The character Fiddler in Roots explains his philosophy to a newly enslaved Kunta Kinte. Go to my website for a discussion of Black Consciousness irbyjohnson.com.
I don’t see what your point is. Does the fact that some Africans were involved in slave trading change the fact that that others were stolen from Africa and brought to America?
@@Luschan not at all just a more accurate depiction. Black folk just as guilty as white folk in what happened. The cruel reality of a dog eat dog world conquer or be conquered
@@Luschan He's mentioning a song sung by The Wailers. It is a well known fact that some African Tribes and Arabs sold black slaves to the Europeans. Slavery has taken place all over the world by many cultures, so its nothing new. Its ironic how the Puritans left England because of persucution, but did the same thing if not worse to Africans who were packed in tight ships and transported thousands of miles across an ocean and to a new continenet with no hopes of every seeing their families again.
You all tried to let me forget where I'm from. And some of you said I'm lost and crazy and turned retarded because of it. Not good for no one at all. I am of Karma
This series was and still is incredibly powerful. Just listening to Fiddler tell Kunta that he's crazy because he actually has pride in the name his parent's gave him breaks my heart.
@@thechosenone1533 Also Fiddler never knew what it was like to be a Free Man. Remember when they came back from Auction and arrived in Virginia "Toby" was as shocked to see The Slaves as they were to see him.
@@MalloryNewcomb I like how he is an immediate for both the slaves and the slave masters. Sometimes he is a sell out but when it matters the most he doesn't betray his people but act as a helping hand and arbiter of wisdom.
It hurts my soul to know my people had to go through slavery. I feel like we owe it to them to act like human beings and stop letting the Devil divide us.
"I feel like we owe it to them to act like human beings and stop letting the Devil divide us." The Devil huh? Listen all these slave owners and everybody who supported slavery in the Southern states considered themselves "good Christians". They read the Bible too. Especially the Old Testament. And in the Old Testament it clearly says that slavery is ok and how a man is entitled to own slaves from "conquered people". Guess what? Hitler and the nazis considered themselves "Good, German Christians" as well. Hitler even wrote in Mein Kampf that Christianity is the foundation of German culture and "noble traits". The knives of the Hitler Youth had the words "Gott Mit Uns" (God with us) which clearly reveals they believed they were doing God's work. A lot of white people in Apartheid South Africa quoted the Bible too. Especially the parts where God created all beings but kept them *separated* . Hate to inform you of this but since religions always have welcomed most people, regardless of how despicable and rotten beliefs they might have otherwise, it's hardly surprising how Christianity and slavery went hand in hand. Also, speaking of the Devil. Why would the Devil want to divide people to begin with rather than joining his side no matter their background, faith or creed?? And an even better question. Why does an all-powerful and all-wise God allow a Devil to actively work against him?? If God can't stop the Devil then he's not all-powerful. If God won't stop the Devil he is not all-wise and certainly not good for allowing such evil to exist. You want people to act like human beings? Drop religion. It has made people HATE other people for many centuries and has been the vessel to condone hatred and bigotry for as long.
They are STILL IN IT! The only difference is back then, you could see the chains on their hands and feet, but today the chains are on their minds and you can't see them. The results are the same in the culture and traditions.
The hell is Black on Black hate/ violence? I hate people saying that ... Bloody heck, the statistics say that you are more likely to fight/die by ur own race ... So there's also White on White, Indian on Indian etc etc ... To hell with all that
This is sad that Kunta had to go through this, he never deserved this at all, no one deserves to be enslaved like this. Sadly, slavery is still going on today and is, if possible even worse than what this was.
If you want to end slavery and its modern iteration then you'd better fight against it. One way is to devote time to inform others of the struggle and rally support among a great number of people. Just speaking up against something in great numbers makes people heard. That's how all liberation movements work. Those who erroneously believe they have "freedom" now will live out their lives as puppets and sycophants foolishly thinking honesty and hard work will make them "free". Honest and hard work with no rewards and endless toiling is just modern slavery. You'll get a pat on the shoulder while making your master reap all the rewards. And if you want my opinion who the enemy of *everybody* is then it's those people who keep on reducing every single problem into "property rights". You can be certain these people see you and others "below them" as property too or "useful tools" to make *them* powerful and "influential" . If we still believe that every single issue in society can be boiled down to "property rights" we'd still be living in slavery. For slaves are ultimately property. And people who are ignorant/dumb enough to listen to these "property-rights is everything" are the Uncle Toms of today - whether they're black or white or whatever skin color. Don't like slavery? Then speak up against those who are more than willing to re-introduce it to our society and those who'd gladly keep you living in the gutter just being born the wrong color or in the wrong part of town.
I am American born. God blessed me to legally obtain my ancestral name. It represents my original heritage. It was not easy. I was hated, by my own family, and by some Black people, but I do not care. I was told I would not get a job because of it. I realized if an employer does not want to hire someone he or she won't no matter what that person's name is. God blessed me to obtain steady employment with the name that I have. I would not trade it for anything.
Still remember watching this series the first time in it's entirety about 10 years ago. In my opinion, an absolute milestone in Television and an absolute milestone in historical storytelling. I think it's very important to keep media like this alive for generations to come. There is a weird movement going on right now that wants to cancel so called "problematic media." Sure, there are certain things from our pasts that we really can't be proud off, but to straight out deny them would be even worse. It's important for everyone in the world to remember where they come from, be it Black, White, Latin, Asian, etc. Else we will just be doomed to repeat our failures from the past.
Okay, I am going to watch this sometime soon, maybe starting this weekend. I am Croatian, all my recent roots are Croatian, for all I care. As any country with a past we have our fair-share of mistakes, traumas and sins, but I always believed that our historical expierience is much different from the American one. I have heard of this series for a long time, and will give it a go, and I am interested if I will be able to relate.
@@keandregreen5628Yes it did, but not in this form, slavery was upgraded in a form, as well as the kkk. Look at all the police brutality & enslaving the men, still charge them for crimes they didn't commit. The new name for massa is General manager, new names for slaves is bus boy, maid,butler, low wages income, poor housing, it's the new modern day slavery.
@Jordan Morris That is very easy for you to say. However if you are born Black and poor in this country you have many obstacles to overcome to reach that goal.
I hope you mean the Democrat Party and how they love to keep the Black Person on the Plantation (Party).Because that's what it's all about.Democrat's Votes.And they are losing that Vote because Black People are waking up.
spicey66 Hate to inform you of this but the old Dixiecrats are long gone. They broke off once it became obvious it wasn't the party of the "old South" anymore. For your info this happened 80 years ago. You see it's obvious to anybody that the positions of the two major parties and their voters have flip-flopped. While the democratic party had its core voters in the south during the days of slavery the republicans had its core voters in the north. Is it the same today? No. Today the southern states are republican strongholds and the northerns states democratic. You see the democratic party was definitely the most conservative of the two back in the slavery days. Financed by wealthy slave owners (and the PRIME reason Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery as it benefited his political goals to wipe out political opposition) it maintained its right to life "like they always did" and "stick to tradition" and "what works". Above all property right (and slaves were property) were the core beliefs of the plantation owners. The democrats also opposed a strong union and were against a strong central government. The republican party in the north was the one being progressive, thinking about modern reforms and implementing change for a changing society. They also supported a strong union and a strong government to control the country. But that was the 1800's. Today the positions are *opposite* . The democratic party is the one willing to grant rights to LGBT people, religious minorities, immigrants, disabled people etc etc. The republican one is the one wanting to keep things as they were and "what works". Keeping up with "old traditions" - hence all the hardcore Christians among them wanting to re-introduce daily prayers in school. As for the government. Republicans today want "small government" (i.e. a limp one serving corporations rather than "by and for the people) whereas democrats want more power to government (to serve the people, rather than selling themselves out to the highest bidder - i.e. "good business"). Black people are waking up? To what?? That the position of the two major political parties have *dramatically changed* the last 150 years?? And last I checked it was a democratic president who finally ended the Jim Crow laws. I'm not sure how important it was for the republicans to end Jim Crow laws. The reason there aren't many black republicans today is because most blacks aren't too keen to be seen as "house ni**ers" who "should know their place". You see in a more hierarchical system, which maintain its order and traditions that way is exactly where they'll find themselves.
@@paulallen8109 Those are democrat lies. The Clinton's mass incarcerated blacks and called us super predators. Hillary's mentor Robert Byrd was a KKK leader and democrat senator, Obama went to his funeral. Dems made the war on drugs in 1914 and promote abortion which kills over 30% of black pregnancies. 87 years in a row of democrat mayors for Chicago and it's a death trap for black people. They have your mind in a cage. Malcolm X warned about the liberals years ago but you wasn't listening. The democrats are still the same slave masters, they just updated their tactics. Blacks fail miserably under democrats, they care about illegal immigrants more than black people. That's why they make sanctuary cities for them.
Rocky Racoon When it comes to executing mentally challenged black males.......So did Republican George W. Bush as governor of Texas so what are you saying? In a time when a person couldn’t win election in the state of Indiana without being a member of the KKK (1920’s) the entire state was run by Republicans! So poof there goes your little partisan theory! Racism was very much bipartisan among white Americans throughout America’s history so you can just stfu with your bullshit!
I was 11 years old when this aired in 1976 and my teacher had us watch this week long special on ABC. I remember how controversial it was and how many white people felt a great amount of guilt about what their forefathers did to African slaves. Many White Americans had no idea how bad it was until they watched it.
Red Baron no, I just disgusted what comes out your mouth,. We all humans, we bleed same. We are all stuck on this planet. There’s nothing different except our skin color. You only see the evil in the world. We never did anything to you or your kind. Honestly the world will be a better place without you.
@@edwardjdula-patterson7570 Humans on average have different racial characteristics and sometimes radically different cultures too. The failure to recognize this is the reason why we have so many problems today. Everything I have said is backed up by scientific studies. I dare you to prove me wrong. It seems like you are the one that is full of hate wishing others a "horrible and most extreme death".
That's all he knew. Trying to survive. He never knew freedom so couldn't understand why Kunta fought so hard for it. That's why Fiddler's death scene Kunta told him now he finally knows what he's talking about
Despite it's content, this is an extremely well acted series. We were made to watch this in 8th grade. I'm so happy we did. I never considered myself a racist to start with, but this really opened my eyes as to what people went through, how they were treated....and the brilliant performances by the cast, playing very controversial, difficult, humiliating roles that bring out out so many emotions. I think every student should watch this series.
We had to watch it in 4th grade. Mostly black school with a few white kids. I regret it now. But we jumped those white kids at recess. And had to have a school assembly. "Like you can't take out your anger, on little billy" lol
@@Moneyg73 I don't recall one black student in my grammar school. Grades 1 thru 8. In High School we had maybe 3 in the whole school. So I certainly watched this in an entirely different atmosphere than you did, and perhaps I can imagine the possible hostility that would take place had I watched it in your surroundings. I may have gotten a few bruises myself, right or wrong. However, watching this film, at the age I did, which was a young teenager, it made me never want to treat people the way I wouldn't want to be treated myself. I'm guessing this series is part of Cancel Culture, cause it's tough to find anywhere online. That's a shame, cause to me, it was a great learning tool. Some history is there to remind us not to repeat it.
@@mikeshoe74 i think they should never cancel Roots. It's a part of American history, even can be looked at as a family story. That's dope you sound like a good person. At the end of the day That's all we can be.
The truth of the complexity of the African struggle in America condensed into a 4min film dialogue, (the power and significance of Alex Haley's Roots). This is real American history! that has never really been admitted nor thought to the masses, and so never truly realized and/or understood by the nation as a hole, even to this very day!
Imagine being born in slavery And not knowing you a slave. How long into adulthood would you come to fully realize your dilemma and retrain your brain to figure out out to get yourself out of it. It would take a few lifetimes...so a few hundred years
Jay Z to Colin Kaepernick "Now I be scratchin' and straddlin' most of my days to get where I got. Now I's eat in the big house kitchen. I got pine boards on the floor of my cabin, and it don't take much comf for Massa to make me have a cup of corn whiskey for my medicine. Now that is fine livin' for a nigga and I be damn if any Field Nigga is gon' make me lose all I been workin for."
When Fiddler calls Kunta a Guinea man, I think that's just a slave reference to an African, but Kunta's actually from the Gambia, but Fiddler didn't know at the time.
No he's referencing KK's origins as being African not from Guinea the nation. At that time, Guinea was a word pejoratively used to describe people of African descent
@@hayaglamazonluxe At the time that Kunta Kinte was kidnapped from what is now known as The Gambia, it was part of Kabu, which was composed of what is now called Guinea-Bissau, Cassamance (Southern Senegal) and The Gambia. Before that, it was the Mali Empire.
LeVar Burton is an excellent actor. Being an actor myself, I can say that convincing an audience that you don't understand your native language when someone is talking to you in it is difficult. You have to empty your mind of understanding everything a person says in English, even if you don't speak the language of the character you're playing. You have to imagine that the person is speaking gibberish.
work from sunrise to sunset 6 days a week and have frequent beatings and whippings your entire life and you earn the privilege of being allowed to eat indoors and have a whisky before bed for a cough. wow gotta envy this dude's exciting life
kimmie6209 the problem with people like you is is that everything is about being liberal or conservative not right or wrong. You don’t know shit about me but I know all I need to know about you based on your stupidity.
Fiddler was no company man. He did what he did to survive and tried to teach kunta how to survive also. Kunta knew freedom all of his life, Fiddler did not, but at the same time, he never liked being a slave. The scene where Fiddler tended to Kunta's wounds after he had been whipped and him telling Kunta that he knew his real name, despite what the master called him and that there was gonna be another day, imo, prove that Fiddler wasn't a sellout. Kunta loved Fiddler like a father, and that's really what he was to him.😉
Also look at John Reynolds, he gallops off, and then Kunta Kinte's Future Great Great Great Grandson In Law named Simon had to deal with his Father's Boss being Rude because he didn't think a Black Man should be educated.
Yes. Sadly enough Fiddler didn't tell Toby and make him understand over and over that he couldn't escape and be free. He should have even shown him where they Whip Slaves.
Also when John Reynolds went for a Tank Of The Ale, he was beginning his downward spiral into Alcoholism. Also when he couldn't pay back his Brother William in Cash, he had to pay him in "Slaves". Toby (now played by John Amos), then Genelva and Fiddler himself. Also Tom Moore had a weakness for the Bottle, and he didn't have the Estate that Massa John, Massa William and Massa Harvey had.
i aint Black but I am South Asian and sometimes I feel some white folks have same attitude that their ancestor used to have towards black people in roots how we see that they were forced to change names and were forbidden to speak their mother tongue even now whenever I am speaking my own tongue with my friends and families they will be intruding in my business and be telling me to speak English coz I am in America
Ofc you'll have to know English to live a good life in America but yeah its kinda sad when Asians end up taking Western names because their original names are supposedly too hard to pronounce.
@@theghostofspookwagen4715 its not about knowing English I was raised here Went to school here Of course i know English I am just super annoyed whenever i am speaking my mother tongue on phone or with my friends and families Some random stranger be like hey you're in US, speak English. People can know two languages. Knowledge of English is not mutually exclusive with multilingialism .
When Oprah Interviewed some of the Cast Members she noticed that alot of The Actors were also known to be America's Best Loved Fathers. Lloyd Bridges, Robert Reed and Lorne Greene. John Reynolds went from being a Closeted Drunk to a full fledged one.
I saw this in 1977 for school.I cried all the way through it to the end.knowing the truth made me be committed to the equality of all human beings.I was not racist,but this made me sure why I was not.
This is still sad to watch today to me. I saw this when on it's debut. Long time ago I was so angry when I saw it back then. The feeling never leaves I guess, knowing about racism. This was a very controversial movie when it came out.
Yep but little known fact is character wise we've come to find out are mostly made up. The stories though likely represent things going on during that time period
This relationship was done perfectly fine in the new mini series of Roots, but I do think the original was much better. They were such great actors portraying great characters. But that's just my personal opinion.
It's sad in our mind frame to see Fiddler as docile as he is. Thing is Fiddler never once felt freedom. All he knew his entire life was slavery. Lot of fear around the unknown for him. He is exactly the hopes and dreams of slave owners and overseers. Sad to see a man broken down to Fiddler's level. That's why slavery took 100s of years to overthrow because too many slaves didn't even know what the outside of their slave plantation looked like. Many couldn't even imagine how long 1 mile was let alone 1000's of miles to get to freedom states. Easier and safer just to accept the slavery for the sake of their families. Kunta was free and alone so the risks he took only affected himself until he got married and had Kizzy. Even though this is slavery, it makes us think of our own lives and how every decision we make or every risk we take can affect our families.
I noticed that John Reynolds had a book in his Hands. I wonder if it was the Bible. If it were he's the biggest hypocrite. He's going for The Ale, once at The Bar then at Home when he greets his wife and Daughters. Strangely enough, they weren't "seen" after that scene.
@@noorrougelewis6704 except the old testament Slavery was different. It was more indentured servitude not slavery. The old King James translation is Servant not slave.
U in amerekka now ~ a True statement for US! Roots of generational trauma. Gratitude Lou Gossett, you shared your Gifts with authentic emotions & sincerity of Heart leaving a Timeless Legacy 🥀🎭💜🌎
I saw a video of Steve Harvey talking to Monique about the money game and they cut back and forth to this scene. So I had to see the whole thing. Interesting parallels that video brought up! The difference between the field slaves and the house slaves.
So sad seeing what a soul of a human being is being pushed to the threshold of having to forget his name or where he came from. Just recently, I learned one of my grandfather's was a runaway slave. And I cannot even find out what his name was because he hid with the Cherokee Indians and became a slave to them. They called him "Blackfoot", because of being a runaway slave. I just want to know who my grandfather was and get to know all about him. I will always admire Kunta Kinte's persistence to fight for his name and identity.
tobi with an i. with an accent over the i. and a little line over the o, so you know it's a long vowel sound and not a short one. and sometimes i like to dot the i with a little smiley face or a heart or something. something to brighten the reader's day."
RIP Louis Gossett Jr! You were a fine actor and deserved the academy award for “ An Officer and a Gentleman!
“Lawd you don’t even know your name”😂
-RIP Louis Gossett Jr. 😢
@@enigmathegrayman2953😂😂😂😂😂 R.I.P Lou Gossett Jr.
@@enigmathegrayman2953Mannnnnnnnn you had me LMMFAO Rollin with that line 😂😂😂😂😂😂
"Stolen from Africa, brought to America. Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival" The Wailers
It should have been sold by other Africans to Europeans brought to America
I don’t see what your point is.
Does the fact that some Africans were involved in slave trading change the fact that that others were stolen from Africa and brought to America?
@@Luschan not at all just a more accurate depiction. Black folk just as guilty as white folk in what happened. The cruel reality of a dog eat dog world conquer or be conquered
@@Luschan He's mentioning a song sung by The Wailers. It is a well known fact that some African Tribes and Arabs sold black slaves to the Europeans. Slavery has taken place all over the world by many cultures, so its nothing new.
Its ironic how the Puritans left England because of persucution, but did the same thing if not worse to Africans who were packed in tight ships and transported thousands of miles across an ocean and to a new continenet with no hopes of every seeing their families again.
@@LBCTITAN I’m responding to Mark, not the original commenter. I’m familiar with the song and it’s meaning.
Rest In Power to Louis Gossett Jr, great man and great actor. You will be sadly missed, Good Sir.
I love how Kunta never forgot where he came from ❤🙏
Akosua Ayim me too ❤️🙏🏼
You all tried to let me forget where I'm from. And some of you said I'm lost and crazy and turned retarded because of it. Not good for no one at all. I am of Karma
Yesss!✊🏿🖤✊🏿🖤✊🏿
He's the son of a mandinka warrior :)
The free country which is africa
This series was and still is incredibly powerful. Just listening to Fiddler tell Kunta that he's crazy because he actually has pride in the name his parent's gave him breaks my heart.
And even today, much is still the same.
It may hurt but fiddler was right. Calling himself Kunta Kinte would only get him whipped. He learned that the hard way from Mr Ames.
Fiddler was broken. There are many broken folks today. Just look around.
@@thechosenone1533 ##.
@@thechosenone1533 Also Fiddler never knew what it was like to be a Free Man. Remember when they came back from Auction and arrived in Virginia "Toby" was as shocked to see The Slaves as they were to see him.
RIP Louis Gossett Jr
Rest in Peace Louis Gosset Jr.
Fiddler was probably the most interesting character in the series.
@@MalloryNewcomb I like how he is an immediate for both the slaves and the slave masters. Sometimes he is a sell out but when it matters the most he doesn't betray his people but act as a helping hand and arbiter of wisdom.
@@TemplarX2you sound dumd u must be a house nigga like him I bet you love da white man wine beer clothes education etc etc smh
Louis Gossett
Academy Award 🏆
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (“Officer & a Gentleman”- 1983)
Louis had so many iconic performances. One of the GOATS
It hurts my soul to know my people had to go through slavery. I feel like we owe it to them to act like human beings and stop letting the Devil divide us.
That might be the wisest take I've heard in a while.
"I feel like we owe it to them to act like human beings and stop letting the Devil divide us." The Devil huh? Listen all these slave owners and everybody who supported slavery in the Southern states considered themselves "good Christians". They read the Bible too. Especially the Old Testament. And in the Old Testament it clearly says that slavery is ok and how a man is entitled to own slaves from "conquered people".
Guess what? Hitler and the nazis considered themselves "Good, German Christians" as well. Hitler even wrote in Mein Kampf that Christianity is the foundation of German culture and "noble traits". The knives of the Hitler Youth had the words "Gott Mit Uns" (God with us) which clearly reveals they believed they were doing God's work.
A lot of white people in Apartheid South Africa quoted the Bible too. Especially the parts where God created all beings but kept them *separated* .
Hate to inform you of this but since religions always have welcomed most people, regardless of how despicable and rotten beliefs they might have otherwise, it's hardly surprising how Christianity and slavery went hand in hand.
Also, speaking of the Devil. Why would the Devil want to divide people to begin with rather than joining his side no matter their background, faith or creed?? And an even better question. Why does an all-powerful and all-wise God allow a Devil to actively work against him?? If God can't stop the Devil then he's not all-powerful. If God won't stop the Devil he is not all-wise and certainly not good for allowing such evil to exist.
You want people to act like human beings? Drop religion. It has made people HATE other people for many centuries and has been the vessel to condone hatred and bigotry for as long.
They are STILL IN IT! The only difference is back then, you could see the chains on their hands and feet, but today the chains are on their minds and you can't see them. The results are the same in the culture and traditions.
@@NQuiz52calm it down
How Black on Black hate began
Don Harris It began way before that so idk what your point is
Exactly where it began!
Abibifahodie Asafo Yeah ight
The hell is Black on Black hate/ violence?
I hate people saying that ...
Bloody heck, the statistics say that you are more likely to fight/die by ur own race ...
So there's also White on White, Indian on Indian etc etc ... To hell with all that
Fiddler is tryin to make him understand his choices are out of Kuta’s hand
You Saw what Kizzy Did Kizzy Changed His Name At The Grave Site
Ibrahim Jalloh yeah I remember that part I cried so much 😢😢😢
Parlare in italiano!
Lou Gossett Jr.was simply awsome in that Roll Of Sara's Fiddler in fact I can't think of anyone who wasnt ! So well done what a story !
This is sad that Kunta had to go through this, he never deserved this at all, no one deserves to be enslaved like this. Sadly, slavery is still going on today and is, if possible even worse than what this was.
If you want to end slavery and its modern iteration then you'd better fight against it. One way is to devote time to inform others of the struggle and rally support among a great number of people. Just speaking up against something in great numbers makes people heard. That's how all liberation movements work. Those who erroneously believe they have "freedom" now will live out their lives as puppets and sycophants foolishly thinking honesty and hard work will make them "free". Honest and hard work with no rewards and endless toiling is just modern slavery. You'll get a pat on the shoulder while making your master reap all the rewards.
And if you want my opinion who the enemy of *everybody* is then it's those people who keep on reducing every single problem into "property rights". You can be certain these people see you and others "below them" as property too or "useful tools" to make *them* powerful and "influential" . If we still believe that every single issue in society can be boiled down to "property rights" we'd still be living in slavery. For slaves are ultimately property. And people who are ignorant/dumb enough to listen to these "property-rights is everything" are the Uncle Toms of today - whether they're black or white or whatever skin color.
Don't like slavery? Then speak up against those who are more than willing to re-introduce it to our society and those who'd gladly keep you living in the gutter just being born the wrong color or in the wrong part of town.
You can't compare anything to how bad chattel slavery was.
Deserve has nothing to do with it.
"Lawd you don't even know your name" ROFLLMAO. Kunta Kinte! Thats his name.
I like the part where he grabbed feel there it was like no my name is not Toby is Kunta Kinte
That scene always makes me cry
I hate political correctnessbut I would like to horsewhip those plantation ownerst
I am American born. God blessed me to legally obtain my ancestral name. It represents my original heritage. It was not easy. I was hated, by my own family, and by some Black people, but I do not care. I was told I would not get a job because of it. I realized if an employer does not want to hire someone he or she won't no matter what that person's name is. God blessed me to obtain steady employment with the name that I have. I would not trade it for anything.
Still remember watching this series the first time in it's entirety about 10 years ago. In my opinion, an absolute milestone in Television and an absolute milestone in historical storytelling.
I think it's very important to keep media like this alive for generations to come. There is a weird movement going on right now that wants to cancel so called "problematic media." Sure, there are certain things from our pasts that we really can't be proud off, but to straight out deny them would be even worse. It's important for everyone in the world to remember where they come from, be it Black, White, Latin, Asian, etc. Else we will just be doomed to repeat our failures from the past.
Well said.
Okay, I am going to watch this sometime soon, maybe starting this weekend.
I am Croatian, all my recent roots are Croatian, for all I care.
As any country with a past we have our fair-share of mistakes, traumas and sins, but I always believed that our historical expierience is much different from the American one.
I have heard of this series for a long time, and will give it a go, and I am interested if I will be able to relate.
They Change His Name By Force
He kept on saying Kunta
The effects of this was crippling for the black community
@@johnbarkley7043 for south asians also...all that changed is slavery has a new face in form of prison labour
Freddy Jones this didn’t happen to you
@@keandregreen5628Yes it did, but not in this form, slavery was upgraded in a form, as well as the kkk. Look at all the police brutality & enslaving the men, still charge them for crimes they didn't commit. The new name for massa is General manager, new names for slaves is bus boy, maid,butler, low wages income, poor housing, it's the new modern day slavery.
@@keandregreen5628 stupid bitch
@Jordan Morris
That is very easy for you to say. However if you are born Black and poor in this country you have many obstacles to overcome to reach that goal.
nothing has changed just more updated.
I hope you mean the Democrat Party and how they love to keep the Black Person on the Plantation (Party).Because that's what it's all about.Democrat's Votes.And they are losing that Vote because Black People are waking up.
spicey66 Hate to inform you of this but the old Dixiecrats are long gone. They broke off once it became obvious it wasn't the party of the "old South" anymore. For your info this happened 80 years ago. You see it's obvious to anybody that the positions of the two major parties and their voters have flip-flopped. While the democratic party had its core voters in the south during the days of slavery the republicans had its core voters in the north. Is it the same today? No. Today the southern states are republican strongholds and the northerns states democratic.
You see the democratic party was definitely the most conservative of the two back in the slavery days. Financed by wealthy slave owners (and the PRIME reason Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery as it benefited his political goals to wipe out political opposition) it maintained its right to life "like they always did" and "stick to tradition" and "what works". Above all property right (and slaves were property) were the core beliefs of the plantation owners. The democrats also opposed a strong union and were against a strong central government. The republican party in the north was the one being progressive, thinking about modern reforms and implementing change for a changing society. They also supported a strong union and a strong government to control the country.
But that was the 1800's.
Today the positions are *opposite* . The democratic party is the one willing to grant rights to LGBT people, religious minorities, immigrants, disabled people etc etc. The republican one is the one wanting to keep things as they were and "what works". Keeping up with "old traditions" - hence all the hardcore Christians among them wanting to re-introduce daily prayers in school. As for the government. Republicans today want "small government" (i.e. a limp one serving corporations rather than "by and for the people) whereas democrats want more power to government (to serve the people, rather than selling themselves out to the highest bidder - i.e. "good business").
Black people are waking up? To what?? That the position of the two major political parties have *dramatically changed* the last 150 years??
And last I checked it was a democratic president who finally ended the Jim Crow laws. I'm not sure how important it was for the republicans to end Jim Crow laws.
The reason there aren't many black republicans today is because most blacks aren't too keen to be seen as "house ni**ers" who "should know their place". You see in a more hierarchical system, which maintain its order and traditions that way is exactly where they'll find themselves.
@@paulallen8109 Those are democrat lies. The Clinton's mass incarcerated blacks and called us super predators. Hillary's mentor Robert Byrd was a KKK leader and democrat senator, Obama went to his funeral.
Dems made the war on drugs in 1914 and promote abortion which kills over 30% of black pregnancies. 87 years in a row of democrat mayors for Chicago and it's a death trap for black people.
They have your mind in a cage. Malcolm X warned about the liberals years ago but you wasn't listening. The democrats are still the same slave masters, they just updated their tactics. Blacks fail miserably under democrats, they care about illegal immigrants more than black people. That's why they make sanctuary cities for them.
@@dot680 Clinton also allowed a retarded black man to be executed while he was governor of Arkansas.
Rocky Racoon When it comes to executing mentally challenged black males.......So did Republican George W. Bush as governor of Texas so what are you saying? In a time when a person couldn’t win election in the state of Indiana without being a member of the KKK (1920’s) the entire state was run by Republicans! So poof there goes your little partisan theory! Racism was very much bipartisan among white Americans throughout America’s history so you can just stfu with your bullshit!
Poor Fiddler was under too much pressure. I couldn't blame him for being a nervous wreck. Ames would get on his case.
I was 11 years old when this aired in 1976 and my teacher had us watch this week long special on ABC. I remember how controversial it was and how many white people felt a great amount of guilt about what their forefathers did to African slaves. Many White Americans had no idea how bad it was until they watched it.
Don't forget there were also black slave owners also, like William Ellison. Ellison was a slave breeder and he treated his slaves very badly.
@Abibifahodie Asafo Thank you my brother
@@edwardjdula-patterson7570 You mad because I tell the truth???? LMFAO!🤣😂🤣
Red Baron no, I just disgusted what comes out your mouth,. We all humans, we bleed same. We are all stuck on this planet. There’s nothing different except our skin color. You only see the evil in the world. We never did anything to you or your kind. Honestly the world will be a better place without you.
@@edwardjdula-patterson7570 Humans on average have different racial characteristics and sometimes radically different cultures too. The failure to recognize this is the reason why we have so many problems today. Everything I have said is backed up by scientific studies. I dare you to prove me wrong. It seems like you are the one that is full of hate wishing others a "horrible and most extreme death".
Fiddler was a true House Nigga .
That's all he knew. Trying to survive. He never knew freedom so couldn't understand why Kunta fought so hard for it. That's why Fiddler's death scene Kunta told him now he finally knows what he's talking about
"Now you know what it mean to be free Fiddler."
It was so sad when Fiddler Passed
I was sad when Fiddler died. My friend almost died, too. (metaphorical)
Despite it's content, this is an extremely well acted series. We were made to watch this in 8th grade. I'm so happy we did. I never considered myself a racist to start with, but this really opened my eyes as to what people went through, how they were treated....and the brilliant performances by the cast, playing very controversial, difficult, humiliating roles that bring out out so many emotions. I think every student should watch this series.
We had to watch it in 4th grade. Mostly black school with a few white kids. I regret it now. But we jumped those white kids at recess. And had to have a school assembly. "Like you can't take out your anger, on little billy" lol
@@Moneyg73 I don't recall one black student in my grammar school. Grades 1 thru 8. In High School we had maybe 3 in the whole school. So I certainly watched this in an entirely different atmosphere than you did, and perhaps I can imagine the possible hostility that would take place had I watched it in your surroundings. I may have gotten a few bruises myself, right or wrong. However, watching this film, at the age I did, which was a young teenager, it made me never want to treat people the way I wouldn't want to be treated myself. I'm guessing this series is part of Cancel Culture, cause it's tough to find anywhere online. That's a shame, cause to me, it was a great learning tool. Some history is there to remind us not to repeat it.
@@mikeshoe74 i think they should never cancel Roots. It's a part of American history, even can be looked at as a family story. That's dope you sound like a good person. At the end of the day That's all we can be.
@@mikeshoe74 hbo max has it, a known service for EVERYONE too see
Hope is not lost for forgetting as canceling :)
Unfortunately it’s mostly fake. Remember it’s Hollywood the same people that make Batman and Superman.
The truth of the complexity of the African struggle in America condensed into a 4min film dialogue, (the power and significance of Alex Haley's Roots). This is real American history! that has never really been admitted nor thought to the masses, and so never truly realized and/or understood by the nation as a hole, even to this very day!
Indeed
Rip Fiddler!
Smh... This makes me know.... Some folks will never change.. We will never forget u ancestors..never
Fiddler eats in the big house kitchen 😂
And it don't take much coughin' for massa to bring him some corn whiskey for his medicine!! 🍾🍾🍾
@@JAWrightonline
🤣🤣🤣
Imagine being born in slavery And not knowing you a slave. How long into adulthood would you come to fully realize your dilemma and retrain your brain to figure out out to get yourself out of it. It would take a few lifetimes...so a few hundred years
Jay Z to Colin Kaepernick
"Now I be scratchin' and straddlin' most of my days to get where I got. Now I's eat in the big house kitchen. I got pine boards on the floor of my cabin, and it don't take much comf for Massa to make me have a cup of corn whiskey for my medicine. Now that is fine livin' for a nigga and I be damn if any Field Nigga is gon' make me lose all I been workin for."
Sad
Spot on.
When Fiddler calls Kunta a Guinea man, I think that's just a slave reference to an African, but Kunta's actually from the Gambia, but Fiddler didn't know at the time.
Exactly he's not from guinea
No he's referencing KK's origins as being African not from Guinea the nation. At that time, Guinea was a word pejoratively used to describe people of African descent
@@hayaglamazonluxe At the time that Kunta Kinte was kidnapped from what is now known as The Gambia, it was part of Kabu, which was composed of what is now called Guinea-Bissau, Cassamance (Southern Senegal) and The Gambia. Before that, it was the Mali Empire.
@@MrImaninaumoja I know all of that already.
The slave owner is not going to teach the slaves anything about Africa.
LeVar Burton is an excellent actor. Being an actor myself, I can say that convincing an audience that you don't understand your native language when someone is talking to you in it is difficult. You have to empty your mind of understanding everything a person says in English, even if you don't speak the language of the character you're playing. You have to imagine that the person is speaking gibberish.
Very educational thanks for the help
Fiddler thought Kunta was finna get on his ass!🤣 "Turn Me Loose " 😭🤣
Forgive me that part make me lmao
Fiddler has to be my favourite character.. Because he trys to teach Kunta, and makes me go emotional in later epsodes ♥
Not teach, indoctrinate.
Not my favorite
work from sunrise to sunset 6 days a week and have frequent beatings and whippings your entire life and you earn the privilege of being allowed to eat indoors and have a whisky before bed for a cough. wow gotta envy this dude's exciting life
userdetails1 its all fake don't be fooled
userdetails1 you only know what you know, family
kimmie6209 I debated a few seconds on whether or not to waste my time responding to your dumbass but this is all I felt you were worth.
kimmie6209 the problem with people like you is is that everything is about being liberal or conservative not right or wrong. You don’t know shit about me but I know all I need to know about you based on your stupidity.
Vote socialist Democrat and you can enjoy the exact same thing.
Hey they came to a compromise and came up with Kobe
Fat Ass Dogs bruh
Lmao stupid
Great scene. Hate life was like that but the actors done well
white guilt much
zarpkid I hope the white actors felt so bad
zarpkid
WAS?!?!?
It's still like that. . .low key
@@wonderwoman66dp you low lifes deserve to be treated like that
There are a lot of Fiddlers walking around here these days.
Fiddler was no company man. He did what he did to survive and tried to teach kunta how to survive also. Kunta knew freedom all of his life, Fiddler did not, but at the same time, he never liked being a slave. The scene where Fiddler tended to Kunta's wounds after he had been whipped and him telling Kunta that he knew his real name, despite what the master called him and that there was gonna be another day, imo, prove that Fiddler wasn't a sellout. Kunta loved Fiddler like a father, and that's really what he was to him.😉
@@marcuswilliams6840 Thank you for your explanation.
Also look at John Reynolds, he gallops off, and then Kunta Kinte's Future Great Great Great Grandson In Law named Simon had to deal with his Father's Boss being Rude because he didn't think a Black Man should be educated.
That's how a lot of ya'll are today especially at work, "I luvs U Master Reynolds,"...smh
Sadly enough, Fiddler would lose all of his privileges because of "Toby".
laminage the whites are fake they're petty and jealous
Yes. Sadly enough Fiddler didn't tell Toby and make him understand over and over that he couldn't escape and be free. He should have even shown him where they Whip Slaves.
Sadly enough “You ain’t dead yet.”
YET!
john wayne gacey He was desperate he didn't know that in America at that time that if you were black you had no rights
@john wayne gacey 💀💀💀
anyone comparing anything today to modern day slavery needs to be educated.
Also when John Reynolds went for a Tank Of The Ale, he was beginning his downward spiral into Alcoholism. Also when he couldn't pay back his Brother William in Cash, he had to pay him in "Slaves". Toby (now played by John Amos), then Genelva and Fiddler himself. Also Tom Moore had a weakness for the Bottle, and he didn't have the Estate that Massa John, Massa William and Massa Harvey had.
"Tankert" of ale. ;-)
"Good Ginni-man!" One of the funniest parts in the series.
Rest In Heaven Louis... the first and most impactful movie I saw him in as a child. I may have to re-watch it again this year.
i aint Black but I am South Asian and sometimes I feel some white folks have same attitude that their ancestor used to have towards black people
in roots how we see that they were forced to change names and were forbidden to speak their mother tongue
even now whenever I am speaking my own tongue with my friends and families they will be intruding in my business and be telling me to speak English coz I am in America
Ofc you'll have to know English to live a good life in America but yeah its kinda sad when Asians end up taking Western names because their original names are supposedly too hard to pronounce.
@@theghostofspookwagen4715 its not about knowing English
I was raised here
Went to school here
Of course i know English
I am just super annoyed whenever i am speaking my mother tongue on phone or with my friends and families
Some random stranger be like hey you're in US, speak English.
People can know two languages.
Knowledge of English is not mutually exclusive with multilingialism .
@@aasisch However, if they traveled to South Asia, they'd speak English and you'd better not tell them not to.
@@aasisch bc they just want to know what your saying. Noisyyy
kunta kinte from Gambia smiling coast of west Africa
When Oprah Interviewed some of the Cast Members she noticed that alot of The Actors were also known to be America's Best Loved Fathers. Lloyd Bridges, Robert Reed and Lorne Greene. John Reynolds went from being a Closeted Drunk to a full fledged one.
OJ simpson
A part of the washing...
Oprah didn't notice John Amos? Figures.
@@JAWrightonline Oh she did but she was acknowledging that these Fathers who were heroes on TV were such brutal Slave Masters, and KKK Members.
can someone know where i can buy or order the full DVD move,ROOTS any information will be appreciate
This is really incredible series
anyone else trying to find the scene off fiddler on the wagon saying some quotes its like just straight after this scene.
This scene is what I thought of when I saw Calvin and Stephen in Django.
This would be a good year to air Roots again...
My Name is Kunta And That is Final
Brilliant performance.
This reminds of the John Stewart property management company how it plays black employees against black tenants
RIP Fiddler!
"Who Speaks and Understands the Kings language "
All you niggaz been bamboozled...
Louis Gossett Jr Legend!!!!
Fiddler like dis dude gone mess up my whole situation...I been stratchin and straddling most my days!!
The mindset of a man......when we have the wrong guidance.
Over My Dead Body My Name Is Kunta Kinte
Reynolds could’ve at least given them that paper
This what kareem shaq lebron and the rest of them fools look talking to and about Kyrie
I saw this in 1977 for school.I cried all the way through it to the end.knowing the truth made me be committed to the equality of all human beings.I was not racist,but this made me sure why I was not.
Rip Louis gossett Jr my favorite actor of all time 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰❣️🥰❤️🙏🏿🙏🏿🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🙏🏿🕊️🕊️🕊️
RIP MY NIGGA FIDDLER I MISS YOU MANE BRUH
This is still sad to watch today to me. I saw this when on it's debut. Long time ago I was so angry when I saw it back then. The feeling never leaves I guess, knowing about racism. This was a very controversial movie when it came out.
Yep but little known fact is character wise we've come to find out are mostly made up. The stories though likely represent things going on during that time period
I like this part
(Make america great again) is code for wishing for those days to came back..
He is from the gambia west Africa i went to him home village long time ago
Boo kapone got me searchin😂😂😂
😂😂😂
“It was a bird fiddler”
This relationship was done perfectly fine in the new mini series of Roots, but I do think the original was much better. They were such great actors portraying great characters. But that's just my personal opinion.
It's sad in our mind frame to see Fiddler as docile as he is. Thing is Fiddler never once felt freedom. All he knew his entire life was slavery. Lot of fear around the unknown for him. He is exactly the hopes and dreams of slave owners and overseers. Sad to see a man broken down to Fiddler's level. That's why slavery took 100s of years to overthrow because too many slaves didn't even know what the outside of their slave plantation looked like. Many couldn't even imagine how long 1 mile was let alone 1000's of miles to get to freedom states. Easier and safer just to accept the slavery for the sake of their families. Kunta was free and alone so the risks he took only affected himself until he got married and had Kizzy. Even though this is slavery, it makes us think of our own lives and how every decision we make or every risk we take can affect our families.
I noticed that John Reynolds had a book in his Hands. I wonder if it was the Bible. If it were he's the biggest hypocrite. He's going for The Ale, once at The Bar then at Home when he greets his wife and Daughters. Strangely enough, they weren't "seen" after that scene.
Disgusting republican trash
@john wayne gacey shut up trash stop defending those white deep south shitpiles
Yeah sadly enough it was the Bible
Well it does say that it's okay to have slaves, but you should be nice to them.
@@noorrougelewis6704 except the old testament Slavery was different. It was more indentured servitude not slavery. The old King James translation is Servant not slave.
Fiddler sounded a lot like Charles Barkley these days.
Louis Gossett jr. Is amazing
U in amerekka now ~ a True statement for US! Roots of generational trauma. Gratitude Lou Gossett, you shared your Gifts with authentic emotions & sincerity of Heart leaving a Timeless Legacy 🥀🎭💜🌎
I saw a video of Steve Harvey talking to Monique about the money game and they cut back and forth to this scene. So I had to see the whole thing. Interesting parallels that video brought up! The difference between the field slaves and the house slaves.
REST IN POWER TO THE ALMIGHTY LOUIS GOSSETT JR. MY CONDOLENCES AND HEART AND PRAYERS GOES OUT TO HIS WHOLE FAMILY.
He owns you 💯
The great Louis Gossett Jnr… haven’t seen this since I was a kid watching black and white tv. Powerful!
So sad seeing what a soul of a human being is being pushed to the threshold of having to forget his name or where he came from. Just recently, I learned one of my grandfather's was a runaway slave. And I cannot even find out what his name was because he hid with the Cherokee Indians and became a slave to them. They called him "Blackfoot", because of being a runaway slave. I just want to know who my grandfather was and get to know all about him. I will always admire Kunta Kinte's persistence to fight for his name and identity.
just leave comments All the thanks I expect from any of my
Niggas
So when did he start seeing butterflies in the sky
This is how I feel when I show up to work everyday! 😩
no the truth we teach it
You're being paid, and I presume you have the freedom to quit. They didn't get those privileges
2020 watching this when kunta grab his arm he was scared 😅
Isn't that the drill sergeant from An Officer and a Gentleman?
Yup the great lou Gossett jr
I love fiddler
My favorite characters in Roots were Chicken George and Fiddler.
@@JAWrightonline yea great characters no doubt
I was never able to watch past the whipping scene, American history is so dark 😭
He goin learn today
He is such a actor
Fiddler....STEVE HARVEY
Because of the environment He Lives in
tobi with an i. with an accent over the i. and a little line over the o, so you know it's a long vowel sound and not a short one. and sometimes i like to dot the i with a little smiley face or a heart or something. something to brighten the reader's day."
John Reynolds played by Ben Cartwright