Ep 2. Searching for Our Names

African American Lives is a documentary series that explores the genealogy of prominent African American personalities through historical records, DNA testing, and interviews with relatives. In season 1 episode 2, titled "Searching for Our Names," the focus is on four celebrity guests who, despite their professional success, are largely unaware of their family's past.

The episode begins with actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg discovering that her real name is Caryn Elaine Johnson. She meets with experts who reveal that her ancestors were slaves in Georgia and that her great-great-grandmother was born into slavery. Goldberg reflects on the discomfort she feels as a black person owning a name that was given to her by her oppressors. She decides to legally change her name to reflect the heritage of her family.

Next, we see journalist Bryant Gumbel uncovering his connection to a prominent family of black entrepreneurs who owned various businesses in the early 1900s. He also learns that his great-grandfather was lynched in the South at a time when African Americans were not protected under the law. Gumbel reflects on the obligation he feels to honor his family's legacy by being a positive force in his community.

Singer and actress Vanessa Williams is surprised to learn about her ancestors' Native American heritage. She visits a reservation in Oklahoma and meets with tribal leaders who explain how African Americans have intermarried with indigenous people over the centuries. Williams also discovers that her maternal grandfather served in World War II, an honor that was denied to many black soldiers at the time. She is moved to tears as she learns about the struggles her family endured while fighting for their country.

Finally, geneticist Henry Louis Gates Jr. uses DNA testing to help author Bliss Broyard solve a mystery surrounding her father's racial identity. Broyard's father was a respected literary critic who passed as white for much of his life, leaving his daughter to question her own racial identity. Gates discovers that Broyard's father was actually of mixed-race ancestry and explains how white Americans have historically employed racial passing as a way to climb the social ladder.

Throughout the episode, the guests grapple with the emotional impact of their discoveries. They are forced to reckon with the painful legacy of slavery and racism in America and to confront the ways in which their own success has been shaped by their ancestors' struggles. Despite the challenges, each guest ultimately emerges with a deeper sense of connection to their family and to their cultural heritage.

Overall, "Searching for Our Names" is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the intersection of race and genealogy in America. It sheds light on the complex and often painful history of African Americans while also celebrating their resilience and sense of identity.