50 Years Later, is ‘Roots’ on the Wrong Side of History?

The 50th anniversary of Alex Haley's groundbreaking book "Roots" has been overshadowed by its recent banning in Knox County, Tennessee schools, though the ban was later reversed following public outcry. The 1976 publication and subsequent miniseries provided an unflinching, Black-centered account of American slavery that resonated across racial lines and became a cultural phenomenon. The temporary ban, justified by citing a rape scene as violating state law, reflects broader efforts to remove Black history from educational institutions.