Many of us weren’t even been born when Alex Haley published Roots: The Saga of an American Family in 1976 or when it became a landmark award-winning television miniseries the following year. But “the story that changed America” has become an integral part of this country’s cultural, political and social dialogue.
In honor of the thirty-fifth anniversary of the miniseries, Oprah Winfrey sits down with John Amos, LeVar Burton, Louis Gossett Jr., Cicely Tyson, Leslie Uggams and Ben Vereen at her home in the OWN special event Oprah and the Legendary Cast of Roots: 35 Years Later, which premiered last night. Check out a snippet above as the cast discusses whether Roots opened the door to a greater conversation about race in America.
I bought the box set for my 16 y/o son for Christmas…
My 16 year old cousin said that he had never seen roots and I was shocked. It used to come on all the time when we were growing up. I dont think ive ever seen it on BET and you know thats all these kids watch. Luckily, like you,, my brother bought the collection and let him watched it. I think all kids should watch roots.
I love John Amos. Forever speaking his mind and telling it like it is.
This came on Monday.
I’ve always said that every black person needs to watch Roots at least once in their lifetime. I bought the DVD Box Set a few years back and I still watch it about once a year.
it changed my life forever i was 9 yrs old at the time
Without reading I was hoping she was talking to him about Good Times…
Yes I saw it when it came on ABC in the 70′s. My mother made us sit down every day to watch every episode. I have not been the same since, totally changed my outlook on life and who I am .
My teacher let us watch it in middle school. Whenever he would finish with the lesson early or after a test he’d let us watch it for the rest of the class. It took us about 6 months from start to finish, but boy was that an awesome experience.
I am HAITIAN. And it was our parents duty to make us sit down and watch the series. you cant be black in America and have not watched ROOTS. This cant be.