Viola Davis’s Family History is a Testament to Survival and Hope | Finding Your Roots | Ancestry®

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  • Опубліковано 16 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 179

  • @tinavoice663
    @tinavoice663 Рік тому +102

    Viola Davis made me cry. The way she talk about her love for her ancestors is the exact same way I feel about mine, so emotional 😭

    • @AncestryUS
      @AncestryUS  Рік тому +9

      We're so glad you enjoyed this episode so much, Tina! We hope you continue to make meaningful discoveries through your own research!

    • @tessajanelle
      @tessajanelle Рік тому +2

      Every pain they endured …wow..thank you, ancestors❤

  • @felixalmeida481
    @felixalmeida481 Рік тому +142

    Viola Davis is the exquisite culmination of millennia upon millennia of her Staunch Ancestry. Viola’s regal physical beauty and her phenomenal artistic talent pay homage to this human evolution. I emulate this remarkable person!

    • @chamalismith
      @chamalismith Рік тому +5

      Exactly, she's just everything 😍 so graceful, beautiful 😍 her meme game is dynamite 😍

    • @wjf5839
      @wjf5839 Рік тому +5

      Well said!

    • @hawple
      @hawple Рік тому

      u lost me at regal beauty

  • @ANN-fo9uu
    @ANN-fo9uu Рік тому +24

    "My whole life is a kiss to them" that is beautiful, I felt that.

  • @janetslicer3637
    @janetslicer3637 Рік тому +122

    I watched the entire program last night! Amazing story - who doesn't love Viola Davis? I love her and yet she had a very tough story. ♥️

    • @angelarobinson1040
      @angelarobinson1040 Рік тому +2

      I miss it. Would of loved to have seen it

    • @christineh4782
      @christineh4782 Рік тому

      I missed it. Can you share parts of it here please w/o getting in trouble.

    • @all.day.day-dreamer
      @all.day.day-dreamer Рік тому +4

      where is the entire program at?

    • @l.maambo9640
      @l.maambo9640 Рік тому

      Where could i see that?

    • @AncestryUS
      @AncestryUS  Рік тому +2

      Hi Janet, we are glad to hear that you enjoyed the video.

  • @Sablebella
    @Sablebella Рік тому +30

    My father in law was born in the same town as Viola. His mother had a picture of the Confederacy marching through town. When she died she was 109. The whole town came to her tiny church for the funeral. It was really something. ❤

  • @sabercat5490
    @sabercat5490 Рік тому +49

    I like these individual stories like this because they help paint the greater picture.

  • @Rainyrachreads
    @Rainyrachreads Рік тому +16

    She came to my university to speak, and she was incredibly humble and kind! What a wonderful woman.

  • @sabrina9333
    @sabrina9333 Рік тому +51

    So beautifully said ❤️ 👏 " My whole life was a big kiss to them".

  • @Mikey95Mendoza28
    @Mikey95Mendoza28 Рік тому +37

    Y'all should do something like this for native American actors !

    • @tlo42058
      @tlo42058 Рік тому +3

      Gen stand waitie 11th cousin proud cherokee brave c.s.a 😃🥰

    • @bieassialaw6832
      @bieassialaw6832 Рік тому +11

      They do this for whoever wants to know they ancestry 🙂

  • @kelshakes
    @kelshakes Рік тому +31

    She has so much grace 🙏

  • @theogserena
    @theogserena Рік тому +22

    I love her! Such a good actress!

  • @Georgeanne17
    @Georgeanne17 Рік тому +2

    Viola your still standing! Your ancestors victory is you are here. Keep shining your beautiful light.

  • @mariannekaminski5795
    @mariannekaminski5795 Рік тому +11

    Love love love Viola Davis!

  • @p3forever1129
    @p3forever1129 Рік тому +4

    I love Viola Davis. I love her skill as an actor & producer. I loved her even more as a person. Such a beautiful soul for a woman who herself has endured difficulty but to her history of her ancestor Emmanuel & family's survival and how much she loves them and honors them made me cry. The atrocities and soullessness of people treating others with such ugliness makes cry. I cannot imagine seeing it treating people as anything less than human. We must continue to fight to ensure history is taught not hidden. We will never learn from our mistakes if we keep hiding them.

  • @luvlyval587
    @luvlyval587 Рік тому +11

    I, too, recently found out that I had an ancestor serve on the Confederate side. I was able to find his pension application, which gave me more information into his life.

  • @andreaperry938
    @andreaperry938 Рік тому +18

    She has the most beautiful eyes.

  • @pittroadsixzeroseven
    @pittroadsixzeroseven Рік тому +7

    I love her. One of my favorite actors

  • @worldtraveler134
    @worldtraveler134 Рік тому +3

    She is amazing! Her words touched my soul!
    This was the best episode ever on finding your Roots!

  • @yvonnefarrell1029
    @yvonnefarrell1029 Рік тому +3

    Brian Cox interview equally inspiring. Thank you Dr. Gates a million times over.

  • @tinyking11
    @tinyking11 Рік тому +4

    I love Viola Davis so much. She’s has such class and she speaks so eloquently. ❤️🔥🙌🏽

  • @frankbutler9512
    @frankbutler9512 Рік тому +4

    I always miss this show, but love it.

  • @evangelasmith8849
    @evangelasmith8849 Рік тому +4

    How I long to sit across the table from Dr. Gates telling me about my ancestry.

  • @Yasminescookingshow
    @Yasminescookingshow Рік тому +3

    "I feel like my whole life is a big kiss to them." That statement touched me in the depths of my soul. @3:53 i was born in Haiti. I need to find my exact lineage. What network is this show featured?

    • @worldtraveler134
      @worldtraveler134 Рік тому

      PBS, it's a public Broadcasting System Network.
      If you can't locate it where you live search on the internet Finding your Roots, it's available for purchase.

  • @Andrew-mj5rf
    @Andrew-mj5rf Рік тому +1

    She had a great reaction. Best of all was saying "for taking the pain for me", a nod to how even though her ancestors suffered imensely from being sold by Africans to Europeans she has profitted from it. My ancestors were enslaved, starved & massacred by various invaders for 1,600 years (and then spent 250 years buying slaves, ironically) but I have the decency to acknowledge the it bemefits me now.

  • @-.-4
    @-.-4 Рік тому +14

    Taking the pain for me. 😭❤

  • @absatwell8163
    @absatwell8163 Рік тому +5

    She has such grace.

  • @releasingendorphins232
    @releasingendorphins232 Рік тому +1

    That is so sad. But your absolute appreciation for your family who made it thru everything is so awesome too witness in this video. I am sad for your pain. Barb

  • @skandagreen
    @skandagreen Рік тому +4

    That was intense.

  • @bieassialaw6832
    @bieassialaw6832 Рік тому

    Damn! This little 4 minute clip moved me to tears 🥺

  • @claradark9057
    @claradark9057 Рік тому +5

    The queen miss Viola Davis 💜

  • @tagurit1611
    @tagurit1611 Рік тому +3

    I just love Viola Davis!!

  • @stargazer5073
    @stargazer5073 Рік тому +3

    People want to survive and thrive!

  • @mr.e212
    @mr.e212 Рік тому +2

    This should be on somebody's streaming platform. Definitely giving Hulu or Disney plus vibes or prime video or Tubi. So I can watch this

  • @neconeconeco
    @neconeconeco Рік тому +4

    "..emmanuel's owner" stopped me in my tracks. i know it's just plain facts, but sometimes plain facts are still so hard to hear.

  • @568843daw
    @568843daw Рік тому

    Bravo. You were brave through this very public program. Knowing our past can be freeing. The brave souls that came before us and brought us to “Our Moment in Time” through their own resourcefulness, endurance, stamina, and vigilance. The early days were really hard times, and you can learn so much from your ancestors. Clearly, they were people who were noble, just as you are.

  • @MayJailer333
    @MayJailer333 Рік тому

    How truly touching.

    • @AncestryUS
      @AncestryUS  Рік тому

      Hi Sarah, we are glad to see that you enjoyed the video!

  • @dasharaedorsey8486
    @dasharaedorsey8486 Рік тому

    I need this type of breakdown!!! 😭😭

    • @AncestryUS
      @AncestryUS  Рік тому

      Hey DaSharae Dorsey! Thanks for taking the time to comment. We hope you learned lots about Viola's family history in the video and understand your desire to gain access to a similar level of knowledge. While public submissions for inclusion in the next season of the show have regrettably now closed, we really hope you will have the opportunity to submit your own request for consideration at a later stage. In the meantime, we'd encourage you to review the many free historical databases and tree building tools we make available on site at no cost. These are included in what we call a free guest account and you can learn all about what benefits it includes here: support.ancestry.com/s/article/Free-Registered-Guest-Accounts?language=en_US. We wish you all the best and please call on us again anytime you need a little help.🌳

  • @jeremiahdavisj
    @jeremiahdavisj Рік тому

    This is wonderful! My ancestors also were born lived in Calhoun County South Carolina just like Viola😊

    • @AncestryUS
      @AncestryUS  Рік тому

      Hi Jeremiah, and thanks for stopping by!
      We are so happy to hear you are enjoying this episode with Viola! We hope you continue to keep watching as more and more episodes come out. Thanks for sharing!

  • @hafizsirajkumar7927
    @hafizsirajkumar7927 Рік тому +3

    Beautiful lady and good character

  • @jamesdellaneve9005
    @jamesdellaneve9005 Рік тому

    My whole life has been a big kiss to them. A wonderful sentiment.

  • @peacelight7858
    @peacelight7858 Рік тому +1

    Wow to see her ancestry trials and to see where she is today is like all the suffering all the pain that her ancestors suffered it’s was not in vain because today Viola is a legend known by the world living her dreams ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤they won her ancestors won the battle

  • @AncestryUS
    @AncestryUS  Рік тому +16

    How did you feel when you made your first family history discovery? Share your experience with us!

    • @KSUgrad79
      @KSUgrad79 Рік тому +2

      I never really knew my father, or anyone in his family, either. He died when I was a toddler and we really never got to know any of our paternal relatives. Around 10 or so years ago, his only sibling, his sister, my aunt, died. So we went to an old family plot to lay her to rest. My cousins walked me over to a nearby headstone and pointed out that it’s our great grandfather - only the woman lying next to him IS NOT our great grandmother! Imagine my shock to hear of a family saga that’s been the subject of what people call “Great Family Silences”, a forbidden story of early 20th century scandal surrounding my great grandfather and a pretty young thing who batted her eyes at him, so they eloped and married and he abandoned my great grandmother and their five children to start a new family with that young pretty thing. Well, well, now THERE’S an interesting story worth telling….

    • @andreaperry938
      @andreaperry938 Рік тому +3

      I learned family folklore was true. My paternal grandfather's family successfully buried they were part Indian. I researched the the records going back to the early seventeen hundreds and found nothing. Everything was documented in French (Quebec) in the Catholic Church records. My sister got us DNA tests for Christmas and there was the real story. ♥️

    • @CradleEpiscopalian56
      @CradleEpiscopalian56 Рік тому +3

      We have traced our family back to 1830 and have published a 672 page hardbound book that took more than 14 years of research to compile.

    • @karentucker2161
      @karentucker2161 Рік тому +1

      Excited at 1st but knowing in the back of my mind that I may find somethings later on that I may not agree with was a possibility and sadden me.

    • @invadertifxiii
      @invadertifxiii Рік тому +2

      being adopted i didnt know anything especially about my father. turns out he was the easy one to find information on. i took another dna test years prior to ancestry and got no where except a maternal cousin. then i took a 14 day free trial from ancestry and discovered common names in the right place on someones family tree and messaged her to find out she was my paternal half sister which i got her name from my birth mother so i suspected as such. then i decided to take the ancestry dna test and found another half sister which i knew about on my mothers side and we've been in contact ever since. i also discovered my father in half polish half irish and my mother im unclear on. i have so many mixed info on her side but because her parents both died and her mother was adopted i cant find anything

  • @Honest000w
    @Honest000w Рік тому +1

    Her skin is absolutely beautiful

  • @ZachDa1
    @ZachDa1 Рік тому

    Good video!

  • @dakotac180
    @dakotac180 Рік тому +1

    She's so gorgeous and wonderful. It makes sense that she comes from a interesting history. I couldn't imagine being Emmanuel...

  • @chanelpowell8279
    @chanelpowell8279 Рік тому

    "You don't know how much I love you for taking the pain for me" ❤

  • @beautysfnm
    @beautysfnm Рік тому

    Where do you watch this at?

    • @AncestryUS
      @AncestryUS  Рік тому +1

      Hi, beautysfnm. We're so happy to hear of your interest in "Finding Your Roots." This program can be seen on "PBS." We hope you'll enjoy the other episodes as well.

  • @invadertifxiii
    @invadertifxiii Рік тому +2

    are these find your roots for celebrities only cuz i only see celebrities on these videos.

  • @Babygirls2023
    @Babygirls2023 Рік тому

    Where can I watch the whole thing

    • @AncestryUS
      @AncestryUS  Рік тому

      Thanks so much for watching! You can check out full episodes on PBS on Tuesdays at 8/7c. You can learn more here: www.pbs.org/weta/finding-your-roots/
      Thank you again for getting in touch so we could provide this. 😊

  • @muaoribia4140
    @muaoribia4140 11 місяців тому

    I want to not only give her the biggest hug ever, I want to do everything I can to be an ally, to make reparations, to help heal.
    As a white girl, I have always and will always be ashamed of my skin color, especially since I live in Pennsyltucky--people here see it as their pride & joy, and I absolutely abhor that.
    Moving from the area first chance I get.
    To my Black brothers and sisters--please, teach me. Show me how I can be a better ally and help. I would be eternally grateful. ❤

  • @kcc628
    @kcc628 Рік тому +1

    That is so sad😭

  • @loveheals1020
    @loveheals1020 Рік тому +6

    Native Americans and Hispanic- Latin Origination "enslaved" people were also in such positions. Indentured people wrre also used in previous wars... Even Irish and ithers were "owned" and worked in such ways as well... Ownership of a human being is just not humane in my humble opinion.

  • @donnafreeman1571
    @donnafreeman1571 Рік тому +1

    I love her

  • @patriciathackerson3856
    @patriciathackerson3856 Рік тому +2

    I would love to find my roots. I don't know what my family on my father side.

    • @AncestryUS
      @AncestryUS  Рік тому +1

      That's a very worthy ambition to hold, Patricia! it's often the case that we know far more about one branch of our family then the other and it's not always easy to progress. However, it can be so rewarding when we manage to gain knowledge and start to fill in the pieces of the puzzle. Make sure to call on our team if you ever need some support or suggestions on how best to launch your search and achieve your goals. Thanks for checking out the video and for your support.🌳

  • @AnnamarieSaunders2956
    @AnnamarieSaunders2956 Рік тому +1

    I hope I will get the chance of meeting Viola Davis…..

  • @lavettacannon3138
    @lavettacannon3138 Рік тому +1

    ❤❤❤

  • @b991228
    @b991228 Рік тому +2

    Being a sharecropper in a former Confederate state under the control of the master. Should we have pride in accepting that our Union cause won out? Was it truly victorious? We allowed the defeated Confederates to win the Reconstruction and afterward much-much more. It’s a historical fact that we must accept that we all share the shame.

  • @patkilgo2981
    @patkilgo2981 Рік тому +2

    I hope this gets to Viola Davis I believe she has a relative here in Asheville NC his name is Henry Logan. He was a black NBA back in 1968. I just saying. It a thought.

  • @waxworse
    @waxworse Рік тому +2

    Somebody could have been unfaithful back through anyone's genealogy, and no one would know.

  • @tampasfinest2625
    @tampasfinest2625 Рік тому

    I took the test. Searching for my 2nd great grandmother still haven’t found anything. All I know is her last name is porter and they were from ft Wayne Indiana or Indianapolis.

  • @carliebeau5329
    @carliebeau5329 Рік тому +2

    Don't ever ever ever say to an African American to get over it. You will never know......

  • @maryleerobinson7259
    @maryleerobinson7259 Рік тому +1

    What a classy lady!!!

  • @lsroades
    @lsroades Рік тому +5

    I love these stories. I wonder, how knowing of her own family’s enslavement colored her interpretation of her role in The Woman King, as leader of a group who purposely captured other tribes to sell as slaves.

  • @gerrymarmee3054
    @gerrymarmee3054 Рік тому +1

    She is so pretty.

  • @pittroadsixzeroseven
    @pittroadsixzeroseven Рік тому

    Wow

  • @stevenpringle1670
    @stevenpringle1670 Рік тому

    We chuckle because the alternative is to cry.

  • @anitahayes-birt6634
    @anitahayes-birt6634 Рік тому +1

    She is beautiful

  • @sayhi2kojo1
    @sayhi2kojo1 Рік тому +1

    She looks like a southern west African

  • @edwardozwellashfordreynold7699

    Inviten a will Smith, bratt Pitt , Jhonny deep , Keanu Reeves, Leonardo di caprio, Tom Cruise, Tony Stark

    • @tlo42058
      @tlo42058 Рік тому +1

      I'm related to johnny depp and Keanu reeves our family founded nashville on my reeves line.

    • @LisaNix2
      @LisaNix2 Рік тому +1

      @@tlo42058 my 5th great grandfather is Demonbruen☺️ one of first white men to live in what we now call Nashville

    • @tlo42058
      @tlo42058 Рік тому +1

      @Lisa Nix my family founded nash 6th gr aunt uncle Charlotte reeves and James Robertson James Donelson a cousin 5th gr grandmother obedience Blakely Gower and the demoss family of bellvue all kinfolk

  • @racif
    @racif Рік тому +2

    Please do not use the term “owner”. These people were ENSLAVERS.

  • @julielovelace7189
    @julielovelace7189 Рік тому +1

    The North had many slaves too.

  • @Ser_Lili
    @Ser_Lili Рік тому

    My God she's so pretty

  • @AnaIrimiabooks
    @AnaIrimiabooks Рік тому

    😔

  • @heatherwiner2883
    @heatherwiner2883 Рік тому +1

    So sad what people do to one another for no reason. Or just for money,

    • @Georgeanne17
      @Georgeanne17 Рік тому

      And power. America was built on the suffering of many slaves. To this day we are dealing with the economic disparities that continues to give White Privilege and keep people enslaved in poverty and a prison system.

  • @Traveler516
    @Traveler516 Рік тому

    Why dont you do the same for latins???

    • @Sean-jc6cu
      @Sean-jc6cu Рік тому +2

      Lmao he does

    • @M.Elle-
      @M.Elle- Рік тому +1

      Because this is for whoever wants to find out their origins. It is voluntary, who ever wants to find out can.

    • @Traveler516
      @Traveler516 Рік тому

      @@M.Elle- 🤪

  • @minecraftingmum5574
    @minecraftingmum5574 Рік тому

    And yet she made a movie glorifying the slave trade.

  • @anthonybarrera9962
    @anthonybarrera9962 Рік тому

    Yeah woman king how dare she play that role there whole economy was slavery liberal 🗑️ God bless HER ancestors for their struggles 🙏🙏🙏

  • @mJ-sm4ss
    @mJ-sm4ss Рік тому

    I think its sad that she didn't cry and get snot nosed like all of her performances...

  • @loveheals1020
    @loveheals1020 Рік тому

    "compelled" is such a dehumanizing word.

  • @tlo42058
    @tlo42058 Рік тому +3

    They proudly served.

    • @Amanda-cd6dm
      @Amanda-cd6dm Рік тому +5

      It is horrible.

    • @tlo42058
      @tlo42058 Рік тому +2

      @Amanda no its not nothing about the confederacy was horrible what's horrible is that the union federal won

    • @sabercat5490
      @sabercat5490 Рік тому +1

      @@tlo42058 So let me get this straight. You want people, who wanted the continued enslavement of humans to have won the war?

    • @Catlily5
      @Catlily5 Рік тому +1

      @@tlo42058 To you. Most people disagree.

    • @tlo42058
      @tlo42058 Рік тому +1

      @@Catlily5 no they do not. Ones without any intelligence might disagree.

  • @chasesmith9681
    @chasesmith9681 Рік тому

    Always remember American slavery was nothing compared to passed events of slavery like old Egypt or Turkey.

    • @Nick-ct9ob
      @Nick-ct9ob Рік тому +4

      Are you trying to downplay the role of American slavery?

    • @karlcarlsen9664
      @karlcarlsen9664 Рік тому

      It was pretty similar also Turkey didn't exist in ancient times, but i talking now about the graeco-roman or mediterranian World of antiquity.
      BTW american slavery was pretty surley more. For example after manumission you becam a full citizen of the Roman empire. That is why groups of the familia caesaris existed.

    • @caricaturecontest7899
      @caricaturecontest7899 Рік тому

      Humans have always made slaves of each other. It's so depressing. You are born into a situation and nowadays we try to get away from it and admit how horrible it is. Humans can be so cruel but we can all do better

    • @caricaturecontest7899
      @caricaturecontest7899 Рік тому

      Now that it is out in the open we can't get away with it anymore. We meaning humans in general. We all know it's wrong, always did know but we're greedy and lazy.

  • @tlo42058
    @tlo42058 Рік тому +1

    She can join UDC 😃

  • @tlo42058
    @tlo42058 Рік тому +3

    He was not forced

    • @Catlily5
      @Catlily5 Рік тому +2

      You can't prove that.

    • @tlo42058
      @tlo42058 Рік тому

      @@Catlily5 yes I can

    • @Catlily5
      @Catlily5 Рік тому +1

      @@tlo42058 How?

    • @aminakhalia9505
      @aminakhalia9505 Рік тому +3

      Anyone waiting for an answer, don't hold yr breath...nine times out of ten your being Trolled!!! 🤭

    • @tlo42058
      @tlo42058 Рік тому

      @@Catlily5 it's called personal accounts and books of soldiers and what they wrote.

  • @41dfcpea90
    @41dfcpea90 Рік тому

    They should look up the story of Holt Collier the great bear hunter.