Roots
The Saga of an American Family.
Created by Alex Haley
On ABC
An unflinching historical epic that traces one family's journey through slavery and its aftermath, grounded in genealogical fact and structured as a direct confrontation with American racial trauma.
The epic tale of celebrated Pulitzer-prize winning author Alex Haley's ancestors as portrayed in the acclaimed twelve hour mini-series Roots, was first told in his 1976 bestseller Roots: The Saga of an American Family. The docu-drama covers a period of history that begins in mid-1700s Gambia, West Africa and concludes during post-Civil War United States, over 100 years later. This 1977 miniseries eventually won 9 Emmy awards, a Golden Globe award, and a Peabody award, and still stands as the most watched miniseries in U.S. history.
Essence
Ensemble
Like Roots
Nearest across the full emotional profile.
Same Mood as Roots
Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.
Like Roots, But Darker
Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.
Like Roots, But Lighter
Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.
Like Roots, But Less Popular
Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.
