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    When I sat down with Danielle Deadwyler on Finding Your Roots, we uncovered a story that speaks to the very meaning of citizenship in America. Her fifth great-grandfather, Sprig Stanley, was born into slavery in Georgia. But after emancipation, when Black men were granted the right to vote in 1867, Sprig did something extraordinary—he registered. The document bearing his name marks a moment of courage. At a time when exercising that right could invite violence or even death, Sprig chose to claim his place in American democracy. Remarkably, he did so despite being unable to read or write. Moments like this remind us that freedom is not simply granted—it is claimed, often at great personal risk. In Sprig’s decision, we see both the fragility and the power of that right, and the enduring legacy it leaves for generations to come. 📺 Watch Finding Your Roots Season 12 on PBS. #FindingYourRoots #HenryLouisGatesJr #DanielleDeadwyler #PBS #BlackHistory #VotingRights #Reconstruction #AmericanHistory #Genealogy #Ancestry #roots This program is made possible by viewers like you. Support your local PBS station: https://www.pbs.org/donate Enjoy full episodes of your favorite PBS shows anytime, anywhere with the free PBS app: https://to.pbs.org/2QbtzhR FOLLOW PBS: Facebook: / pbs X: / pbs Instagram: / pbs TikTok: / pbs Threads: https://www.threads.net/@pbs FOLLOW HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. YouTube: / henrylouisgatesjr Facebook: / henrylouisgatesjr X: / henrylouisgates Instagram: / henrylouisgates
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