Pharrell Makes a Harrowing Discovery About His Ancestors | Finding Your Roots | Ancestry®

Ancestry

19 Feb 202105:01

EducationalLearning

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TLDRIn this moving documentary, musician Pharrell Williams embarks on a journey to uncover his family's past through the 'Slave Narrative Project'. The project's oral history, consisting of over 2300 interviews with former slaves, reveals the life of his great-great-grandfather's sister, Jane Arrington. Her firsthand account of the daily degradation and hardship on a cotton plantation provides Pharrell with an intimate and intense connection to his ancestors' experiences under slavery. This exploration not only restores lost stories but also highlights the resilience of African Americans and the human spirit.

Takeaways

🎵 The video features musician Pharrell Williams on a journey of discovery, inspired by a significant document.
📜 The document is a first-hand account from Pharrell's great-great-aunt, Jane Arrington, who was interviewed as part of the 'Slave Narrative Project'.
👵 Jane's interview provides Pharrell with a personal connection to the experiences of his ancestors under slavery, a rare opportunity for many African Americans.
🗓️ The 'Slave Narrative Project' is a collective oral history consisting of approximately 2300 interviews with formerly enslaved individuals, sponsored by the federal government in the 1930s.
👶 It is estimated that Pharrell's great-great-grandfather, Fenner Williams, was born into slavery between 1855 and 1857 and was only freed at the end of the Civil War at the age of 10.
😢 The realization of his great-great-grandfather's early life in bondage deeply affects Pharrell, evoking strong emotional responses.
🏡 Jane's detailed recollections of life on a cotton plantation reveal the harsh and degrading conditions that enslaved people faced daily.
🧐 The script emphasizes the importance of understanding the past and the resilience of the human spirit, as it relates to the African American experience.
🤔 Pharrell's experience serves as a reminder of the profound impact that uncovering lost stories can have on an individual's perception of history and identity.
🌟 The video concludes with a message about the power of restoration and the importance of acknowledging and honoring the resilience of ancestors and the human community as a whole.

Q & A

What was the purpose of the 'Slave Narrative Project' mentioned in the script?
-The 'Slave Narrative Project' was a collective oral history project comprising roughly 2300 interviews with formerly enslaved people, sponsored by the federal government in the 1930s.
Who is Pharrell Williams and what journey did he embark on?
-Pharrell Williams is a musician who embarked on an extraordinary journey to understand his ancestry, specifically the experiences of his great-great-grandfather Fenner Williams and his sister Jane Arrington, through the 'Slave Narrative Project'.
What was the significance of the document Pharrell Williams discovered?
-The document Pharrell discovered was an interview with his great-great-great aunt Jane Arrington, which allowed him to read the actual words of one of his relatives who had endured slavery, offering an intimate glimpse into his ancestors' experiences.
What were the details of Fenner Williams' birth and family as mentioned in the script?
-Fenner Williams was born on the plantation near Tar River on December 18, 1852. His mother was Louisa May, and his father was Louis May. He had three brothers named Richard, Farro, and Caeser, and two sisters named Rose and Jane.
How did the Civil War impact Fenner Williams' life?
-Fenner Williams was likely born into slavery around 1855-1857 and was not freed until the end of the Civil War, which means he spent the first 10 years of his life as a slave.
What emotions did Pharrell Williams experience while learning about his ancestors' experiences?
-Pharrell Williams experienced a range of emotions including shock, sadness, and anger while learning about the hardships his ancestors endured as slaves.
What kind of work did Jane Arrington describe doing during her time as a slave?
-Jane Arrington described working on the farm cutting corn stocks, tending to cattle, sweeping the yards, and picking and spinning cotton after a full day's work.
How did Pharrell Williams' perception of his African American heritage change after learning about his ancestors?
-Pharrell Williams felt a deep connection and a vivid, intense context behind what it means to be African American, stating that he was 'forever changed' by the knowledge of his ancestors' experiences.
What was the living condition of Jane Arrington and her family as described in the script?
-Jane Arrington described living in log houses with stick and dirt chimneys, referred to as 'slave houses,' which indicates the poor and degrading living conditions they faced.
What is the broader significance of retrieving lost stories like those of Pharrell Williams' ancestors?
-Retrieving lost stories can be an act of restoration, not only of our ancestors' resilience but also of the resilience of the entire human community, offering a deeper understanding of history and personal heritage.

Outlines

00:00

🎵 Pharrell Williams' Journey Through Ancestral Slavery

This paragraph introduces a profound exploration of musician Pharrell Williams' ancestry, sparked by a document detailing the life of his great-great-grandfather, Fenner Williams. Fenner's sister, Jane Arrington, provides a firsthand account of life under slavery through the 'Slave Narrative Project', an oral history initiative sponsored by the U.S. federal government in the 1930s. Pharrell is deeply affected by Jane's narrative, learning that Fenner was likely born into slavery and only freed at the age of 10, post-Civil War. The paragraph captures Pharrell's emotional response to this revelation, his empathy for his ancestors' suffering, and the impact this knowledge has on his understanding of his heritage.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Buzzing

The term 'buzzing' is used to describe a feeling of excitement, energy, or agitation that one might experience. In the context of the video, Pharrell Williams uses 'buzzing' to express his emotional state after learning about his family history. It suggests a strong, possibly overwhelming, reaction to the revelations about his ancestors' experiences under slavery.

💡Pharrell Williams

Pharrell Williams is a renowned musician and the central figure in the video. His journey of discovery about his family's past is the narrative thread that the video follows. His personal connection to the story brings an emotional depth to the exploration of African American history and the legacy of slavery.

💡Fenner Williams

Fenner Williams is Pharrell's great-great-grandfather, who was born into slavery and lived until 1927. His story is a focal point of the video, as it represents the personal connection to the broader historical context of slavery in the United States. Fenner's life serves as a tangible link to the past, allowing Pharrell and the audience to reflect on the impact of slavery on individuals and families.

💡Jane Arrington

Jane Arrington, referred to as 'dat's me' in the script, is Pharrell's great-great-great aunt. Her interview as part of the 'Slave Narrative Project' provides a firsthand account of life under slavery. Her narrative is crucial to the video's theme, offering a direct and personal perspective on the hardships and realities faced by enslaved people.

💡Slave Narrative Project

The 'Slave Narrative Project' is a historical initiative that collected oral histories from approximately 2300 formerly enslaved individuals in the 1930s. Sponsored by the federal government, it aimed to document the experiences of those who lived through slavery. In the video, this project is significant as it provides Pharrell with a direct connection to his ancestors' experiences, contributing to the video's exploration of heritage and historical memory.

💡Slavery

Slavery is a central theme of the video, representing the oppressive system under which Pharrell's ancestors lived. The term refers to the condition of being owned by someone and being forced to work without pay or personal freedom. The video uses the historical context of slavery to explore its lasting impact on African American identity and the collective memory of the community.

💡Civil War

The Civil War, also known as the American Civil War, is a significant historical event in the United States that led to the abolition of slavery. In the video, the end of the Civil War is mentioned as the time when Pharrell's great-great-grandfather Fenner would have been freed, highlighting the personal implications of this historical event for individuals and their descendants.

💡Degradation

Degradation in this context refers to the humiliation and dehumanization that enslaved people faced daily. The script mentions the poor living conditions and hard labor that Jane Arrington and others like her endured, illustrating the harsh realities of slavery. This term is key to understanding the video's portrayal of the inhumane treatment of enslaved individuals.

💡Resilience

Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from difficulties or to withstand hardships. In the video, the term is used to describe the strength and perseverance of Pharrell's ancestors and, by extension, the African American community as a whole. The script suggests that understanding and acknowledging the past can help restore and honor the resilience of those who lived through slavery.

💡Restoration

Restoration in the video refers to the process of recovering or returning something to its original state or condition. It is used metaphorically to describe the act of uncovering and preserving the stories of enslaved people, which helps to restore their dignity and the collective memory of their experiences. This concept is integral to the video's message about the importance of remembering and honoring the past.

💡African American

African American refers to an ethnic group of Americans with total or partial ancestry from any of the Black racial groups of Africa. The video uses this term to highlight the specific cultural and historical experiences of this community, particularly in relation to slavery and its aftermath. The term is central to the video's exploration of identity, heritage, and the legacy of historical events on contemporary individuals.

Highlights

Pharrell Williams embarks on a journey to explore his ancestry, starting with a document about his great-great-grandfather, Fenner Williams.

Fenner Williams' sister, Jane Arrington, was interviewed about her experiences under slavery, providing Pharrell a rare opportunity to read his ancestor's firsthand account.

Jane Arrington's interview was part of the 'Slave Narrative Project', a collective oral history of roughly 2300 interviews with formerly enslaved people.

Pharrell learns that Fenner Williams was likely born into slavery between 1855 and 1857 and was not freed until the end of the Civil War at the age of 10.

Jane's interview reveals the harsh reality of their daily lives on a cotton plantation, including the work they were forced to do.

Pharrell is deeply affected by the realization of the suffering his ancestors endured, expressing a mix of emotions including sadness and anger.

The interview details the living conditions of the slaves, such as living in log houses with stick and dirt chimneys.

Jane recounts the daily tasks she and her family had to perform, including cutting corn stocks, tending to cattle, and picking and spinning cotton.

Pharrell reflects on the intense context behind being African American, expressing gratitude for hearing his ancestors' stories.

The story emphasizes the importance of retrieving lost stories as an act of restoration for the resilience of ancestors and the human community.

The emotional impact of discovering his ancestry leaves Pharrell forever changed, highlighting the power of personal history.

The documentary provides a unique perspective on the African American experience through the lens of Pharrell's family history.

Pharrell's journey serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving and sharing the stories of our ancestors.

The 'Slave Narrative Project' is highlighted as a crucial resource for understanding the experiences of formerly enslaved people.

The documentary ends with an invitation to viewers to explore more incredible stories, emphasizing the value of shared history.

Transcripts

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Pharrell Makes a Harrowing Discovery About His Ancestors | Finding Your Roots | Ancestry®

Takeaways

Q & A

What was the purpose of the 'Slave Narrative Project' mentioned in the script?

Who is Pharrell Williams and what journey did he embark on?

What was the significance of the document Pharrell Williams discovered?

What were the details of Fenner Williams' birth and family as mentioned in the script?

How did the Civil War impact Fenner Williams' life?

What emotions did Pharrell Williams experience while learning about his ancestors' experiences?

What kind of work did Jane Arrington describe doing during her time as a slave?

How did Pharrell Williams' perception of his African American heritage change after learning about his ancestors?

What was the living condition of Jane Arrington and her family as described in the script?

What is the broader significance of retrieving lost stories like those of Pharrell Williams' ancestors?