CNN Anchor Traces Roots to Jamaica

[seemiyah]

CNN anchor Michaela Pereira learns about her family heritage as she travels to Jamaica. Her journey is one of many that CNN hosts will take across the globe to dig into their family trees

pereira.michaela.jpg

Video 1 - Her Journey to Jamaica http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/vi...ewday.cnn.html

Video 2 - Eating fish and lobster http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/vi...shing.cnn.html

[Yuriatin]

Her segment was so disappointing - a big let down in numerous ways.

Am looking forward to Sanjay Gupta's and Anderson Cooper's.

[Peasie]

I like the part inside the abandoned St. Stephen's church in Cambridge, St. James. And I liked that everyone she told her story to responded with "Welcome home." That was moving.

[Yuriatin]

It was totally just - "meh" - for me.

Because she didn't get to talk with any family, see any cousins, any records - nothing. Was just - blah for me.

It could've almost been a piece about just traveling to Jamaica. 90% of it was doing different activities - very little about the family end of things.

Question - who all felt that the family she ate dinner with was todays "the typical Jamaican family"?

[Yuriatin]

It would've had more interest to me if she talked about why exactly the door to her father's side of the family was closed to her - or why she decided to keep it closed.

Or if she'd have found some of her biological mother's relatives, etc.

I'm not knocking her for making these choices - I'm just saying that would've added to the story.

[Xavier]

I agree with many of you that it was disappointing that she did not explore her father's side. It would have been great to see some of those interactions etc. Much of everything seems so staged especially the "songs" they song etc. I watch part one...on to part 2.

PS: Sometimes when you hear people say "that side is closed" it means there is some deep dark secret like rape or incest.

[My Looh]

Agree also that there just was not a lot of.substance. But we don't know the entire story and.some things in her family's history are probably better left alone.

[Yuriatin]

Indeed - no substance on the subject at all, really. What I remember the most from the piece is very little family/roots related and more dancing, eating, friendly Jamaicans, fishing, king crab, more eating and cooking with a "typical" Jamaican family, etc ... Her search made me sad. I'm wondering if her mother, who was white ... if that side of the family wanted nothing to do with her because her father was/is black.

Anyway - I watched Anderson Cooper's piece tonight and oh my word! VERY interesting. Most people, including me, know about his famous mother - but nothing about his father. SO glad he zeroed in on that part of his family. So touching. His dad died when Anderson was just 10 years old and he commented on how he hasn't heard his voice since then. Incredible how thru a company that does film restoration and other sorts of historical restorations, digitized an interview that his father gave almost 40 years ago. He was able to listen to the interview and wow - it was just so good his piece.

Agree also that there just was not a lot of.substance. But we don't know the entire story and.some things in her family's history are probably better left alone.

[Tropicana]

I agree with many of you that it was disappointing that she did not explore her father's side. It would have been great to see some of those interactions etc. Much of everything seems so staged especially the "songs" they song etc. I watch part one...on to part 2.

PS: Sometimes when you hear people say "that side is closed" it means there is some deep dark secret like rape or incest.

For sure when one undertakes genealogical research, it is important to be prepared. There will be many surprises and secrets, some wonderful and others

[evanovitch]

I agree with many of you that it was disappointing that she did not explore her father's side. It would have been great to see some of those interactions etc. Much of everything seems so staged especially the "songs" they song etc. I watch part one...on to part 2.

PS: Sometimes when you hear people say "that side is closed" it means there is some deep dark secret like rape or incest.

she come from up weh my family come from……way back wen….i firmly believe that the cousins etc that r still on the island n dem never delve into r one of the long time families ….fi real….. they have never liked the fact that some members went black….that happened to my great wich caused the split with the family whose name i have…mek mi deh yah a wonda…

[evanovitch]

just watched Don Lemon's episode…cried …always cry wen i see the coast n the now museum wich was the site where some of my ancestors were 'housed' before that infamous cruise…..every black person should make that pilgrimage in their lifetime

[CeaBee]

I agree with many of you that it was disappointing that she did not explore her father's side. It would have been great to see some of those interactions etc. Much of everything seems so staged especially the "songs" they song etc. I watch part one...on to part 2.

PS: Sometimes when you hear people say "that side is closed" it means there is some deep dark secret like rape or incest.

or secret outside child

[Yuriatin]

Dang it! Was dog tired, fell asleep and missed it.

Am going to watch the repeat.

Even Jack Tapper's search was more revealing than Pereira’s.

(am gone back to watch this sentencing phase of Pistorious - don't know y they don't just cut to the chase and send him home - dude not gonna spend 1 single day behind bars - so disturbing; he's a good actor tho - lots & lots of tears and vomiting and wailing)

just watched Don Lemon's episode…cried …always cry wen i see the coast n the now museum wich was the site where some of my ancestors were 'housed' before that infamous cruise…..every black person should make that pilgrimage in their lifetime

[Xavier]

just watched Don Lemon's episode…cried …always cry wen i see the coast n the now museum wich was the site where some of my ancestors were 'housed' before that infamous cruise…..every black person should make that pilgrimage in their lifetime

Is there a link to this anywhere?

[seemiyah]

Here is the page to all of them

CNN Roots: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/us/roots/index.html