Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'s video: Lea Salonga Discovers Her Family s Forgotten Privileged Past Finding Your Roots

In this clip from the Season 11 premiere of Finding Your Roots, Lea Salonga learns about her family’s surprising history of privilege and prosperity. Host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. uncovers stories of her grandmother’s once-comfortable life before tragedy struck, and a great-great-grandfather who served as a mayor in the 1870s. Lea reflects on how this legacy was lost over generations and shares her mother’s contrasting experiences—growing up with moments of affluence before enduring financial hardships. It’s a fascinating look at resilience, shifting fortunes, and the untold stories that shape family identity. Don't miss the premiere of season 11 of "Finding Your Roots" on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at 7 PM ET on PBS. This program is made possible by viewers like you. Support your local PBS station: https://www.pbs.org/donate Explore our shared histories with Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. through iconic series like Making Black America, Finding Your Roots, and The Black Church: https://pbs.org/professorgates Subscribe to the PBS channel for more clips: https://www.youtube.com/pbs Enjoy full episodes of your favorite PBS shows anytime, anywhere with the free PBS App: https://to.pbs.org/2QbtzhR FOLLOW PBS: Threads: https://www.threads.net/@pbs Shop: https://shop.pbs.org/ Finding Your Roots For more than a decade, renowned Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. has helped to expand America’s sense of itself, stimulating a national conversation about identity with humor, wisdom, and compassion. Professor Gates has explored the ancestry of dozens of influential people from diverse backgrounds, taking millions of viewers deep into the past to reveal the connections that bind us all.