Anthony Ramos in Las Vegas in February.Photo:Aaron J. Thornton/Getty
Aaron J. Thornton/Getty
It’s not everyday one learns they’re descended from actual royalty, but that’s what happens to Anthony Ramos onFinding Your Roots.
During this week’s episode of the popular PBS docuseries,Henry Louis Gates, Jr.revealed to the actor that Ramos’ 15th great grandfather, a Guanche enslaved man named Andrés de Llerena, eventually married Maria de Lugo, whose father was king of the Indigenous people of Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands. A statue of Ramos' royal ancestor still stands on Tenerife to this day.
“Do you ever feel like a prince?” asked Gates.
“Yo ma, you hear that? I’m a prince,” Ramos quipped. “My dog’s name is ‘Prince.'”
“The man was ripped, I’m not gonna lie,” he continued. “He was in good shape. Some good genes hopefully. You know what I’m saying? Could put some pants on. Wow.”
A statue of Anthony Ramos' royal ancestor still stands on Tenerife.Peter Schickert/Getty
Peter Schickert/Getty
When Gates explains his royal ancestor lived on Tenerife “long before” the Spaniards conquered the island in 1496, Ramos expressed disbelief.
“That’s unbelievable,” he said, adding, “That’s so crazy. Definitely didn’t feel that way in Bushwick.”
Elsewhere in the episode, Gates discussed de Llerena’s enslavement further. Although researchers couldn’t deduce how or how long he was enslaved, the Harvard professor said that they “believe it was for at least 10 years.”
“That’s a long time to be a slave, man,” theIn the Heightsstar said.
The Guanches were aborigines of the Canary Islands. According toOwlcation, the Spaniards began their invasion of the islands at the beginning of the 15th century. After Tenerife — the last island to be conquered — fell to Spain, the conquerors dispersed the Guanche population across the world as slaves.
Anthony Ramos in ‘Hamilton’ in February 2016.Theo Wargo/WireImage
Theo Wargo/WireImage
Ramos has proudly touted his heritage since his breakthrough on Broadway. During a 2021 interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, the actorrecalled being told to disguise his ethnic identityto not “be in the ‘Latino box.’” WhenHamiltonwon a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album in 2016, Ramos stood next to creatorLin-Manuel Mirandawaving a Puerto Rican flag.
Ahead of a 2022 NFL campaign for Latin Heritage Month, Ramostold PEOPLEthat “it’s important to celebrate [Latino culture] because it’s also remembering and paying respect and homage to our ancestors that came before us.” He emphasized the necessity of spotlighting “la cultural.”
“That’s the DNA inside of us," he said. “That’s the thing that gets us moving… it’s that flavor.”
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Finding Your Roots’next episode airs Tuesday, April 2 at 8:00 p.m. ET on PBS.
source: people.com
