Top 10 Most Dramatic Moments on Finding Your Roots

Let's get to the root of the drama. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most intense, drama-filled reactions and reveals on PBS’ “Finding Your Roots.” Our countdown includes Pharrell Williams, Mandy Patinkin, Pamela Adlon, and more! Which of these moments did YOU find the most dramatic? Let us know in the comments below!

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[Beth_Alice_Kaplan]

Sometimes watching the guests on FYR learn their family histories can be so overwhelming. I remember watching the episode with Mandy Patinkin when it first aired, and the way he fell apart in an instant broke my heart.

[robertbyrd]

Mandy Patinkin, without doubt, the most heart wrenching …

[zizzy]

Andy Samberg's story is also amazing. They were able to find his mother's biological mother and father.

[daniellemhall]

As someone in the African diaspora, sometimes its alarming to think of how close and yet so far we are far we are from our enslaved ancestors. You hear stories and for a moment in time you reach out and touch them. My grandma once told my mom that HER grandma could remember her early life on the plantation before emancipation. Its just crazy.

[Stoppedgetout]

First I have to say there should definitely be a box of tissue paper on the table. Next Ms. Davis was very wise to hone in on what all of this information means. It tells you why your life has been difficult or easier and why you’ve had to overcome some things that you didn’t realize were an issue.

[lauriemohr]

Quest Love’s story is amazing! I’d watch that episode over and over. His history, but also American history. ❤

[yachtboy]

Being aware of our ancestral past can take us on an emotional roller coaster for sure. But we can take this information and use it to inspire ourselves to become better people. Each generation has the opportunity to be 'better' than the previous. Whatever 'better may mean to you.

[SmartMouth]

My mother, an Italian gypsy in a "normal" family, married an Osage Indian who walked out on her when I was born. He wanted a boy. Turns out he was a revolutionary, tried to over-throw the government (1929). The Feds were on his tail so he escaped to Colorado from Massachusetts, changed his name from McIntyre to Franklin, to pass for an Englishman, and stayed there lost in the mountains. Mother moved me back to her Italian family in Massachusetts. I have strong Osage traits - and Italian - and proud to have them. I love this program. We should all be proud of what and who we are.

[AprilB-vyuq]

FYR is a wonderfully educational show, it also reminds us that humanity was not always kind. It reminds us to do better.

[BlueSaphire]

I was really moved by RuPaul's story of taking care of his mother. He was a good son. ❤

[AlvinHackerman]

I knoe it isn't feasible but finding your roots should be on air everyday. But I'll take every time it's on thanks Dr Gates thsnks

[justjulie]

Mr Burton has aged very very well. I was in kindergarten o first grade when roots came on tv. In my 40’s I checked out the dvd set of roots and found out I remembered about 5% of the actual series, where he was tied up and whipped. BTW, in real life at that time, I had never seen an African American, grew up in small town Wisconsin.

[TriforCeair]

Horrible. I cannot process all the pain and suffering they were forced through.

[WendyDarling]

I was struck by Bernie Sanders, who had no real idea what his immigrant father had gone through or just how many of his relatives were murdered in the Holocaust. It was clear that to him it explained a lot about his childhood.

[denisedarnell]

Mandys story broke my heart . His ancestors didnt survive the Holocust ..
I am angry that so many folks were enslaved here and separated forever by their families too. That should have never happened to any human EVER
But being burned alive or gassed is horrific even a baby only a couple months old. That is haunting
AND WE NEED TO LEARN FROM THESE HORRIFIC EVENTS ...

[mlynettepinky]

I don't know why comments are not showing
It keeps disappearing
Anyway, keep up these videos
Finding your roots, you're also giving a history lesson

[hollishaley-ou]

I have always thought that it would be really cool to have Henry Louis Gates do a genealogy chart for me.

[JohnyComeLately]

Watching people learn relatives died in the holocaust is heartbreaking. Watching others have their traceable lineage end with a slave register for plantation always upsets me.

[jaclamb]

Celebtrate their lives...
Tragic hard sad ...
But u are the gift they left/the product of their pain
Sure they look down and smile
Make them proud!

[Brenda-trsj]

The one gift these families have recieved is they get to give honor to their past relatives through their grief. Also those relatives are now remembered to this generation. Condolences 🌹and GOD BLESS YOU 🛐❤️🕊️🕊️🕊️❤️