The Roots Of... Michael K. Williams Discovers His African Ancestry
Michael K. Williams AKA Omar from The Wire takes a DNA test and discovers his African Ancestry in 'The Roots Of...' on Okayafrica TV.
<p>Here's how this went down. We were walking down the street in Brooklyn one day and turned around to see none other than<strong> Michael K. Williams</strong> walking his dogs right behind us. Omar. Omar F'ing Little. Hands down the best character on the best show ever. Ever. (Forever ever.) This is what we blurted out: "I love you." We don't kid. (We wish we did.)</p><p>It was a no-brainer that he should be the next subject of our "The Roots Of..." series in which we trace back people's ancestry to the bright continent using a DNA test that can locate not only a country of origin but also an ancestral tribe. For Michael, it was serendipity. His brother-from-another-mother <strong>Isaiah Washington </strong>had already been in his ear to get the test done for a long time.</p><p><div class="preroll-video"></div><ora-player></ora-player></p><p>The results, revealed below as Michael K. Williams' African ancestry is revealed, will give you goosebumps. Regarding his ancestors who survived the middle passage and slavery, he asks: "what is flowing in my veins that survived all that horror?" He finds a partial answer, at least, in one of <strong>Nas</strong>' most striking lines: "Heart of a king, blood of a slave." For the rest, you'll have to watch.</p><p>If you haven't yet seen our first episodes in "The Roots Of..." series, check <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/2011/12/08/video-the-roots-of-the-roots-uesto-and-black-thought-find-out-their-african-ancestry/" target="_blank">here</a> to watch <strong>The Roots</strong>' African ancestry revealed to <strong>?uesto</strong> and <strong>Black Thought</strong>, <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/2012/01/24/video-the-roots-of-q-tip-a-tribe-called-djola/" target="_blank">here</a> to check out <strong>Q-Tip</strong>'s real tribe, and <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/?p=29767">here</a> to see <strong>Flying Lotus</strong> trace his own soul makossa to the motherland. You too can discover the country and even tribe where it all began: to get your own DNA test, check out our partners over at <a href="http://www.africanancestry.com/" target="_blank">African Ancestry</a>.</p><p><div class="dfp_atf-slot" data-not-loaded="true"></div><script type="text/javascript">
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</script></p><p>[embed width="640"]<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a073b8bb6b51b0e7a6ef6d37aad0cfdc"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6oCx4j69Ilc?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>[/embed]</p><p>Videographers: <a href="http://www.emmaialaquiva.com/" target="_blank">Emmai Alaquiva</a>, Rory Webb, Christina Choe, Doug Zajaczkowski</p><p>Editor: <a href="http://resonantpictures.com" target="_blank">Sam Bathrick</a></p><p>Interviewer: <a href="http://djalirancher.com/" target="_blank">Raquel Cepeda</a></p>
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