It will be one sided
They are re-making the miniseries Roots for 2016 cable tv. Besides the fact that I do not believe they can recapture the impact of the original, I feel it will only fuel the fire, in an already racially divided country. What are your thoughts?
I don't think they could re-make Roots that would have the same impact as the first one. It was truly an eye opening experience. I'm sure the re-make will be slanted one way or another and we don't need to add fuel to the already burning fire.
I also feel the same as you do about it. The timing couldn't be worse right now with all that's going on. It was a great mini-series in it's time but they should leave well enough alone for now. Racial tension in this country is at an all time high! I'm sure it would be really good and well made but they'll never capture the impact or feelings that the original had. Just Now isn't the time for it.
I agree that it will add fuel to the fire, and cannot have the same impact. With that said, there is a whole generation that has never seen it and for them it will be an eye opener.
The thing a lot of people don't realize, or just haven't made the connection, or are avoiding the connection, is there is a huge portion of the white population in this country that didn't have any relatives here at the time of slavery and the Civil War. There was a huge influx of people from Europe in the early part of the 20th century. Many fleeing the war, or looking for a chance to better their lives. The class system was still alive and well in Europe at that time, and people came here knowing if they worked hard they could move up in the world.
There were also many white Europeans that came over during the time of slavery as indentured servants. Their passage over was paid for by wealthy people with the understanding that after a term of service they were then free to find employment elsewhere. That term was more often then not 10 years. They were treated much the same way slaves were. Fed little and worked long hours. A large number of them never lived long enough to see the end of their servitude.
I think if some media will bring this to light and have people of all colors realize we all have our past struggles we can learn to work together to improve lives from here on.