ROOTS, revisited

If you are of a certain age (cough, cough) you may remember watching Roots in January of 1977. Following on the heels of America's Bicentennial, Roots brought the untold story of an American family bound by slavery to television in a sweeping saga spanning eight nights.

The miniseries genre was relatively new to television. The first miniseries, QB VII aired in 1974, followed by Shōgun and Rich Man, Poor Man. Telling a serialized story was certainly not a new phenomenon, Alexandre Dumas and Charles Dickens were masters of the genre. And, Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin was one of the first American stories to be told in this format. But it was still a novelty to television. 

When Roots aired in 1977, nearly 85 percent of American homes watched some part of the eight-night event recounting the saga of Kunta Kinte (played by actor LeVar Burton) and his descendants. The series finale had 100 million viewers, a staggering number long before most Americans had VCRs or any of the myriad of replay options available today. All told, Roots was watched by an estimated 130 million viewers, an incredible feat given the U.S. population at the time was 221 million. The series led to an amazing spike of interest in genealogy that carries through to today.

I was one of those viewers back in 1977; on the edge of my seat following the story that was unlike anything I'd ever seen before. Despite the pain and suffering it depicted, I was inspired and uplifted by this testament to endurance.

Now the History Channel is retelling the story for a new generation of viewers. With so many entertainment options — streaming, on demand, and more — there is no way this Roots can capture the same viewership as it did in 1977. Regardless, I hope its reach is vast and inspires a new generation to research their family history.

When asked to characterize why Roots struck such a resonant chord with so many Congresswoman Barbara Jordan replied "Everything converged — the right time, the right story, and the right form." There was something magical about the way the nation was held enthralled by Roots and because of that memory I will be glued to my TV every night this week watching this new telling in real time. I encourage you to do the same.

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A lot of ink has been devoted over the past couple of weeks to trying to explain the cultural impact of Roots then and now. Read more about it:

• Roots: Then and Now 
• Roots: A Cultural Force that Changed the Nation 
• Roots Remade for a New Era 
• Roots for a Black Lives Matter Era 
• Why America Forgot About ‘Roots’
• Remembering Alex Haley: ‘Roots,’ Kunta Kinte & Genealogy