 | 0:30
Watch • 3:41
Finding Your Roots
Lonnie Bunch Discovers His Grandfather's Heroic Educationonal Efforts
Lonnie learns about his grandfather who served on a school committee for mainly Black students.
Clip: S11 E9 | 3:41
Watch • 4:09
Finding Your Roots
The Surprising Love Story in Sheryl Lee Ralph's Ancestry
Sheryl's third great grandparents, a mixed race couple, got married in 1837.
Clip: S11 E9 | 4:09
Watch • 0:30
Finding Your Roots
Moving On Up Preview
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of actor Sheryl Lee Ralph & historian Lonnie Bunch.
Preview: S11 E9 | 0:30
Watch • 3:53
Finding Your Roots
Debra Messing's Polish Ancestors Voyaged to New York
Debra discovers her grandfather's earliest years in America after leaving Poland.
Clip: S11 E8 | 3:53
Watch • 4:21
Finding Your Roots
Melanie Lynskey Learns of a Long-Lost Relative
Melanie discovers a potential match for her great-grandfather.
Clip: S11 E8 | 4:21
Watch • 0:30
Finding Your Roots
The Butterfly Effect Preview
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces the family trees of actors Debra Messing & Melanie Lynskey.
Preview: S11 E8 | 0:30
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Watch • 52:09
Finding Your Roots
American Dreams
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. uncovers America Ferrera & Darren Criss’ immigrant ancestors.
Episode: S12 E1 | 52:09
Watch • 52:10
Finding Your Roots
Finding My Roots
Family mysteries are solved for actor Laurence Fishburne & scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Episode: S11 E10 | 52:10
Watch • 52:10
Finding Your Roots
Moving On Up
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of actor Sheryl Lee Ralph & historian Lonnie Bunch.
Episode: S11 E9 | 52:10
Watch • 52:10
Finding Your Roots
The Butterfly Effect
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces the family trees of actors Debra Messing & Melanie Lynskey.
Episode: S11 E8 | 52:10
Watch • 52:10
Finding Your Roots
The Ties That Bind
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of married actors Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard.
Episode: S11 E7 | 52:10
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Latin Roots
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. meets musician Rubén Blades & journalist Natalie Morales.
Episode: S11 E6 | 52:10
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Family Recipes
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the ancestry of notable chefs José Andrés & Sean Sherman.
Episode: S11 E5 | 52:10
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Dreamers One And All
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces the ancestry of actor Sharon Stone & model Chrissy Teigen.
Episode: S11 E4 | 52:10
Watch • 52:10
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Stranger Than Fiction
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. reveals inspiring ancestors of novelist Amy Tan & poet Rita Dove.
Episode: S11 E3 | 52:10
Watch • 52:10
Finding Your Roots
La Famiglia
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the Italian roots of Joy Behar & Michael Imperioli.
Episode: S11 E2 | 52:10