30th Anniversary of Roots
Categories: In the News , African American
Years ago, while my daughter was still in diapers, we were having a picnic at the lake with some of my friends. One male friend was taken by the sun shining on the water and sand (what little there was) and picked up my daughter, cradling her in his two hands. He held her aloft, offering her to her to the sky he said, “Behold, the only thing greater than yourself!”
We all laughed, recognizing the opening scene from Roots.
This Easter Sunday TV One will rebroadcast the show to mark the 30th Anniversary of its first airing. When it originally aired, Roots made history by becoming the most watched miniseries of all time. It had an all-star cast and gave actor Levar Burton his start.
After viewing Roots, the show prompted a lot of African Americans to research their family histories. PLCH has excellent resources for those who are looking to discover their own past or just want to brush up on African American history.
My daughter is a teen now and trying to explain to her the incident of her “offering” just brings about quizzical looks. She has read the book but hasn’t watched the series yet. She’s of a different generation and it’s meaning for her will not be the same as it’s meaning for me 30 years ago when there was rarely a brown face on television. But we have a date with the TV set this Sunday at 8pm and my space is already picked out.
If you liked Roots you may also enjoy:
Queen by Alex Haley
Jubilee by Margaret Walker
Cane River by Lalita Tademy
My Confederate Kinfolk by Thulani Davis
African American Lives with Henry Louis Gates
