Alex Haley’s book Roots: The Saga of an American Family (1976) is a saga of seven generations of Haley’s family, beginning with Kunta Kinte, his ancestor from The Gambia who had been enslaved and brought to America in 1767. Combining history and fiction, Roots chronicles the experiences of Haley’s ancestors and his own genealogical quest in the 20th century. The book was a runaway best-seller, with 1.5 million copies sold within the first seven months. The following year it was adapted into a star-studded television miniseries that became one of the most-viewed American TV programs of all time. Roots also inspired many Americans, especially African Americans, to research their own family histories.
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