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Finding Your Roots

Lena Dunham Uncovers Her Ancestor's Complex Legacy

Season 10 Episode 9 | 5m 08s

We trace Lena Dunham's ancestry back to her paternal eighth great-grandfather, Stephanus van Cortlandt, a pivotal figure in the early history of New York City. Stephanus's life story unfolds as one of ambition, becoming the first native-born Mayor of New York. But Lena confronts the more troubling aspects of his legacy, including his dealings with the Lenape tribe and his involvement in slavery.

Lena Dunham Uncovers Her Ancestor's Complex Legacy
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
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  • All
  • Finding Your Roots Season 11
  • Finding Your Roots Season 10
  • Finding Your Roots Season 9
  • Finding Your Roots Season 8
  • Finding Your Roots Season 7
  • Finding Your Roots Season 6
  • Finding Your Roots Season 5
  • Finding Your Roots Season 4
  • Finding Your Roots Season 3
  • Finding Your Roots Season 2
  • Finding Your Roots Season 1
Finding My Roots
Watch • 52:10
Finding Your Roots
Finding My Roots
Family mysteries are solved for actor Laurence Fishburne & scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Episode: S11 E10 | 52:10
Moving On Up
Watch • 52:10
Finding Your Roots
Moving On Up
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of actor Sheryl Lee Ralph & historian Lonnie Bunch.
Episode: S11 E9 | 52:10
The Butterfly Effect
Watch • 52:10
Finding Your Roots
The Butterfly Effect
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces the family trees of actors Debra Messing & Melanie Lynskey.
Episode: S11 E8 | 52:10
The Ties That Bind
Watch • 52:10
Finding Your Roots
The Ties That Bind
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of married actors Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard.
Episode: S11 E7 | 52:10
Latin Roots
Watch • 52:10
Finding Your Roots
Latin Roots
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. meets musician Rubén Blades & journalist Natalie Morales.
Episode: S11 E6 | 52:10
Family Recipes
Watch • 52:10
Finding Your Roots
Family Recipes
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the ancestry of notable chefs José Andrés & Sean Sherman.
Episode: S11 E5 | 52:10
Dreamers One And All
Watch • 52:10
Finding Your Roots
Dreamers One And All
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces the ancestry of actor Sharon Stone & model Chrissy Teigen.
Episode: S11 E4 | 52:10
Stranger Than Fiction
Watch • 52:10
Finding Your Roots
Stranger Than Fiction
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. reveals inspiring ancestors of novelist Amy Tan & poet Rita Dove.
Episode: S11 E3 | 52:10
Larger Than Life
Watch • 52:10
Finding Your Roots
Larger Than Life
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. connects Lea Salonga & Amanda Seyfried to their dramatic ancestors.
Episode: S11 E1 | 52:10
La Famiglia
Watch • 52:10
Finding Your Roots
La Famiglia
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the Italian roots of Joy Behar & Michael Imperioli.
Episode: S11 E2 | 52:10
Extras
Laurence Learns About His Great-Great-Great-Grandmother
Watch • 4:12
Finding Your Roots
Laurence Learns About His Great-Great-Great-Grandmother
Laurence discovers the identity of his great-great-great-grandmother.
Clip: S11 E10 | 4:12
Skip Discovers His Great-Great-Grandfather
Watch • 4:14
Finding Your Roots
Skip Discovers His Great-Great-Grandfather
Skip discusses Jane Gates, his oldest known ancestor up until now.
Clip: S11 E10 | 4:14
Finding My Roots Preview
Watch • 0:30
Finding Your Roots
Finding My Roots Preview
Family mysteries are solved for actor Laurence Fishburne & scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Preview: S11 E10 | 0:30
Lonnie Bunch Discovers His Grandfather's Heroic Educationonal Efforts
Watch • 3:41
Finding Your Roots
Lonnie Bunch Discovers His Grandfather's Heroic Educationonal Efforts
Lonnie learns about his grandfather who served on a school committee for mainly Black students.
Clip: S11 E9 | 3:41
The Surprising Love Story in Sheryl Lee Ralph's Ancestry
Watch • 4:09
Finding Your Roots
The Surprising Love Story in Sheryl Lee Ralph's Ancestry
Sheryl's third great grandparents, a mixed race couple, got married in 1837.
Clip: S11 E9 | 4:09
Moving On Up Preview
Watch • 0:30
Finding Your Roots
Moving On Up Preview
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of actor Sheryl Lee Ralph & historian Lonnie Bunch.
Preview: S11 E9 | 0:30
Debra Messing's Polish Ancestors Voyaged to New York
Watch • 3:53
Finding Your Roots
Debra Messing's Polish Ancestors Voyaged to New York
Debra discovers her grandfather's earliest years in America after leaving Poland.
Clip: S11 E8 | 3:53
Melanie Lynskey Learns of a Long-Lost Relative
Watch • 4:21
Finding Your Roots
Melanie Lynskey Learns of a Long-Lost Relative
Melanie discovers a potential match for her great-grandfather.
Clip: S11 E8 | 4:21
The Butterfly Effect Preview
Watch • 0:30
Finding Your Roots
The Butterfly Effect Preview
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces the family trees of actors Debra Messing & Melanie Lynskey.
Preview: S11 E8 | 0:30
Latin Roots Preview
Watch • 0:30
Finding Your Roots
Latin Roots Preview
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. meets musician Rubén Blades & journalist Natalie Morales.
Preview: S11 E6 | 0:30