Based on Alex Haley’s best-selling novel about his African ancestors, "Roots" is the story of Kunta Kinte, a West African youth captured by slave raiders and shipped to America in the 1700s. The saga follows the different generations up until the Civil War where Kunte Kinte’s grandson, Chicken George gained emancipation. The mini-series captivated the American television audience and became a social phenomenon unlike any other program of its time. The series brought racial issues to the forefront, became a catalyst for open and honest discussions about race and sparked a national interest in genealogy and family history.