Samuel L. Jackson's Surprising Roots

Actor Samuel L. Jackson recounts the racism and segregation of his childhood in 1950s Chattanooga, Tenn., and is told about an American Revolution-era ancestor on PBS's Finding Your Roots, hosted by The Root's editor-in-chief, Henry Louis Gates Jr.

In the clip below, Jackson learns about an unexpected historic relative and just how far back his roots run in American history.

Watch the video below to see what Gates found, and catch Finding Your Roots to learn more about the actor's childhood and ancestry. The episode premieres this Sunday, April 29, at 8 p.m. EDT/7 p.m. CDT.

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Watch More Finding Your Roots Clips:

'Finding Your Roots': Tracing the Canadas

An absent father left Harlem activist Geoffrey Canada with questions about his paternal ancestry.

 

Discovering Hollywood Royalty -- Literally

Maggie Gyllenhaal learns of her noble ancestor from Henry Louis Gates Jr. on Finding Your Roots.

 

Martha Stewart's Inherited Profession

On Finding Your Roots, Martha Stewart learns that she's not the only craftsman in her family.

 

Iron Man's Revolutionary Ancestry

On Finding Your Roots,Robert Downey Jr. learns that a relative fought for America's independence.

 

A Mega-Church Pastor's Deep Religious Roots

On Finding Your Roots, Henry Louis Gates Jr. explores Rick Warren's family legacy.

 

Ruth Simmons, When Past Meets Present

On Finding Your Roots, Ruth Simmons learns about her great-grandfather and a newfound relative.