Anthony Ramos Learns Ancestor Was an Enslaved Person: 'Explains Why I Got That Fight in Me' (Exclusive)

The actor digs into his family history on the newest episode of 'Finding Your Roots'

Anthony Ramos has new insight into his family’s origins.

In a PEOPLE-exclusive clip from a new episode of Finding Your Roots, an emotional Ramos uncovered information about his ancestors. While unpacking his genealogy with host Henry Louis Gates Jr., the Hamilton actor, 32, learned that one of his predecessors was a Guanche enslaved man named Andrés. Gates, 73, then asked if Ramos had ever suspected that he was descended from an enslaved person.

“Explains why I got that fight in me, yo,” a tearful Ramos answered. “You know, I always had thoughts, like 'What if,' you know? You never know when you’re Puerto Rican or your family comes from one of the islands, you just don’t know.”

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He continued, “It’s a mixed bag. You don’t know who’s from where, what happened, so I’ve definitely wondered.”

Although researchers couldn't deduce how or how long Andrés was enslaved, Gates said that they “believe it was for at least 10 years.”

“That’s a long time to be a slave, man,” the In the Heights star said.

The Guanches were aborigines of the Canary Islands. According to Owlcation, the Spaniards began their invasion of the islands at the beginning of the 15th century. Tenerife — the last island to be conquered — fell to Spain in 1496, and the conquerors dispersed the Guanche population across the world as slaves.

Ramos has proudly touted his heritage since his breakthrough on Broadway. During a 2021 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actor recalled being told to disguise his ethnic identity to not “be in the ‘Latino box.’ ” When Hamilton won a Grammy for best musical theater album in 2016, Ramos stood next to creator Lin-Manuel Miranda waving a Puerto Rican flag.

Related: Anthony Ramos on His 'Love' for Lin-Manuel Miranda: 'I'm Really Grateful' (Exclusive)

Ahead of a 2022 NFL campaign for Latin Heritage Month, Ramos told PEOPLE that “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."

For his next project, Ramos will star in a Bob the Builder movie produced by Jennifer Lopez. A press release stated that the film intends to “​​celebrate the vibrant and colorful textures of the Caribbean Latin nations and their people.”

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