Top 10 Most Emotional Reveals on Finding Your Roots

Did we miss any harrowing “Finding Your Roots” revelations? Let us know below, and be sure to also check out our video of the Top 10 Shocking Reveals on Finding Your Roots - https://youtu.be/wFpovaxtCRw

They missed the most emotional one. In the first season, Congressman and Civil Rights leader John Lewis found that a great grandfather registered to vote as soon as voting opened for the former slaves. Lewis was one of the forces behind the Voting Rights Act in the 60's and for him to find that an ancestor exercised his right 100 years before it once again became a guaranteed right for blacks moved him to tears.

LeVar Burton hit hard in a great way. I'm white, my husband is black, we have four mixed sons. When they were growing up we couldn't afford cable so PBS was the only station that was ever on our television and Reading Rainbow was one of their favorite shows. They're all kind of nerdy and into science fiction and got to go to Comic-Con when they were grown. My oldest was 26 my youngest was 20. Mr Burton was at the Comic-Con and my kids waited 3 hours to see him and when they got to the table for autographs they all started crying and serenaded him with the theme song from Reading Rainbow. Mr Burton learned the impact that his ancestors have on him but when he met my sons he learned the impact that he had on my family. To us Mr Burton is a core memory of our family! ❤❤❤

Mandy Patinkin's discovery that many members of his father's family were killed in the Holocaust was also very moving

I found a document when searching out my family tree. It was a will written by John Bacon, my 6x great grandfather. He left 9 unnamed slaves to his son, but he left a 9yr old slave boy, Sam, to his wife. It was like finding a hundred pound weight I was to carry from that point on. I do not think of my 6x great grandfather often, but not a week goes by I don't think of Sam. Did he grow up and have a family? Why was he the only one named? Was he treated well? Did he get to see his mother and father again? The questions are unending. One of the most important shows in the history of TV. Thank you for this video and thanks to PBS for having the show!

And THIS is Why PBS should deserve MUCH MORE Recognition as does ABC/Disney CBS/Paramount Global & NBCUniversal/Universal Studios!

“Inherited this mantle of educator…” that’s beautiful, LeVar. Continue your ancestors legacy of helping others.

In lieu of David Duchovny I would have chosen Mandy Patinkin finding out he had family that died in the Holocaust. His emotions spilling out at the revelation haunts me. And although not sad-emotional, more happy-emotional, I would have chosen John Lithgow finding out Henry Louis Gates Jr. was his cousin. It’s a beautiful outpouring of joy from John.

Mandy Patinkin's discovery of the relatives he lost in the Holocaust is gut-wrenching - because he never knew about them.

Dr Gates is a national treasure! He gave Tracy Morgan a free man who stayed with his family. He gave LeVar Burton additional educators. He has been instrumental in expanding families for years. As for Ben Affleck…he doesn’t want to acknowledge the truth because he wants to hide behind a lie. Love you, Dr Gates ❤💕❤️

Burton is the reason I LOVE to read, and because of reading rainbow and all I gained from that my daughter now LOVES to read too…. So thank you for that Mr. Burton for reaching me the way you did. ❤

"I feel free. Now I know it came from you!" Tracy Morgan brought me to tears!

Claire Danes discovering her grandmother was also passionate about acting and theatre was so heartwarming. Performing is definitely in her blood.

Mandy Patankin thought his ancestors escaped Europe before the Holocaust. He was devastated and heartbroken to find out how wrong he was. His anguish after fiding out how many relatives were murdered should have been number one. It was very hard to watch.

Also: Wanda Sykes learning of a centuries long line of free black women ancestors. And Andy Samberg finding his mother's unknown ancestry (she'd been adopted) and ties to living relatives in the Bay Area.

What got me was Tia and Tamera Mowery's discovery of their 10x great grandfather on their father's side (white) was the minister who presided of the first Thanksgiving Another one that gets to me is Christina Applegate and her dad discovering that, despite her young death and abandonment of her son, Christina's grandmother bought a burial plot (!) for her son - whom she barely knew, and who barely knew her

Nothing for me will ever beat Tracy Morgan's reactions. That is pride and family connection.

Regina King’s reaction to seeing her ancestor insisting on Voting is Especially Powerful

please do a video about Finding Your Roots guests who are related to each other like Larry David and Bernie Sanders

Questlove. Not just finding out his family were on one of if not the last slave ships, but then getting to see a picture of that relative. Who had his exact same eyes - as if someone had dressed Q in Olde Time Clothes and made up a fake picture, soaked in tea to look old...🤯🤯