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.
The rapper/actor formerly known as Mos Def, Yasiin Bey, offers up his take on The Throne’s hit single “Niggas in Paris” as the first contribution to his Top 40 Underdog series on which he’ll rework Top 40 hits. Let us know how much you’re feeling it.
President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and daughter Malia Obama joined volunteers in a service project as part of a Big Brothers Big Sisters and Greater DC Cares collaborative effort at the Browne Education Center on Monday (January 16). The president commented “there’s nobody who can’t serve, nobody who can’t help somebody else”:
At a time when the country has been going through some difficult economic times, for us to be able to come together as a community, people from all different walks of life, and make sure that we’re giving back, that’s ultimately what makes us the strongest, most extraordinary country on Earth, is because we pull together when times are good, but also when times are hard.
The President and First Lady also attended the Let Freedom Ring concert, which was streamed live online. That means the First Lady, who celebrates her 48th birthday today, missed the premiere of her scripted television debut on the hit Nickelodeon series iCarly. Check out a preview of the First Lady in action.
The nation celebrates the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. each third Monday in January.
More than a day off from work or school, the MLK Day of Service is an opportunity in your area to do something extraordinary for your community while honoring Dr. King’s legacy. President Barack Obama issued a Presidential Proclamation, encouraging all Americans to observe this day with appropriate civic, community, and service projects in honor of Dr. King:
On the Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday, we celebrate the man who fought for the America he knew was possible. Dr. King’s faith in a God who loves all His children and a Nation grounded in the promise of equality would not let him rest until victory was won. As we work to meet the challenges of our time — from fixing our schools so every child gets a world-class education to ensuring all Americans have access to strong and secure economic opportunity — let us draw strength from Dr. King’s stirring affirmation that “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve”. In his memory, let us continue climbing toward that Promised Land, one more fair and more just for all people.
