Ciara Discovers Her Ancestors' Hidden Relationship | Finding Your Roots | PBS

DNA research helps Ciara Harris discover one of her biological ancestors was not who the records show, and that a relationship must have occurred between this mystery man and her great-great grandmother.

Ciara is a Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. During her 20-year career, she has sold over 23 million records and 22 million singles worldwide, including chart-topping hits “Goodies,” “Ride,” “Oh,” “1, 2 Step,” “I Bet,” and “Level Up.”

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About the series:
Renowned scholar Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. guides influential guests into their roots, uncovering deep secrets, hidden identities and lost ancestors. Using genealogical detective work and cutting-edge DNA analysis, Gates guides influential guests deep into the branches of their family trees, revealing surprising stories of forgotten ancestors that transcend borders, illuminating an American root system fortified by its diversity.

[jesselle_]

Shid y’all talking about if she had a choice, her husband barely had a choice to confront him and protect her if it was assault. Very little changed between slavery and sharecropping. May that woman’s soul rest in peace ♥️

[medusagorgon]

This made me very sad. I doubt it was consensual. The timeline alone speaks volumes. The men were out in the field practically every day, all day. It would be easy for a man to assault a lone woman (without basic human rights) and get away with it.💔

[britavega]

The fact that they’re making it seem like an affair when he said, the 2 men were in on deceiving the husband in order to take advantage of his wife is wild. This is why some people stay in a world of delusion

[inhairitancestudio]

Ciara saying she believes it was consensual makes me think she didn’t understand what he said initially, is delusional, or lying for the cameras. Girl what?!

[phylliskumi]

That is a troubling conclusion. I don't believe this was consensual. Black women had no agency at that time.

[LACED]

Be careful what you ask for. We all want to know our family history but the truth can be dark.

[Gavin_Gavalli]

I highly doubt it was consensual! Men came and took what they wanted back then I’m shocked she didn’t give her great great grandmother the benefit of the doubt

[malyroberts]

I feel like both of them tried to put lipstick on a pig with this situation. Hopefully the full episode will provide more context because I don’t understand how they came to the conclusion that the affair was consensual 🤷🏽‍♀️

[courtneyholland]

Uncovering family history is a journey in itself

[Pougie]

The problem with both Ciara and the host saying this was consensual is that Black ppl did not have agency during that time, nor were the laws on their side. So, even if it was technically consensual, it still wouldn't be consensual the same way that a boss having an affair with one of his lower level workers isn't consensual. There is a power differential that doesn't allow either person to be on the same level when it comes to agency.

[hee]

There is no way of knowing if it was consensual or if he sexually assaulted her

[Drawingboredi]

Cici's reactions 😂😂😂" hm hm hm hmmm"

[chillwill]

I know she could not really think that her great-grandmother had a choice or she was ok with it.

[jjgems]

Ciara has a beautiful speaking voice and she’s beautiful! I’ve always been such a fan and loved her music but I’ve never heard her speaking voice just singing

[bmit]

I don't think that was love. In my personal opinion, they weren't that far off from the ending of “The Peculiar Institution, ” and many southern whites still felt they had a right to the bodies of African-decent blacks.

[FridaDina]

Family ancestry can be a mystery or it can be revealing of some hidden truth. This show and their research are amazing.

[documentarygirl]

Likely she was assaulted. Nathan probably knew that baby wasnt his cuz

[TheMyssLK]

If she wanted to be impartial, she should’ve just said … I really don’t know

[adviceu]

It is very dangerous to assume that BW had that level of agency to consent. Dr. Gates loves a we are the world moment🤦🏾‍♀️

[christinebryant]

Ancestry is deep to it core. We’re going through our family tree now five generations back took us back as a black family to 1797 our white family members fifth generation great grandmother and their 10 children is crazy. One of those children was the father of my great grandmother.