Awhile back I realized I had never seen Roots*. I was vaguely aware of it when it was originally shown, but it was on way past my bedtime. Yesterday, it arrived from Netflix and I watched episode 1.
There was the infamous Kunta Kinte in his native African village, learning to become a man. Here come the evil slave traders (Mr. Walton and Mr. Grant? Say it's not so, John Boy) to capture him and take him away. The horrifying conditions on the slave ship and the way the slaves are treated filling your stomache with bile. I am saddened to tell you I couldn't really concentrate or absorb the story the way I should have - and it's all Michael Powell's fault.
You see in Kunta Kinte's village many of the women went topless, which I assume was their custom. Breasts everywhere you look. Breasts here, breasts there, oh look more breasts over there. And the whole time I'm watching all I can think is: how did this get on regular free television? I am frankly amazed that a millisecond of a certain other persons breasts caused such an uproar, but this was on tv. And I'm really, really angry because now I'm aware of that - all I can fixate on is breasts! on tv!. 3 weeks ago I wouldn't have thought anything of the breasts in Roots and I could have focused. But now I'm imagining the converatives rioting in the streets over Roots. Sigh..
So.. for those of you who remember when it was on tv originally: what was the deal? How did they spin that?
* ok, ok, ok.. I saw them talking about Roots on "I Love the 70's" on VH1, realized I had never seen Roots and thought it would be a good thing to watch.-----
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