Oscar Winner QuestLove Reacts to Family History in Finding Your Roots | Ancestry

In this clip from Finding Your Roots, Henry Louis Gates Jr. walks Oscar Winner QuestLove through some painful moments from his family's past. Start Your Ancestry Family Tree:

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00:00 Introduction
0:24 QuestLove’s astonishing family truth
0:53 QuestLove finds connection to the Clotilda
2:14 QuestLove meets his 3rd great-grandfather

[neptuneserena]

when he said, “those are my eyes.” my heart literally crumbled. im so happy he was able to get a photo since many african americans today are not able to. and that’s why i wish non black people would understand the pain and grieving that goes into something like this when looking into your history. im so happy for him.

[orbion]

I'm glad this guy discovered his roots. He should start a band and call it "The Roots"

[janaheelan]

Imagine how far back in his ancestry those same eyes go. Beautiful moment.

[suzieqorange]

I wish these clips were longer. I love this program.

[sashanoel]

Damn…I cried. He looks JUST like his ancestor!! So incredible! Make these longer please
🙏🏽

[TheAccidentalViking]

That's amazing. Genetics, man. His eyes, the set of his eyebrows and the set of his mouth. I've watched QuestLove for years on TV and have seen how he screws up his lips with certain expressions... it looks just like his 3rd great grandfather. What a power feeling that had to be. What a gift to have and see this. I love this show.

[CatEyedGoddess]

“I didn’t know who I was.” There are so many of us that descendants of slaves that can relate that comment. So powerful. I started crying because that sums up how I always felt.

[bridgetwhite]

I am crying tears of joy with him. This is such a blessing.

[geniushugs]

Cudjoe (Oluale Kossola) Lewis was also on the Clotilda. He survived and lived in Africatown, too. He was interviewed by Zora Neale Hurston for the book Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo, " which wasn't published until 2018. Kossola talks about his life in Africa and America in those interviews. This means Questlove's 3rd great-grandfather Charlie Lewis (notice the same last name?) and Kossula were on the same boat and probably knew each other!!

[ladyrachel]

Bless him. I'm glad he has a picture of his 3rd great grandfather. Unfortunately not many African-Americans have that.

[MrsSaxophonegirl]

When he said “I was on the last boat from Africa” it hit me how personal some of these clips are and how meaningful this information is to African Americans. I’m so glad he was able to get this.

[rachelm]

It so cool when old photos survive. So glad that someone in his family lineage kept it safe.💖

[deechandrashekhar]

Not just the eyes, you look EXACTLY like him! Wow, genetics is marvellous!

[TheIamtheoneandonly]

A child doesn’t belong to the father or mother; a child belongs to the ancestors. - African Proverb

[Manilovesmovies]

His third great grandfather looks a lot like him, how awesome

[TooStonedToBobsled]

QuestLove: "I'm not gonna cry"

I immediately thought, "yes you are".

How could he not? What an overwhelming and amazing thing to suddenly discover.

[nanad]

He looks so much like his g g g grandfather, they could be twins! This is awesome that you found his first African ancestor!

[dejaeviz]

i'm a 51 year old white man born in Kentucky, moved all around the world via the military. I have no idea who my family is beyond my fathers parents and my mothers parents.

This would be awesome for anyone to learn.

[creex]

He looks just like him. Those genes are powerful!

[MarkWick]

I know how he feels. Without a DNA test I would never have known who my ancestors were, not even my birth parents. When I first saw a photo of my birth father, taken when he was probably about age 60, I just sat and looked at it for about 30 minutes. never before in my 70 years had I seen anybody that I look like. It is still emotional to me to even think about that moment.