Alex Haley’s Roots displayed the brutal realities of slavery to more than 100 million Americans. The book and mini-series also made a bold claim: that Haley was the first Black American to trace his lineage all the way back to Africa, and to a specific ancestor captured into slavery. What would it mean, for Haley and America, if he hadn’t found what he said he’d found?
To support this show, subscribe to One Year on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices