The Hidden Truth in Viola Davis' Family Tree | Finding Your Roots | PBS
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.พ. 2023
- Official website: to.pbs.org/FYRS9 | #FindingYourRoots
Viola Davis and Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. dive into her family's past, and with the help of DNA and local records, discover a surprising secret her grandfather kept to himself. Viola Davis is a critically-revered, award-winning actress, producer, and New York Times Best-Selling Author. She is the first black actress to win two Tony Awards (“Fences” & “King Hedley II”), an Oscar (“Fences”) and an Emmy (“How to Get Away with Murder”). Davis also won a Grammy in 2023 for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording.
This program is made possible by viewers like you. Support your local PBS station: www.pbs.org/donate
Subscribe to the PBS channel for more clips: / pbs
Enjoy full episodes of your favorite PBS shows anytime, anywhere with the free PBS App: to.pbs.org/2QbtzhR
FOLLOW US:
Facebook: / pbs
Twitter: / pbs
Instagram: / pbs
TikTok: / pbs
Shop: shop.pbs.org/
About the series:
Renowned scholar Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. guides influential guests into their roots, uncovering deep secrets, hidden identities and lost ancestors. Using genealogical detective work and cutting-edge DNA analysis, Gates guides twenty-one influential guests deep into the branches of their family trees, revealing surprising stories of forgotten ancestors that transcend borders, illuminating an American root system fortified by its diversity. - บันเทิง
Viola has the best skin in the world! Looking like a bronze statue. She is just stunning.
Her hair is beautiful too
I was thinking the same thing.
I love me some Viola Davis. 🙏🏽🥰❤️
As a female you're aware of makeup right?
@@11274reece that is her real skin, she isn't gonna put makeup on her arms come on.
I'm so glad she did not judge her family. She saw it for what all of our lives are. Messy, compelling, human.
This is everything.
❤
I think she should judge her great grandfather a little. To abandon your child is an evil thing and reverberates through that child’s life. Especially since we know from the orbituary that he grew up knowing who his real father was. Judge bad relatives😏
@@jakestroll6518 it doesn't make or a break her so why should she?
@@jakestroll6518 Exactly what do you get out of judging someone else - None of really have that right to do so.
"Messy truth" is usually synonymous with most families.
Amen, to that.
Most all families indeed especially those southern ones.
When she said her grandfather was most likely "unwanted", it hit me hard because that's how MANY people feel whose birth makes them unwelcomed in their own families!
My first thought was that her grandfather's mother had unwilling sexually relations with John. Especially if he was married at the time. That she may have been r**ped.
Preach
@@marnasquires155 I’m
I feel that pain 😔😔
Thats such a sad and disgusting feeling to place on your family. Sad that some have felt this 😞🧡
I love this woman. I love her talent & her honesty. I am so happy she got to be an EGOT. I was really rooting for her.
Same here!!! 💜As a person who’s had such, a broken childhood, loss my dad, abandoned by my biological mom, & sadly recently lost my phenomenal adopted mom. I’ve had my many deepest, darkest, most heart wrenching moments.😔💔😢 Viola inspires me personally I love her.💫
Ditto from another messy truth child. I've always knew I was not alone and having such a beautiful person also having family secrets too makes it less messy.
I love Viola Davis too. Her beauty and talent inspire me!
Viola is a beautiful person--I could swim in her eyes. As I also am a Rhode Islander and alum of Rhode Island College, I like to claim her as a product of 'The Ocean State', at least in part.
I also love her, she seems so balanced. Also feel of pride, when ever I see her
I respect her for speaking so eloquently about her past. It is true what she said, “ we would like to create a past that benefits us”. While sometimes it can play out that way, other times it doesn’t. How we chose to grow and navigate through the “mess” we call family is what really defines us. I’m glad I watched this. Ms. Viola, kudos to your success.
couldn't have said it any better. Exceptional how she spoke on this situation.
Yea, I think when you do this kind of thing you really HAVE to be open to any kind of answers, even the sad or hurtful ones. The truth is not always comfortable, but it’s comforting to finally KNOW the truth. I don’t know if my family has any surprises like this, but seeing others stories and how common this was, I wouldn’t be surprised if so. People are just people, no matter the amount of decades that separates us.
The words "artistic genius" get thrown around, but Viola Davis is on the same level as Anthony Hopkins Daniel Day Lewis or Joaquin Phoenix.
That part right there shook me to my core.
Yes❤ love that she is so intoned that way❤
Not only her beauty and talent but the way she speaks. She has air of wisdom and dignity that's fascinating.
So, his death certificate, Henry Logan’s, named John Young as his father.
That means Henry knew, even though his mom died when he was 6 yrs old, and John Young had moved away. Someone in his family told him and he must’ve told his wife, or whoever gave the information for the death certificate. So, yes a secret, but at least a few people did know.
Very interesting!!
More please!!
Yes, somewhere along the lines other's knew and shared that info. John must've repeated this information to someone very close- the informant on the death certificate.
If the mother was still married, then it was automatically assumed to be the husband's. Momma's baby, daddy maybe type situation.
@@stephaniejames4940 Possibly, somewhere down the line, John Young returned to Charlotte City? to inform Henry himself, perhaps after his wife passed. OR possibly, the wife, once widowed came back to inform Henry. Or a letter could have been written. ...Or any one of those or their own children, Henry's half-siblings, may have crossed paths at some point and had that conversation....Lots of possibilities. It's even possible that Henry's own mother told him...perhaps as a young child or left a note for him to find later.
There’s a saying “Mama’s baby, Papa’s maybe”.
@@Dharmarenee I still say that.
@@Dharmarenee h6
Her great-grandfather was a WWI vet and no one talks about it. The silence is real for so many. Getting the stories is like pulling teeth.
Her Grandfather was not Gable Logan who served in WW1, it was John Young the Farmer.
Her great-grandfather was not a WW1 vet.
Look up who owns the research centers and internet...it's the CCP
Viola is a true class act.
she sure is
life is an amalgamation of stories and secrets…that’s deep
That seems obvious
So deep and so true.
Seems obvious til you hear how it effects you personally… then it’s something less obvious
All of us, all of us, are birthed out of messy truths, in one way or another, there are messy truths that make up our family trees!
That’s the truth, I was told my Grandfather was one person as a teen. Before my Daddy died I told him I wanted to find out for sure who his Dad was. So I found who suppose to be his baby brother, I can’t lie he has the same exact eyes as my Daddy, but he look like his Mom. What is also interesting is that if this is his younger brother, he is the son of one of the famous black quadruplets the Fultz sisters. I told my Daddy about him before he passed away, he was like I would have had a brother younger than my kids? He just laughed, but he told me to keep researching. But before I could take ancestry dna test he passed away. Now that I took the test and got in contact with my potential uncle, I told him he has to take a test too. Because if he is related, there maybe a bigger issue. My Daddy Father side is connected to SC, but he was suppose to be born and raised in NC. If that is his Father, that means the paternity of my Grandfather parents are now in question. My Grandma was adamant to my Daddy who his father really was, it just wasn’t told to us until we were older because his namesake was her husband who she was separated from, but apparently she always said my Daddy Father was someone else. To me I grew up knowing my Grandfather from my Mom side not sure why I didn’t question my Dad side. Either my Grandma was wrong or who suppose to be my Grandfather Parent is now in question. Crazy thing is I know who my Great Grandparents are on my Daddy Paternal side, just not my Grandfather. My Great Grandparents had 4 sons, 3 had ties to NC, 2 were stationed there. But as much as people moved around back then it’s unknown where and how the conception happened. I just know I have 1st cousins 1xremoved which mean those are my Daddy 1st cousins that I am connected to based on dna. It’s a big ol mess smh
The messy truth. Viola Davis lives and breathes that--in her acting, in her truth. I know she said we look for something in our past to elevate us..but in her way it has--profoundly.
She is my favorite person. Her values are her virtue.
Beautifully written...
Well said! 👏🏾
I adore Viola Davis because she's so real and honest. Too many times, families bury those "messy truths", pretend they don't exist and that secrecy is detrimental to everyone involved.
Her voice is so powerful… gives such depth to her characters.
She is so articulate and a class act!
SHE KNOWS HOW TO SPEAK IN SENTENCES I'M IMPRESSED 😁
All the Black writers and prominent speakers. You all cannot away from this racist tote by always acknowledging a blk person is articulate. Stop believing the stereotypes and learn about all the great black speakers, writers and scholars.
There always has to be one.
@@chenziramonashe4581 🤣
Your history as a child might be a messy truth, but you’re not messy Viola. I’m glad that you share your journey with the public. It’s helpful to know your journey as an African-American woman. 👍🏾👩🏽🦱🇺🇸
Absolutely
As is any person whether - white, pink, purple, brown, green, woman or male. Identifying as a distinct black woman yet blaming society for calling people of color not any other people’s but black, is because blacks continue to call themselves #black. It’s not racism, unless racism starts with blacks themselves. Stop the weakness. #racecard
@@Panini-sp9bw African American and Black with a capital. That’s how we do it.
I think every family tree has secrets in it like this. People in the past had affairs, and children out of wedlock, but were usually incredibly stealth about covering it up. I encourage everyone to look back into their family tree. There will always be surprises.
🤣 My family secret is that one of my great-uncles used to rob banks. My family was well to do, he went to college but he strayed. For him there is a damnatio memoriae
Oh yes agree...mine🙂
My family had this. I’m 25 years old and I just found out that my great great grandfather murdered my great great grandmother. And this was casually brought up during Thanksgiving dinner! 😂
No matter how you got here, we're ever so glad you made it. :D Thanks, John Young!
Viola Davis has the most beautiful alto speaking voice.
15 year old girl with a 22 year old man… 😳 AND 18 children. I feel so sorry for her grandma 😢. That really turned my stomach.
A teenager and a young adult
@@donny3926a child and a grown man
It's what happened then. Many married young
@@DanaC-ne7bc exactly
Many were married off by parents that young to have another care for them and lessen their load. Their main asset was child bearing and child rearing to the men who married them. The term “barefoot and pregnant” was a real thing.
I listened to Viola’s memoir on audiobook and it was EXCELLENT! I rank it up there with I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings and Maya Angelou’s subsequent autobios. It’s a must read.
Thank you I will indeed purchase it today. ❤
To grow to accomplish an EGOT. She is one to aspire to be like.
Indeed she is. ❤
I really need to do better- She is an inspiration.
What's an EGOT?
@@jehoia87 Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards
@@Hollergirlohio Hmmm!
I love Viola Davis‘s work. I love what she said about mess. What if her grandmother was SA or something? I mean we’re talking about a child who’s 14,15 years old and the married man she got pregnant by was well into his late 20s with the same age wife. I know for a fact that horrible things happened to my own grandmother and her sister, when they were younger in South Carolina, and so many other families have stories. I do hate that they didn’t have laws to protect children back then like they do now.
This was so interesting, so many of us have similar stories
Always with the "what if’s"
What if you was exactly sleeping around and actually did that herself.. there’s always someone in the comments trying to remove all the blame from the woman…
*she
She's so correct about wanting a past that "elevates" us. But sometimes the opposite happens, or appears to. We have to decide for ourselves how to elevate ourselves because our predecessors haven't.
Viola is the epitome of grace, poise and elegance while setting a beautiful example for the rest of us. Thank you Viola, messy truths are around all of us then and now. You make us so proud.
P
Iip
Viola Davis is so beautiful. A truly professional actor, well known for her craft. ❤️🧡💛
She is such a classy lady.
She’s not judgemental . She accepts the truth. None of us are better than anyone else. We are all equal. We all should look to her as a wonderful example of an extraordinary human being.
As a black Rhode Islander...i get it.
Her elegance and grace are something to be spoken of.
She’s blessed to be able to trace her history and figure this all out. I’m adopted and wish I had this lineage to trace! Beautiful class act she is!
Nanny, but you can locate distant relatives with DNA test . people do it all the time
Viola's Autobiography is a MUST READ. Much respect to this human being.
Viola, you haved bared your life to us, in all its trauma and glory. Your memoir shocked me, almost as much as my own trauma shook me. All those stories you bear fuel your A-list career. Thank you for sharing!
She is the Real Deal. Love her and her talent.
The thing is, none of this changes who you are. You are still the talented and beautiful Viola Davis that we love.
Viola Davis is just an amazing person to behold. She's so authentic and real, incredibly talented, and just absolutely gorgeous. The fact that she's a woman of purpose and integrity, just add to her luster. She's someone I'd love to just have coffee and conversation with... After I got over being totally star struck of course.
Hey Viola, we dont know eachother but you and I graduated together from Rhode Island College, Class of 1988!!!! Hello from Barcelona. I loved watching this Viola, and dont so many of us have messy thruths, huh?
I think the saddest part is its hard, if not impossible, to find our truest roots from where our ancestors came from because such little record was kept about slaves that was seen as livestock. I remember trying to find my lineage in high school and only being able to go back to 1919, my great great grandmother but there is so much more.
This is why everyone should have an expert like this man. Your roots are extremely important.
It was very common it seems. I have heard this from many people. I definitely have secrets in my family history but what I discovered made me realize that this was actually my gift. It actually made me happy to learn my truth. I kept searching and dug up my truth and I’m glad I know now. I bet everyone has a gift buried down there too. I wish you all the luck!
I found out that my grandmother was born to an affair in 1908, thru DNA, he never left his wife and my grandmother moved to MT, we were always told we were busby’s, DNA has changed the way we look at our families.
Now an EGOT artist! Amazing!
I have so much respect for Viola not just as an actress but as a human being . Such an asset and blessing to the black community.
She's an asset to the human race......no need to label her.
…And a blessing to all communities.
Why am I drawn to Viola Davis? Seeing her act and seeing her accept awards for her acting make me want to see her more. This video is her not acting, and I am still drawn to her. She has a unique ability, her voice, her expressions, her look are irresistible.
Sadly, the reality is, that somewhere down one's lineage there's bound to be "messy truths". These "messy truths" might not have been by choice for some.
I love her body of work and respect her so much as a person. What an interesting piece of family information for her to discover.
What a beautiful, elegant woman Viola Davis is. I'm such a huge fan of hers. Everyone has a secret in their family, somewhere. I'm so happy that she learned things about her family. We have a fascinating family too. 💗💗💗
I have so much respect for this woman. What she just learned about her family roots is not so uncommon. Especially in the black community, and yet these things do happen with non people of color.
What is done on the dark shall come to the light.
Ms. Davis is a beautiful woman of substance.
She is so well spoken and eloquent.
I enjoy hearing the Professor's voice. I swear I saw him once or twice. Didn't know he was a celebrity. He has all the fun, with these lovely guest stars.
I find him sorta annoying - wish they would replace him
My family has a lot of secrets as well. After my mother passed recently. I decided to do a DNA test to see what stories my life held. Hopefully, my journey will begin in April. I congratulate Ms. Davis for sharing her story, and I hope it encourages many more to find their own stories.
Her voice is amazing. I could listen to her talk all day long. Such a great actress.
She is art.. so much talent, intellect and grace. One of my favorite actresses
Messy truths. I like Ms. Davis' comment and her view on this. We all have messy truths to confront and overcome. This was great.
This woman is mesmerizing
She is so beautiful. A woman of character and beauty.
Who doesn’t admire this dynamic woman! Also, she is still down to earth, after all her success!❤
It’s soooooo many secrets our down south elders hold on to. They were NOT big on talking even when it came to evil acts
I love her courage to look at life and people realistically... then embrace them with grace and wisdom.
Viola is so composed and generous in the face of all this. And man she’s pretty. But I also have to say that Henry Louis Gates is such a fabulous host of this series. He knows when to be somber, when to lighten things up just a tad, and how to draw the innermost feelings out of a person. Kudos to him too.
Fascinating. I've watched this multiple times. Skip said that when Henry and Mozell Logan married in 1942, they had at least 18 children. I think I know why. Henry's mother died when he was 6. His birth father moved to Charlotte. That left Mozell's elderly parents to raise him. In the 1940 census, he is listed as being 15 years old, a couple of years off. His grandfather is 74 and his grandmother is 72. There were other cousins living with them who were 7 and 5. What that tells me is that Henry had his fill of being alone. When he got married, I think he said to Mozell, "We are going to have a BIG family so we never have to be alone ever again!"
Such a beautiful person, Inside and out. I wish the best for her.
Fascinating history to one of our most gifted American actresses
Life is soooo funny. Viola’s family history and life are very interesting. It’s just so twisted that he (John) just left his young child and acted like nothing ever happened. I also wonder why Gable never returned to South Carolina. And when it comes to messy truths, I guess we all have them.
Secrets are in every family. My nanny was big one for not talking about certain things.
Exactly. Love Viola. We all have a messy truth in our DNA. Those who claim perfection too hard often have the biggest messes. I hope she has made some connections with her newfound relatives.
One only has to look at the royal families' trees--if they were merely messy, that would be a huge improvement.
What a beautiful person. Can’t help but think that when I hear her.
EVERYTHING on Viola is perfection. Skin, lips, eyes, chin, cheeks ... everything.
I did some digging and found Gable Logan in Newark, New Jersey, where he lived for the rest of his life. He never returned to St. Matthews.
Wow. I wonder who took care of Henry after his mother died? Both of his fathers (alleged and biological) were gone and Henry was only 4 years old.
I did some poking around on Ancestry for his childhood. In 1940 he’s 15 living with his Grandparents William and Minty Ravenel. His WW2 registration mentions Willie Ravenel as his next of kin. There was a William Jr and Sr so it could have been his Uncle or Grandfather who lived to 1953. I can’t find a census record for William or Minty (Mittie) in 1930 so I don’t know if he lived with them in 1930, but hopefully so. His mother had a sister Alice or Alicia and must have had another sister as gchildren named Burton are living with William and Minty in 1920 so he could have been with an Aunt or Uncles family as well. It definitely looks like based on the census I can find Henry’s grandparents kept family close.
His parents had 18 children, so there were probably older siblings there to support.
@@LostinMayberry Do you research people's lineage? Can you give me some tips?
@@angeliquediablo84 I’m just an enthusiastic amateur. Is there something I can help you with?
@@angeliquediablo84 Census records.
I loved Rhode Island but the racial tension made me not miss it when I left, like an abusive relationship.
I heard about that. They have nothing but are racist. Mind-boggling
She is an exceptional actress, a beautiful woman, and it seems like she's kind and compassionate too
Viola is brilliant and "we would like to create a past that benefits us" is so true of most of us. So very well said!
It's amazing that even though she was like the only Black child at the school and her family seemed to not have a choice and had to go to Rhode Island (like they were owned by somebody),
she still excelled at that school and the teachers ALLOWED her to excell.
Some of Viola's family story reminds me of FENCES.
This womans patience and compassion is just amazing.
👏👏👏Excellent genealogy research right here!! I love when the Truth /Secrets are exposed. Great work! Hats off to The Logans and The Youngs. You all produced Viola and We Love her!!👊🏽💝🌞🦋
I love Viola she's such a kind caring intelligent young lady " I hope to see more of her on the screen .People who have her in their lives , friends and family are very blessed . 💖💕❤
Viola Davis is such an eloquent speaker, she faces…and excepts the truthfulness of the lives of her ancestors with such candor, insightful- ness, compassion & understanding! She’s a phenomenal actress, a beautiful woman…and a stellar human being! I’m sure her ancestors are proud of her!
I know I am!
She’s wise person to engage with truth with acceptance and humanity and heart. I really appreciated this
Viola is so spiritually intelligent and strong. I love that she embraces hard truths. Our ancestors were human and just like the rest of us. Knowing the truth of how you came to be can be beautiful if you allow it. 🥰
Everything Viola Davis plays in, is incredible!
I just saw the woman King...
Ahhh man what a great movie!
Blessings and prayers to Everyone
💜✨🙏🕊️🙏✨💜
Respect for all who served💛
I always felt like my grandpa wasn’t my mothers father. My great grandma is a child of a slave owner & my intuition always told me something was off with my family. I was really close to my great grandparents. Their energy as elders were just strong. Like a story without telling a story. I’m curious to know my roots for sure now.
Viloa Davis what a talent..... Millions of families around the globe got this story full of innuendo's, hidden secrets and open secrets. One thing I learned about parent's who raise they're children, they never tell you what they've done (mistakes made in life) but instead always telling you what they DON'T want you to do which is why it's hard for children to humanize their parents. This constant projecting of fears onto us is what let's us know that our parents have done it all and to the fullest!
Love Viola’s thoughtful responses
"Silence is always interesting." Love this!
I love that she calls our hometown of St. Matthews, S.C. home. ❤️❤️❤️
She is so poetic in her manner
My gosh! Viola is so absolutely beautiful!
She's amazing and her story holds true to the head on her shoulders.
I have the same story with my grandpa's dad not being his real dad, don't know the story though...but I'm Kansas
My goodness. PBS airs some of the best programs. I have not been into television viewing for awhile, but I'm grateful to be able to catch clips of this one here on TH-cam.
A very rare PBS video that they forgot to turn the comments off.
Her candor is everything! The *messy truth* thrives all around us. Some own it and deal with it. Some bury it.
It is certainly life affirming! There’s nothing new under the sun, for sure. Gracious lady to share some of her tree with us!
Viola is a favorite of ours. Thank you for letting us get to know her. Amazing.
Man, we all have secrets in our families. I'd love for them to dive into my family's past, I love this type of stuff.
I tell you that all of us have mess (unexplained and unknown) in our family closets. I've learned that my dad's grandfather changed his last name before meeting, marrying, and having a family of 12 kids with my dad's grandmother. We don't know what happened or why he changed his last name and honestly, I don't want to know. Sometimes it's best to leave it alone because there is a very strong chance you will not like what you find.
Nah seek the truth void or bad . Knowing is freeing ❤️❤️❤️
I am a Young and every time I see Viola I feel a deep connection to her. This is so interesting. She is such an elegant soul.
Ms. Davis is so beautiful. As an American Navy mother, I thank Soldier Logan for his service.
I didn't understand this mess. I have to replay again and again. Viola, you're a wonderful woman. ❤️ we love your work. An R.I. fan.❤