Society Before the Airing of Roots
This genre, known for casting Black actors in lead roles and featuring themes of overcoming oppression, gained popularity alongside Roots in the 1970s.
What is Blaxploitation?
What state was Alex Haley from?
What is New York?
All of the writers of Roots were what race?
What modern mainstream artist referenced Roots in their music?
Who is Kendrick Lamar?
This U.S. president publicly praised Roots for its educational value and called it a tool for national healing.
Who is Jimmy Carter?
Roots was a major cultural event, with its finale drawing in this many viewers, representing about 85% of U.S. TV households.
What is 140 million?
What was Alex Haley's mom's name?
Who was Bertha?
What studio produced Roots?
What is Warner Brothers or ABC?
What art form did Roots prove to be impactful towards?
What is television?
What was a main critique from commentators about Roots?
(Four possible answers)
What is overly graphic, stoking racial tensions, historically significant, or accurate?
This Emmy-nominated actress, who starred in the show Route 66, faced challenges as part of a predominantly white production crew.
Who is Ethel Waters?
Who did Alex Haley famously write an autobiography about?
Who was Malcolm X?
What state(s) was the majority of Roots filmed in?
What two themes did Roots inspire others to make movies and shows about?
What is heritage and Black Pride?
For the first time, many white Americans confronted the realities of _______________________.
What is slavery and its generational trauma?
Alex Haley's book had this difference that was not implemented in the final airing of the television version of Roots.
What is an all Black cast?
What branch of the military did Alex Haley serve in?
What is the Coast Guard?
Leslie Uggams played who in Roots?
Roots won what life achievement award?
What is the Pulitzer Prize?
Following the airing of Roots, this academic field received a boost as educators pushed for curriculum reform and textbook diversification.
What is African American Studies?
Blaxploitation films promoted a message of this in the film industry.
What is Black Empowerment?
How much money did Alex Haley pay in the case he settled on?
What is $650,000?
Who got pitched the idea to make Roots a show?
Who is David Wolpen?
What is the name of the actor who played young Kunta Kinte?
Who is LeVar Burton?
Who said Roots was “as significant in race relations as the Montgomery bus boycott or the Selma marches”?
Who is Roger Wilkins?