Roots: The Saga of an American Family Resources

Websites

Alex Haley Museum

Want to learn more about Alex Haley? Click away, Shmoopers.

Roots Homepage

The website is a great gateway to everything related to the novel Roots.

Movie or TV Productions

Roots (1977)

The original mini-series adaptation of Roots was a legit cultural phenomenon, and it's well worth looking back on today.

Roots (2016)

The 2016 adaptation of Roots strays from the novel in some notable ways, but the issues at its core still resonate.

Articles and Interviews

Alex Haley Interviews Martin Luther King Jr. in 1965

This is a great interview for many reasons, and we can't recommend you read it enough.

A Conversation with Alex Haley

This interview with Haley goes in-depth into the psychological reasons behind racism.

Video

Alex Haley Interview (1983)

In this interview, Haley discusses the process behind both Roots the book as well as Roots the show.

The Atlantic Slave Trade

This video, produced by TED, investigates what made the American institution of slavery so distinct from other forms of slavery, as well as its long-term impact on the continent of Africa.

Alex Haley Interviews Spike Lee

Another gem from Haley.

Audio

LeVar Burton and the Power of Roots

In this piece, LeVar Burton discusses how he felt playing the role of Kunta Kinte, as well the cultural impact of Roots.

An Interview with Bill Haley

This NPR interview with Bill Haley, Alex Haley's son, discusses his thoughts on his father's work and legacy.

Images

Kinte Family Tree

Study this thing—you're going to need it as you make your way through this epic epic.

Alex Haley's Childhood Home

This right here is Alex Haley's childhood home in Henning, Tennessee, which is now a museum in his honor.