Wiz Khalifa recently uncovered profound details about his ancestry. He discovered his fifth great-grandfather was enslaved. This journey through family history on PBS’s Finding Your Roots revealed an inspiring narrative. The Pittsburgh rapper’s encounter with his past offered a unique perspective on his lineage.

A Glimpse into the Past

Wiz Khalifa learned about his fifth great-grandfather, Howard Williamson, during an episode of Finding Your Roots. Host Henry Louis Gates Jr. shared that Williamson was enslaved in Alabama around 1870. The documents presented showed Williamson lived adjacent to the white family who owned him. This revelation deeply affected the artist, as reported by AllHipHop, Wiz Khalifa expressed his feelings, stating,“I think I’m programmed to feel a little bit p#####… But just him owning my family just sounds crazy.” He described the experience as a “reality check.”

The Weight of History

The show presented records detailing enslaved individuals as property. They were listed by skin color, gender, and age, lacking individual names. Wiz Khalifa found this dehumanizing. He noted, “It’s crazy to see him as a nameless person on a grid… And to know how valuable that property is because it’s a life and it’s not actually property, it’s a person.” This experience provided a significant connection to his ancestral struggles.

Resilience and the Great Migration

However, Howard Williamson’s story extended beyond enslavement. After achieving freedom, he became a tenant farmer. Williamson courageously registered to vote during Reconstruction. This act of participation occurred despite the significant threats and violence faced by Black voters. Furthermore, the episode revealed Wiz Khalifa’s grandfather, Willie Wimbush Jr., migrated north to Pittsburgh. This move occurred around 1955, a part of the Great Migration. Millions of Black families relocated during this period. They sought better opportunities and escaped Jim Crow laws. Wimbush settled his family in Pittsburgh’s historically Black neighborhood, shaping Wiz Khalifa’s own life and career path. Wiz Khalifa found this part of his history “really good to learn.” He felt his grandfather’s ambition through his story.

Finding Your Roots Continues

Finding Your Roots has been a cornerstone in celebrity genealogy for 12 seasons. The show utilizes DNA testing and historical records to trace ancestry. Other notable guests this season have included Lizzo and Spike Lee. The series airs Tuesdays on PBS

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