January 23rd, 1977 - Roots Airs On ABC - Television History Is Made

"Behold, the only thing greater than yourself!" - Omoro Kinte, Roots.

Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation, Inc. site: kintehaley.org

It was on this day in 1977, exactly 30 years ago to the day, that the first episode of Roots, adapted from The New York Times bestseller by Alex Haley, was aired on ABC. Over the next several nights, 130 million Americans were transfixed before their televisions as the story of Kunta Kinte was told.

What can I remember about January 23rd, 1977, the night that Roots premiered on national television? It was a powerful night. I was 7-years-old and the impact has still been life-long. Everyone was gathered around their televisions. No one not only went out that night, no one went out for the rest of that whole week because it was just that riveting. It was a groundbreaking mini-series that I believe all of America was watching. I do believe traffic came to a stand still or should I say most cities turned into ghost-towns that whole week during those Primetime PM hours because once again, everyone was glued to the tube. The phones did not ring. At least not until commercial breaks that is and everyone was calling everyone to talk about almost each scene then quickly hang up when it came back on. It was just that powerful of a story. One that we could all relate to as African-Americans. I also remember the national discussions it started on slavery and its history and generational effects on African-Americans in America, Africa, The Caribbean and more.

What I remember most are the conversations we had not only in our home, but our neighbors homes, our friends homes, at school, out in the streets, in the barbershops and beauty shops, down on the corner, around the way. Everyone was talking about Roots and what happened that previous night and that week. I also remember the incredible music done by Quincy Jones. We had the novel several times over in our home, hardback and paperback and the 33 LP Soundtrack.

It also inspired many of us as African-Americans to trace our own family's and ancestors history. I could go on and on about the impact Roots had on my life.

Check this article out from The Museum of Broadcast Communications: museum.tv.