ROOTS(01 of22)
Open Image ModalUNITED STATES - JANUARY 24: ROOTS - Sunday, Jan. 23-Sunday. Jan. 30, 1977, The 12-hour ABC Novel for Television \'Roots\', which aired for eight consecutive nights, remains one of TV\'s landmark programs. Based on Alex Haley\'s best-selling novel, \'Roots\' followed 100 tumultuous years and several generations of the author\'s African ancestors, from the arrival of Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton, right), the West African youth kidnapped into slavery and shipped to America, through emancipation after the Civil War., Pictured: Kunta Kinte was taken prisoner and shipped to America on a vessel commanded by Capt. Thomas Davies (Edward Asner)., (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) (credit:ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images)
LeVar Burton in Roots(02 of22)
Open Image ModalAmerican actor LeVar Burton standing in chains in the TV series Roots. 1977 (Photo by Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images) (credit:Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)
ROOTS(03 of22)
Open Image ModalUNITED STATES - JANUARY 23: ROOTS - 1/23/1977 - LEVAR BURTON, EXTRAS (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) (credit:ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images)
ROOTS(04 of22)
Open Image ModalUNITED STATES - JANUARY 23: ROOTS - Sunday, Jan. 23-Sunday. Jan. 30, 1977, The 12-hour ABC Novel for Television \'Roots\', which aired for eight consecutive nights, remains one of TV\'s landmark programs. Based on Alex Haley\'s best-selling novel, \'Roots\' followed 100 tumultuous years and several generations of the author\'s African ancestors, from the arrival of Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton, pictured), the West African youth kidnapped into slavery and shipped to America, through emancipation after the Civil War. , (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) (credit:ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images)
ROOTS(05 of22)
Open Image ModalUNITED STATES - JANUARY 23: ROOTS - Sunday, Jan. 23-Sunday. Jan. 30, 1977, The 12-hour ABC Novel for Television \'Roots\', which aired for eight consecutive nights, remains one of TV\'s landmark programs. Based on Alex Haley\'s best-selling novel, \'Roots\' followed 100 tumultuous years and several generations of the author\'s African ancestors, from the arrival of Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton, pictured), the West African youth kidnapped into slavery and shipped to America, through emancipation after the Civil War. , (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) (credit:ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images)
ROOTS(06 of22)
Open Image ModalUNITED STATES - JANUARY 23: ROOTS - Sunday, Jan. 23-Sunday. Jan. 30, 1977, The 12-hour ABC Novel for Television \'Roots\', which aired for eight consecutive nights, remains one of TV\'s landmark programs. Based on Alex Haley\'s best-selling novel, \'Roots\' followed 100 tumultuous years and several generations of the author\'s African ancestors, from the arrival of Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton, right), the West African youth kidnapped into slavery and shipped to America, through emancipation after the Civil War., Pictured: Kunta Kinte was taught under the watchful eye of African tribesman Kadi Touray (O.J. Simpson)., (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) (credit:ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images)
ROOTS(07 of22)
Open Image ModalUNITED STATES - JANUARY 23: ROOTS - Sunday, Jan. 23-Sunday. Jan. 30, 1977, The 12-hour ABC Novel for Television \'Roots\', which aired for eight consecutive nights, remains one of TV\'s landmark programs. Based on Alex Haley\'s best-selling novel, \'Roots\' followed 100 tumultuous years and several generations of the author\'s African ancestors, from the arrival of Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton, pictured), the West African youth kidnapped into slavery and shipped to America, through emancipation after the Civil War. , (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) (credit:ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images)
ROOTS(08 of22)
Open Image ModalUNITED STATES - JANUARY 23: ROOTS - Sunday, Jan. 23-Sunday. Jan. 30, 1977, The 12-hour ABC Novel for Television \'Roots\', which aired for eight consecutive nights, remains one of TV\'s landmark programs. Based on Alex Haley\'s best-selling novel, \'Roots\' followed 100 tumultuous years and several generations of the author\'s African ancestors, from the arrival of Kunta Kinte (played by LeVar Burton, right), the West African youth kidnapped into slavery and shipped to America, through emancipation after the Civil War., Pictured: Louis Gossett Jr. (Fiddler) , (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) (credit:ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images)
ROOTS(09 of22)
Open Image ModalUNITED STATES - JANUARY 23: ROOTS - Sunday, Jan. 23-Sunday. Jan. 30, 1977, The 12-hour ABC Novel for Television \'Roots\', which aired for eight consecutive nights, remains one of TV\'s landmark programs. Based on Alex Haley\'s best-selling novel, \'Roots\' followed 100 tumultuous years and several generations of the author\'s African ancestors, from the arrival of Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton, second from left), the West African youth kidnapped into slavery and shipped to America, through emancipation after the Civil War., Pictured: Kunta Kinte with his father, Omoro (Thalmus Rasulala, right)., (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) (credit:ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images)
ROOTS(10 of22)
Open Image ModalUNITED STATES - JANUARY 23: ROOTS - Sunday, Jan. 23-Sunday. Jan. 30, 1977, The 12-hour ABC Novel for Television \'Roots\', which aired for eight consecutive nights, remains one of TV\'s landmark programs. Based on Alex Haley\'s best-selling novel, \'Roots\' followed 100 tumultuous years and several generations of the author\'s African ancestors, from the arrival of Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton, pictured), the West African youth kidnapped into slavery and shipped to America, through emancipation after the Civil War. , (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) (credit:ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images)
EDWARD ASHER;LEVAR BURTON(11 of22)
Open Image ModalROOTS - Airdate January 23, 1977. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) EDWARD ASHER;LEVAR BURTON (credit:ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images)
LEVAR BURTON;EDWARD ASHER(12 of22)
Open Image ModalROOTS - Airdate January 23, 1977. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) LEVAR BURTON;EDWARD ASHER (credit:ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images)
EDWARD ASHER;LEVAR BURTON(13 of22)
Open Image ModalROOTS - Airdate January 23, 1977. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) EDWARD ASHER;LEVAR BURTON (credit:ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images)
EDWARD ASHER;LEVAR BURTON(14 of22)
Open Image ModalROOTS - Airdate January 23, 1977. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) EDWARD ASHER;LEVAR BURTON (credit:ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images)
EDWARD ASHER;LEVAR BURTON(15 of22)
Open Image ModalROOTS - Airdate January 23, 1977. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) EDWARD ASHER;LEVAR BURTON (credit:ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images)
ROOTS(16 of22)
Open Image ModalUNITED STATES - JANUARY 24: ROOTS - Sunday, Jan. 23-Sunday. Jan. 30, 1977, The 12-hour ABC Novel for Television \'Roots\', which aired for eight consecutive nights, remains one of TV\'s landmark programs. Based on Alex Haley\'s best-selling novel, \'Roots\' followed 100 tumultuous years and several generations of the author\'s African ancestors, from the arrival of Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton, pictured), the West African youth kidnapped into slavery and shipped to America, through emancipation after the Civil War. , (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) (credit:ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images)
ROOTS(17 of22)
Open Image ModalUNITED STATES - JANUARY 24: ROOTS - Sunday, Jan. 23-Sunday. Jan. 30, 1977, The 12-hour ABC Novel for Television \'Roots\', which aired for eight consecutive nights, remains one of TV\'s landmark programs. Based on Alex Haley\'s best-selling novel, \'Roots\' followed 100 tumultuous years and several generations of the author\'s African ancestors, from the arrival of Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton, behind cage), the West African youth kidnapped into slavery and shipped to America, through emancipation after the Civil War., Pictured: Louis Gossett Jr. (Fiddler) rehearsed a scene., (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) (credit:ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images)
ROOTS(18 of22)
Open Image ModalUNITED STATES - JANUARY 24: ROOTS - Sunday, Jan. 23-Sunday. Jan. 30, 1977, The 12-hour ABC Novel for Television \'Roots\', which aired for eight consecutive nights, remains one of TV\'s landmark programs. Based on Alex Haley\'s best-selling novel, \'Roots\' followed 100 tumultuous years and several generations of the author\'s African ancestors, from the arrival of Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton, center), the West African youth kidnapped into slavery and shipped to America, through emancipation after the Civil War., Pictured: Kunta Kinte was recaptured after an attempted escape (Jan. 24). , (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) (credit:ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images)
ROOTS(19 of22)
Open Image ModalUNITED STATES - JANUARY 24: ROOTS - Sunday, Jan. 23-Sunday. Jan. 30, 1977, The 12-hour ABC Novel for Television \'Roots\', which aired for eight consecutive nights, remains one of TV\'s landmark programs. Based on Alex Haley\'s best-selling novel, \'Roots\' followed 100 tumultuous years and several generations of the author\'s African ancestors, from the arrival of Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton, right), the West African youth kidnapped into slavery and shipped to America, through emancipation after the Civil War., Pictured: American-born slave Fiddler (Louis Gossett Jr.) met Kunta Kinte (Jan. 24)., (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) (credit:ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images)
ROOTS(20 of22)
Open Image ModalUNITED STATES - JANUARY 24: ROOTS - Sunday, Jan. 23-Sunday. Jan. 30, 1977, The 12-hour ABC Novel for Television \'Roots\', which aired for eight consecutive nights, remains one of TV\'s landmark programs. Based on Alex Haley\'s best-selling novel, \'Roots\' followed 100 tumultuous years and several generations of the author\'s African ancestors, from the arrival of Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton, center), the West African youth kidnapped into slavery and shipped to America, through emancipation after the Civil War. , (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) (credit:ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images)
ROOTS(21 of22)
Open Image ModalUNITED STATES - JANUARY 24: ROOTS - Sunday, Jan. 23-Sunday. Jan. 30, 1977, The 12-hour ABC Novel for Television \'Roots\', which aired for eight consecutive nights, remains one of TV\'s landmark programs. Based on Alex Haley\'s best-selling novel, \'Roots\' followed 100 tumultuous years and several generations of the author\'s African ancestors, from the arrival of Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton, center), the West African youth kidnapped into slavery and shipped to America, through emancipation after the Civil War., Pictured: Kunta Kinte attempted to escape . , (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) (credit:ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images)
L-R: LEVAR BURTON;ALEX HALEY(22 of22)
Open Image ModalROOTS: ONE YEAR LATER - TV Movie - Airdate: January 23, 1978. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) L-R: LEVAR BURTON;ALEX HALEY (credit:ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images)