“Roots” miniseries. It is a 1977 American television miniseries based on the 1976 novel “Roots: The Saga of an American Family” by Alex Haley. The miniseries was produced by David L. Wolper and directed by Marvin J. Chomsky, M. Charles Cohen, Gilbert Moses, and John Erman. It starred LeVar Burton, Louis Gossett Jr., John Amos, Ben Vereen, and Maya Angelou.
The miniseries follows the history of an African man named Kunta Kinte, who is captured and sold into slavery in the United States, and his descendants, who struggle for their freedom and dignity. The miniseries covers four generations of the family and their experiences with slavery in the United States, from the late 18th century to the Civil War. The miniseries was a huge commercial and critical success and won multiple awards including Golden Globe Awards, Emmy Awards, and Peabody Awards. It was also one of the most watched television events in the United States, drawing in over 130 million viewers over the course of its eight episodes.
In 2016, A&E, History and Lifetime remade “Roots” as an eight-part miniseries, which premiered on Memorial Day 2016.
What was special about this root miniseries
“Roots” was a groundbreaking and highly influential miniseries for several reasons:
- It was one of the first major television productions to depict the history of slavery in the United States and the experiences of African Americans in a comprehensive and realistic way. It highlighted the atrocities of slavery and the resilience of enslaved people in the face of such hardship.
- The story of “Roots” was based on the real-life experiences of Alex Haley’s ancestors, which added a level of authenticity to the depiction of slavery and the lives of enslaved people.
- The miniseries featured a talented and diverse cast, including many African American actors in leading roles, which was relatively unusual for the time. The performances of the actors were widely praised, with several of them receiving Emmy nominations.
- The miniseries was a huge commercial success, drawing in over 130 million viewers over the course of its eight episodes, and it was one of the most watched television events in the United States.
- It was a cultural phenomenon, it sparked a renewed interest in genealogy and African American history and it was credited with increasing racial awareness and understanding.
It also won multiple awards and nominations, including the Golden Globe Awards, Emmy Awards, and Peabody Awards.
The miniseries was also a way to create awareness and understanding of how slavery impacted in the US and the African American community, and it was one of the first major productions to tackle this sensitive topic in such a comprehensive manner.
Overall, “Roots” was a landmark in television history and an important step forward in the representation of African American history and experiences on screen.
Roots- miniseries available to watch?
Yes, “Roots” is available to watch. The original 1977 miniseries can be streamed on the Warner Bros. website, as well as on Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, and Google Play. The 2016 remastered version is available on several platforms as well, including A&E, History, and Lifetime. Additionally, it is available on streaming services such as Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Vudu.
It’s a great opportunity to watch this miniseries which is considered a classic and an important piece of American television history. It is a powerful and moving story that highlights the atrocities of slavery and the resilience of enslaved people in the face of such hardship.