Ancient Roots -
finding your roots

"Ancient Roots" traces the family histories of three quintessential voices in American life. All descend from ancestors who were part of the wave of Greek immigrants in the early decades of the 20th century. But along the way, the stories of their Greek ancestors were lost. Tina Fey's fifth great-grandfather survived a terrible massacre and became a hero in the Greek War of Independence. David Sedaris' ancestors were also touched by the Greek War of Independence. Their home village was raided by the Ottoman military and David's great-grand-aunt was taken captive - never to see her family again. George Stephanopoulos' family was willing to sacrifice themselves in the struggle against the Nazi occupation of Greece during World War I.

Episode Duration: 56 minutes and 46 seconds

Episode Number: 209

About Finding Your Roots:

Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

is the 12th and latest series from the renowned cultural critic and Harvard scholar.

In this 10-part series, Professor Gates continues the quest he begun in African American Lives 1 and 2 and Faces of America delving into the genealogy and genetics of an all new group of famous Americans.

The series combines history and science in a fascinating exploration of race, family, and identity in today's America.

Each hour features a different pair of celebrity guests, who are bound together by an intimate, sometimes hidden link, whether it be as old friends, through long-lost relatives, or even through a common ancestral past.

Visit the Finding Your Roots web site

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