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    When I sat down with Flea on Finding Your Roots, we traced his lineage back to 19th-century Australia and to a woman whose determination left a powerful imprint on his family tree. Flea learned that his great-grandmother, Henrietta Balzary, was widowed at just 32 years old, left to raise four children on her own. Archival court records reveal that in the years following her husband’s death, she was cited for selling alcohol without a license — an act that, in context, reflected the harsh economic realities facing single mothers in colonial Australia. The documents tell a story not simply of hardship, but of resourcefulness. In a world that offered few avenues of survival, Henrietta did what she had to do. Later, she remarried, securing greater stability for her family. Genealogy often uncovers unexpected ancestors whose grit and ingenuity echo through generations. In Henrietta’s story, we glimpse the resilience that courses through Flea’s own life and art. 📺 Watch Season 12, Episode 7 of Finding Your Roots on PBS. #FindingYourRoots #HenryLouisGatesJr #Flea #RedHotChiliPeppers #PBS #FamilyHistory #Genealogy #AustralianHistory #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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