Finding Your Roots is a really interesting show. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and his team are bulldogs, scouring records, finding connections the guests may have only dreamed of finding. The revelations, the discoveries, the wrestling with slavery often times, the emotions and appreciation the guests often express for what their forebears went through, the surprise connections with other guests through DNA—it all adds up to an engaging hour of television.
I think Dr. Gates could lend an air of intrigue and excitement to just about any person’s story. The research in and of itself travels in so many directions and opens more doors than it closes, with the exception of the Black experience and the sometimes early encounter with what Gates calls the Brick Wall, where the sleuthing hits a dead end.
Slaves were often tallied with a hash mark, no name, maybe an age and gender, which is a recurring theme in the research. Gates and the team find ways to fill in some of the blanks, though, find other threads to pull.
Their efforts are a blessing to these guests, who often express thanks and deep appreciation for having their stories filled out. They’ve been given a whole new way of thinking about their families and themselves. It’s a remarkable journey every week.
3 Cents' 