Roots

Some stories are painful to tell, but far more painful to forget. From the moment young Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton) is torn from his home in 18th-century Africa and shipped under inhumane conditions to be sold as a slave in America, "Roots" traces a family line from one of the most shameful chapters in U.S. history all the way to author Alex Haley, a descendant of Kinte. Adapted from Haley's acclaimed book, the landmark ABC miniseries became a national phenomenon when it aired in 1977, drawing an audience of tens of millions and earning a host of Emmy Awards. The story spans several generations in the antebellum South. As an adult, Kunta (John Amos) refuses to surrender his identity, even as his captors try to strip it away. His daughter, Kizzy (Leslie Uggams), carries on his legacy, and the saga culminates with her son, "Chicken" George (Ben Vereen), who fights for his family's freedom and faces the entrenched racism that follows. Along the way, you'll meet unforgettable characters, Black and white, played by a remarkable cast that includes Louis Gossett Jr., Cicely Tyson and Edward Asner. The series doesn't shy away from the emotional and physical cruelty of slavery, from brutal beatings to the forced separation of husbands, wives and children. Nothing like it had ever confronted so many mainstream Americans, and its impact on the national conversation was immediate. Decades later, "Roots" still has the power to open eyes while delivering a sweeping, deeply moving drama. Knowing where you come from, as Haley's journey shows, can change how you see everything.