When I think of TV miniseries one of the first things that pops into my head is Roots. While I have to admit I’m not African-American and I was only three when the series aired.  However, I have seen it many times since it first aired. The story has brought me to tears many times. When Roots aired it won nine of the 36 Emmy’s it was nominated for and the finale stands as the third highest rated U.S. television program ever. Not bad for a miniseries with a budget of only $6 million.

The miniseries stared LeVar Burton, Louis Gossett Jr., O.J. Simpson, Ed Anser and many more notable stars. Roots was adapted from the and the novel Roots: the Story of an American Family by Alex Haley. The series was directed by Marvin J.

Chomsky, John Erman, David Greene and Gilbert Moses. The last minutes of the miniseries are narrated by Alex Haley and pictures of Haley are shown next to his ancestors, all the way back to Kunta Kinte’s grandmother.

The story starts in West Africa, in 1750, with Kunta Kinte, who is a child in a native tribe there. Kunta Kinte is captured by slave traders and he travels to Annapolis, Maryland. Kunta is bought and his name is changed to Toby. After a series of escape attempts he is maimed and submits to the slave life. The story follows Kunta Kinte’s family through a hundred years of slavery and their struggles once free.

There are many differences between the miniseries and novel.  All the characters’ surnames were changed for the miniseries. The Character of Nyo Boto is a combination of the same character as well as Kunta’s paternal grandmother, Yaisa. The novel portrays her as a family friend and someone who fills the void left when Yaisa dies. There are also many, many more.  The television version had to be edited for time, I am sure. The differences may be many but the story remains a harrowing tale of one family’s journey through a dark time in American history.

Roots is an African-American treasure and a TV legend. It stands as a reminder of the importance of knowing your ancestors and where they came from. Roots is available on DVD and video for those wishing to share it with future generations.