If our Twitter feed is any indication, the nation was glued to the first installment of the “Roots” reboot, which aired last night (May 30). Other than the usual trolls and Snoop Dogg, who advised his fans not to watch the slave narrative, the overwhelming sentiments seemed to be of pride and recognition of how the plight of “Kunta Kinte” and his kin is still achingly relevant:
Readying myself to watch #Roots. Our ancestors never imagined that we – their wildest dreams – would be able to bear witness in this way.
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) May 31, 2016
As we watch #Roots , pay attention to the fact that removing Africans from Africa wasn’t enough. The war was to remove Africa from Africans.
— Greg Carr (@AfricanaCarr) May 30, 2016
A warning of "Intense language of the time period" like we aren’t still called every slur these slaves are called every day. #Roots
— Amadi (@amaditalks) May 31, 2016
Glued to my tv. Beautifully told and shot. #Roots https://t.co/ipn1gUHFk7
— Tamron Hall (@tamronhall) May 31, 2016
"The shame is not ours." This will be true for generations and generations to come. #ROOTS
— Joan Morgan (@milfinainteasy) May 31, 2016
#Roots reminds us of the way that animals have always been valued above Black life in this country. Thus #JusticeForHarambe.
— Brittney Cooper (@ProfessorCrunk) May 31, 2016
Sad re: JusticeForHarambe. But Black ppl didn’t make a world where we had to compete w animals to prove our value. Wypipo did that. #Roots
— Brittney Cooper (@ProfessorCrunk) May 31, 2016
Fact is that American identity is fragile, unsettled and far from consensus-driven. This new #Roots will help show a new generation that.
— Greg Carr (@AfricanaCarr) May 31, 2016
Don’t tell me you don’t want to see another slave movie when you have watched 163 different versions of Spider-Man/Batman #Roots #haveaseat
— LaToia Jones (@latoiajones) May 31, 2016
They preached several #Roots revivals on tonight. God has been, is and always will be with us. #KuntasKin
— Candice Marie Benbow (@CandiceBenbow) May 31, 2016
Part two of “Roots” will air tonight at 9 p.m. ET on the History Channel, A&E, Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network. Watch episode one here.