Chicana poet Sandra Cisneros is the latest celebrity getting an in-depth look at her family history on PBS’ Finding Your Roots. Based on the episode’s teaser, The House on Mango Street author will learn more about her grandfather, José Enrique Cisneros. Sandra knew that her grandpa had survived the Mexican Revolution, but she didn’t know much more about his time serving in the military.
“I don’t have stories about his service,” she said. “I know that my grandfather was muy caballero. He was a gentleman and raised to be a gentleman.”
Though he was training to be an artillery officer, the Mexican Revolution changed his plans. He ended up fleeing to the United States after the revolution, and at least for some time, he was working on an American cargo ship – meaning that her father was not the first one in her family who tried to make a life in the U.S.
Here’s a sneak peek:
Finding Your Roots airs on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on PBS.