Oscar nominee Danielle Brooks was deeply moved upon studying that her ancestor, Dolphin, was a part of the regiment that fought for the Union Military after gaining freedom from slavery. Brooks expressed a flurry of feelings, together with empowerment and shock, upon discovering this revelation on the family tree present “Discovering Your Roots.
Dolphin, born into slavery in Tennessee, confronted daunting challenges on his journey to hitch the Union Military after gaining his freedom. His determination to battle for the trigger that had granted him freedom lends credence to his braveness and displays the robust want for liberty amongst many slaves throughout that period.
The host of “Discovering Your Roots,” Henry Louis Gates Jr., reiterated Brooks’ sentiments, stressing the significance of Dolphin’s actions as tales of resilience, dedication, and the relentless pursuit of freedom that have to be shared.
Brooks’ household historical past displays resilience and survival, as her maternal ancestors, Frazier and Susan Sharp, succeeded in sustaining their household unity amid the racial upheaval of the Civil Warfare period, in response to the present.
This legacy of energy and perseverance has positively influenced Brooks’s private life {and professional} profession.
Reflecting on her heritage, Brooks admitted, “It’s a reminder of the place I come from and the unimaginable energy of my ancestors.”
Brooks, at the moment an Academy Award nominee for her efficiency within the musical movie adaptation of “The Colour Purple,” boasts a formidable array of accolades in her profession.
She stands on the point of reaching EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) standing as she earned nominations for Emmy Awards in 2021 and 2023, a Grammy Award in 2017 (she received) and a Tony Award in 2016.
Brooks’ ongoing success within the leisure trade is complemented by her profound connection to her ancestor Dolphin, marking the resilience and dedication ingrained in her heritage.
