WQLN PBS NPR
8425 Peach Street
Erie, PA 16509

Phone
(814) 864-3001

© 2026 PUBLIC BROADCASTING OF NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

The Road We Took

Season 12 Episode 4 | 52m 09s

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the roots of actor Lizzy Caplan and comedian Hasan Minhaj, uncovering ancestors who made brave decisions that forever reshaped their family trees. Moving from shtetls in Eastern Europe to farmlands in northern India to the shores of the United States, Gates introduces his guests to the women and men who overcame enormous hardships to find a better future.

Aired: 01/26/26 | Expires: 02/26/26
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.
Latest Episodes
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of director Spike Lee and actor Kristin Chenoweth.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. introduces musicians Flea and Lizzo to their inspiring ancestors.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. heads west to map the family trees of Sara Haines and Tracy Letts.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of basketball stars Brittney Griner and Chris Paul.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the Caribbean heritage of Liza Colón-Zayas and Delroy Lindo.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the family trees of rapper Wiz Khalifa and actor Sanaa Lathan.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. uncovers America Ferrera & Darren Criss’ immigrant ancestors.
Family mysteries are solved for actor Laurence Fishburne & scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of actor Sheryl Lee Ralph & historian Lonnie Bunch.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces the family trees of actors Debra Messing & Melanie Lynskey.
Extras
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. introduces musicians Flea and Lizzo to their inspiring ancestors.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. heads west to map the family trees of Sara Haines and Tracy Letts.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of basketball stars Brittney Griner and Chris Paul.
Brittney Griner discovers the origin of the "Adams" name on her father's side.
Chris Paul discovers the first labor contract his paternal family ever signed.
Lizzy contemplates the difficult decision her ancestor made upon immigrating to New York.
Hasan discovers the possibility that he may have royal roots in Northern India.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of actor Lizzy Caplan and comedian Hasan Minhaj.
Liza discovers her maternal great-great grandmother's experience as an enslaved person.
Delroy Lindo dives deeper into his mother's ancestry.
WQLN PBS Passport is a member benefit that provides you with extended access to an on-demand library of quality public television programming!