![]() Polk uncovered documents like the will of his ancestors’ slave owner – who granted freedom to Polk’s great, great, great grandmother Sarah Polk and her children upon his death. Not only did it spark a cultural revolution – with people purchasing Roots memorabilia, and even naming children after characters in the film - but it also spurred an interest in genealogy, especially among African Americans including Jordan and Polk wanting to dig into their own African ancestry. This year, as part of Roots’ 40th anniversary, the History Channel is airing a 4-part re-make of Roots.Īfrican American Historian Kellie Carter Jackson recently shared a lecture at the Delaware Historical Society called Reconsidering Roots, also the title of a book she’ll be releasing in April.įor this month’s History Matters, produced in conjunction with the Delaware Historical Society, we offer pieces of that lecture along commentary from local genealogy researchers Shamele Jordan and Erwin Polk about the impact of Roots in 1977, and how it’s still relevant today. Roots was – and still is – about identity for many African Americans. It went on to become the most-watched series in TV history – with people across the country and around the world cancelling meetings and prior engagements to watch the story of Kunta Kinte from the comfort of their homes. On the night of January 23rd, 1977 – and for eight consecutive nights after – a TV mini-series based on the number 1 selling African American novel of all time – Roots – aired on ABC. ![]()
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