1977’s ‘Roots’ built its success on Black stories but failed to create real opportunities for Black stars
Roots, 1977 miniseries
By Jessica Harris // Entertainment // EEW Magazine Online
“Roots” premiered on ABC 45 years ago, making television history, as more than half the country was glued to the adaptation of Alex Haley’s bestselling novel about his enslaved ancestors.
Though the miniseries was a huge success, winning nine Emmys out of a record 37 nominations, most of the Black actors featured on the wildly successful show did not see much advancement in their careers as a result.
Roots, 1977 miniseries
In a sit-down with TheWrap, John Amos, Emmy-nominated for his portrayal of main character Kunta Kinte, and Louis Gossett Jr, who won a Best Supporting Emmy for his role as Kunta’s mentor, Fiddler, discussed what came of “Roots.”
As it turns out, to no one’s surprise, ratings highs didn’t do much to end the career lows for Black folks.
“We had no plans on the success of it,” said Gossett, who later won a Best Supporting Oscar for his portrayal of a drill sergeant in 1982’s “An Officer and a Gentleman.”
“You don’t anticipate that kind of success because that’s dreaming, and that’s one thing actors can’t afford to do. We’ve got to deal in reality,” added Amos.
The reality is, aside from Gossett and LeVar Burton, who played Kunta as a young man, the other Black stars did not receive a career boost.
“The truth is, we did not receive the commensurate job offers,” Amos said. “The inequities that existed in the industry in regard to race still existed, even after ‘Roots,’ because few, if any of us – with the exception of stellar talents like Mr. Gossett and LeVar – were able to capitalize on the success of ‘Roots.’”
Amos said that “most of us in the cast, supporting and even starring actors, did not enjoy the same accolades and acclaim as our white counterparts.”
How ironic that a series focusing on Black pain yielded greater rewards for white actors in the end.
Amos, who was already known and loved as patriarch James Evans, Sr. on the 1970s sitcom “Good Times,” told TheWrap, “I’m grateful for ‘Roots,’ but I realized ‘Roots’ was going to change the game in terms of the education of the viewing audience, and it was going to change the game in terms of opportunities, but not so dramatically that we could say, ‘Well now the struggle is over.’ It continues to this day.”
“Roots” is currently streaming in its entirety on HBO Max and is available to purchase on Digital, Blu-ray and DVD.
