Roots (1977)

From the moment the young Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton) is stolen from his life and ancestral home in 18th-century Africa and brought under inhumane conditions to be auctioned as a slave in America, a line is begun that leads from this most shameful chapter in U.S. history to the 20th-century author Alex Haley, a Kinte descendant. The late Haley's acclaimed book Roots was adapted into this six-volume television miniseries, which was a widely watched phenomenon in 1977. The programs cover several generations in the antebellum South and end with the story of "Chicken" George, a freed slave played by Ben Vereen whose family feels the agony of entrenched racism and learns to fight it. Between the lives of Kunta and George, we meet a number of memorable characters, black and white, and learn much about the emotional and physical torments of slavery, from beatings and rapes to the forced separation of spouses and families. Nothing like this had ever confronted so many mainstream Americans when the series was originally broadcast, and the extent to which the country was nudged a degree or two toward enlightenment was instantly obvious. Roots still has that ability to open one's eyes, and engage an audience in a sweeping, memorable drama at the same time. --Tom Keogh Amazon.com essential video

Best TV Miniseries Of All Time

"Roots" traces the family history of writer Alex Haley back to the late 1700's when his African ancestor, Kunta Kinte, was brought here as a slave. The show goes on to tell the stories of Kuntas's daughter, Kizzy, grandson, Chicken George, and great-grandson, Tom Harvey, as they courageously struggled to survive the brutalties of slavery in the American South.

The acting is outstanding and the characters are truly inspirational. It can sometimes veer in melodrama, as way typical of other TV miniseries at this time. But I was impressed by just how high quality this series was in most aspects. For example, the historical settings were suprisingly accurate. Also I thought it was extremely fair minded and realistic in it's portrayal of the various characters, both black and white. But never in a way that comprised the show's artistic vision of depicting American history from the perspective of a black family. Highly recommended viewing for all. September 15, 2008

A Really Great Story!

This miniseries is well worth watching again or for the first time if you never have. It is very moving and tells the story of slavery from the point of view of the slaves. Beginning with Alex Haley's book, which is wonderful in itself, this miniseries is still the most popular show to have ever aired on TV. It might take some getting used to because of the difference in TV production values but you quickly forget about it after awhile and learn to appreciate the beauty and sincerity of the production. It isn't about the amount of money spent but the effort and a job well done. The actors are superlative. The writing is wonderful. It made me cry at the end because it was so moving.
The DVD isn't the highest quality and there is a lot of times the picture stopped and I had to scan it rapidly for a couple of seconds to get it going again. The commentary is well done and highly recommended. I learned a lot and it made me feel closer to the production. August 18, 2008

Roots review

This production brings this sad part of history to life superbly. I remembered it from 30 years ago when it screened on German television and have now shared it with my husband and our teenagers in New Zealand.

We appreciated the many details of the environment at the time and as it was a true family history it was very moving and unforgettable. June 22, 2008

Roots

I have always loved the movie, Roots. It was hard to watch when it first came out and it was even harder to watch now. I got this DVD for my son to watch because not a lot of Black history is taught at his school and he needed to see where we came from. He and his friends use the "n" word too much and I wanted him to understand how this word came to be and why it is unacceptable in everyday language.

This movie also was instrumental in giving me pride in my black heritage. Blacks were made to feel as though they were an "inferior" race of people and because of the "Roots" movie and the book author, Alex Haley, I know I have the right to be proud of who I am, and to appreciate our ancestors who shed blood for the freedom we now enjoy. June 2, 2008

Classic

This product arrive in excellent condition for a Used item. The disc are clean without scratches and there is no skipping or picture loss. This is a classic film that can be difficult to watch but it is important piece of film. The actor list in this mini-series is absolutey phenomenal. To bad this is only shown on television during Black History Month.
"We've come a long way...Right????" May 11, 2008

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