Descendants of European immigrants, they forged paths less traveled in America—from seizing British vessels during the American Revolution to navigating racial divides in slave-era Louisiana. Later, as children in New Orleans, Harry Connick…

This episode explores the lives of two African American politicians, figures from distinct generations and vastly different upbringings. John Lewis’s childhood was shaped by the realities of sharecropping in rural Georgia, while Cory Booker…

A name carries considerable weight, particularly when tracing one’s lineage. For those who were once enslaved, selecting a surname represented a fundamental assertion of autonomy. Similarly, Jewish immigrants often adopted new names as a me…

Beyond their shared fame as actors, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick are linked by a deeper history. Both hail from distinguished American lineages, families rooted in this nation from its very beginnings. But a further connection binds them: …

Pastor Rick Warren, Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, and Sheik Yasir Qadhi represent three distinct faiths, each rooted in intricate family histories that deeply informed their spiritual convictions. Examining their origins reveals a narrative about …

The American populace is a rich blend of European ancestries, a veritable mosaic of origins spanning the continent. Actors Robert Downey, Jr. and Maggie Gyllenhaal exemplify this, their family histories testaments to the diverse immigrant e…

Samuel L. Jackson, Condoleezza Rice, and Brown University President Ruth Simmons have all achieved the highest levels of success in their respective fields. Yet, each began life as a person relegated to second-class status in the Jim Crow S…

This episode features three guests, each the child of immigrants—first or second generation—and bound by the unique complexities of that lineage. Across continents, from India to Korea to Poland, we glimpse three distinct yet strikingly sim…

For most African Americans, the lineage extends back no further than the end of slavery; the institution systematically obliterated names and familial connections. Yet, what of those few who escaped bondage during that dark period? Musician…

Michelle Rodriguez, Adrian Grenier, and Linda Chavez, despite a shared heritage in Spanish colonialism, each understand their own identity in distinct ways. This episode explores the meaning of being Hispanic, revealing that the answer resi…