Ruth Simmons, When Past Meets Present

Brown University president Ruth Simmons sat down with The Root’s editor-in-chief Henry Louis Gates on his PBS show Finding Your Roots to unravel her largely unknown ancestral past. With the help of Gates, Simmons, who never met her grandparents, delves deep into her family tree, learning some surprising facts about her great-grandfather, his family. Simmons also learns about a newfound relative.

“It’s quite sobering, you know, to never have known even my grandparents,” Simmons told Gates. “And, to be able to reach back and to touch beyond them, it’s quite something.”

With the help of research and DNA, Gates uncovers much more of Simmons past than the Ivy League president was expecting. Watch a clip of Simmons on Finding Your Roots below. The episode premieres Sunday, April, 29, at 8 p.m. EDT/7 p.m. CDT on PBS.

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Watch More Finding Your Roots Clips:

Samuel L. Jackson's Surprising Roots

On Finding Your Roots, the actor talks about racism in his youth and learns about his ancestors.

 

'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.