© 2026 New England Public Media

FCC public inspection files:
WGBY • WFCR • WNNZ • WNNU • WNNZ-FM • WNNI

For assistance accessing our public files, please contact hello@nepm.org or call 413-781-2801.
PBS, NPR and local perspective for western Mass.
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Finding Your Roots

Rags to Riches

Season 12 Episode 10 | 52m 09s

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the family trees of actor Kate Burton and media mogul Barry Diller—two people who grew up in comfort, thanks to ancestors who did not. Moving from shtetls to coal mines to orphanages, Gates and his guests learn stories of extraordinary sacrifice and explore a profound question: what do we inherit from people whose lives were unimaginably more challenging than our own?

Aired: 04/13/26 | Expires: 05/14/26
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.
Extra
Watch • 2:37
American Masters
Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World
Celebrate the life and career of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mary Oliver.
Preview: S40 E5 | 2:37
Watch • 0:30
Antiques Roadshow
Preview: 250 Years of Americana
Preview: 250 Years of Americana
Preview: S30 E22 | 0:30
Watch • 0:30
Independent Lens
Third Act | Trailer
Filmmaker Tadashi Nakamura honors his father, Robert A. Nakamura, and their shared legacy.
Preview: S27 E12 | 0:30
Watch • 2:33
Great Performances
Nicole Scherzinger performs "Maybe This Time" from "Cabaret"
Nicole Scherzinger performs "Maybe This Time" from "Cabaret."
Clip: S53 E20 | 2:33
Watch • 2:29
American Masters
W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With a Cause
Explore the life and legacy of notable Black scholar and civil rights pioneer W.E.B. Du Bois.
Preview: S40 E4 | 2:29
Watch • 3:10
American Masters
The formation of the NAACP and Du Bois’ magazine, “The Crisis”
How Du Bois used "The Crisis" and NAACP efforts to expose racism and celebrate Black achievement.
Clip: S40 E4 | 3:10
Watch • 3:43
American Masters
W.E.B. Du Bois' childhood, family and education
Born in 1868, W.E.B. Du Bois rose from hardship to academic excellence.
Clip: S40 E4 | 3:43
Watch • 2:25
American Masters
Du Bois used visualized data to confront racism at the 1900 Paris Exposition
At the 1900 Paris Expo, Du Bois used data to present a visually captivating case against racism.
Clip: S40 E4 | 2:25
Watch • 2:32
American Masters
A brief history of Reconstruction
Reconstruction saw Black progress, then backlash erased gains after brief equality.
Clip: S40 E4 | 2:32
Watch • 1:48
American Masters
W.E.B. Du Bois passed away on the eve of the 1963 March on Washington
Du Bois’ death at the 1963 March on Washington marked a passing of the torch in civil rights.
Clip: S40 E4 | 1:48
Latest Episodes
All
  • All
  • Finding Your Roots Season 12
  • Finding Your Roots Season 11
  • Finding Your Roots Season 10
  • Finding Your Roots Season 9
  • Finding Your Roots Season 8
  • Finding Your Roots Season 7
  • Finding Your Roots Season 6
  • Finding Your Roots Season 5
  • Finding Your Roots Season 4
  • Finding Your Roots Season 3
  • Finding Your Roots Season 2
  • Finding Your Roots Season 1
Watch • 52:10
Finding Your Roots
Song of the South
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the families of Danielle Deadwyler and Rhiannon Giddens.
Episode: S12 E9 | 52:10
Watch • 52:09
Finding Your Roots
Artistic Roots
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of director Spike Lee and actor Kristin Chenoweth.
Episode: S12 E8 | 52:09
Watch • 52:09
Finding Your Roots
Family Harmonies
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. introduces musicians Flea and Lizzo to their inspiring ancestors.
Episode: S12 E7 | 52:09
Watch • 52:09
Finding Your Roots
Westward Bound
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. heads west to map the family trees of Sara Haines and Tracy Letts.
Episode: S12 E6 | 52:09
Watch • 52:09
Finding Your Roots
Love & Basketball
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of basketball stars Brittney Griner and Chris Paul.
Episode: S12 E5 | 52:09
Watch • 52:09
Finding Your Roots
The Road We Took
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of actor Lizzy Caplan and comedian Hasan Minhaj.
Episode: S12 E4 | 52:09
Watch • 52:09
Finding Your Roots
Caribbean Roots
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the Caribbean heritage of Liza Colón-Zayas and Delroy Lindo.
Episode: S12 E3 | 52:09
Watch • 52:09
Finding Your Roots
Great Migrations
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the family trees of rapper Wiz Khalifa and actor Sanaa Lathan.
Episode: S12 E2 | 52:09
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