This is my voice. It can tell you a lot about me and I'm not changing it for

anyone. In NPR's black stories, black truths, you'll find a collection of NPR

episodes centered on the black experience. Search NPR black stories, black

truths, wherever you get podcasts. This is Fresh Air. I'm Tanya Mosley. Five

years ago, in 2018, actor producer and activist Carrie Washington had an

opportunity to appear on the popular PBS series Finding Your Roots with Henry

Lewis Gates. It was a dream for Washington to learn more about her ancestors,

and at first, her parents were excited too. But when they learned the show would

need to examine their DNA, it set off a cascade of events leading to

revelations about Carrie's origins. And her new memoir, Carrie Washington

takes us on a journey of self-discovery. She takes us through her life growing up

in the Bronx as the only child of Valerie and Earl Washington, her acting

career and activism. Washington is known for her role as Olivia Pope and the hit

series Scandal, which ran for seven seasons on ABC. She also starred as Mia

Warren in the Hulu series Little Fires Everywhere, both shows receiving

Emmy nominations. Washington also portrayed Anita Hill and HBO's confirmation.

And her latest role in the Hulu series, Unprisoned, Washington plays Paige

Alexander, a therapist and single mom whose fresh out of prison dad played by

Delroy Lindo moves in with her and her teenage son. The name of Carrie Washington's

new memoir is thicker than water. Carrie, welcome back to Fresh Air. Thank you.

Let's get into the revelation that they shared with you. So this opportunity to

be on Finding Your Roots came at this right time in your life. Scandal was ending

...