A Family of Sharecroppers
Season 1
Episode 7
About the Episode
Brown University President Ruth Simmons grew up in a family of sharecroppers, a notorious system in which farmers pick cotton and live on someone else's land for a share of the profits. But they had to pay such high charges for rent, they often fell into a cycle of debt.
Aired:
| Expires: | Runtime: 1m 24s
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Extras
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Anthony Ramos' Ancestor was Enslaved by Conquistadors
Anthony Ramos learns about his 15th great-grandfather's fate at the hand of a conquistador5:13 -
Tracy Morgan Discovers a Pre-Civil War Freed Ancestor
Tracy Morgan's third great-grandfather lived as a free man prior to The Civil War.5:46 -
Danielle Brooks Learns the Dollar Value of Her Ancestors
Danielle Brooks learns the dollar value of her enslaved fifth great-grandparents.6:42 -
Sunny Hostin Learns About Her Grandmother's Missing Father
A 1940 census, reveals that Sonny Hostin's grandmother's father was absent from her home6:04 -
Jesse Williams Learns About His Swedish Great Grandmother
Jesse learns about his great grandmother on mother’s side from Sweden, who was a singer.5:31 -
Tracy Morgan Discovers His Jewish Great-Great Grandfather
Tracy's family history unfolds with surprising revelations about his great-grandparents.4:58 -
Anthony Ramos Traces Roots Back to Ninth Great-Grandparents
Anthony Ramos traces his father's mother's roots back to his ninth great grandparents.6:05 -
Dionne Warwick Reflects on the Ugly Legacy Slavery
Dionne Warwick reacts powerfully to seeing her ancestor listed in an 1870 slave schedule.5:44 -
Jesse Williams Discovers the Story of An Enslaved Ancestor
Jesse learns about his ancestor, July Hadley's life as an enslaved individual.2:57 -
Dionne Warwick Explores the Roots of Her Singing Grandfather
Dionne Warwick explores her family history, focusing on her maternal grandfather.6:44
