In celebration of HISTORY’s new miniseries, ‘ROOTS’, Cast Member Tip “T.I.” Harris and Executive Producer Will Packer hosted an advance screening of the first episode of the show last night (Monday, May 9, 2016).

Following the screening, which was held at Atlanta’s Center for Civil and Human Rights, guests were treated to an eye-opening panel discussion moderated by BET and The Rickey Smiley Morning Show personality Jeff Johnson.

T.I.; Will Packer; Ed Lover, Hip Hop legend & host of the nationally syndicated “The Ed Lover Show”; V-103 morning show personality Ryan Cameron of The Ryan Cameron Morning Show; Dr. Samuel Livingston of Morehouse College and President of the Atlanta chapter of the National Action Network (NAN), and Tamarre Torchon all shared their insight on the importance of re-telling the story of ROOTS in this day and age.

Civil Rights Leader and Former Mayor of Atlanta, Ambassador Andrew Young, was also in attendance and made a couple of remarks at the close of the Q&A.

Check out photos + video of the panel session below…

Roots Screening Panelists (l-r: Jeff Johnson, Will Packer, T.I., Ed Lover, Tamarre Torchon, Dr. Samuel Livingston, Ryan Cameron)

 

T.I. and Phaedra Parks

Ambassador Andrew Young shares words of wisdom during Panel discussion

I promise you…  ROOTS is NOT just another ‘slave movie’! Will Packer did a great job of capturing a story that has already been told and re-telling it in a way that will make us all remember the importance of the tale!

During the screening, we only got to see the first episode, but it received a standing ovation! The young actor who played Kunte Kinte totally pulled viewers into the story of how he was captured in Africa and sold into slavery.

Sure, we all know how it ends, but that didn’t stop us secretly hoping that the warriors would take control of the slave ship and sail back to Africa!

If you follow me on periscope, you may have caught the panel discussion. For those of you who don’t, here is the video below…

VIDEO: Roots Advance Screening Panel Discussion 05/9/16

#Roots Screening – @troubleman31 & Ambassador Young share a moment. #straightfromthea #atlien #atlanta #blogger #bloggerlife #TI #AndrewYoung

A video posted by ATLien aka Michelle Brown (@iamatlien) on May 9, 2016 at 7:17pm PDT

Synopsis:  

HISTORY® premieres “Roots” on Memorial Day 2016, airing over four consecutive nights at 9 p.m. beginning Monday, May 30^th. The four-night, eight-hour event series developed by HISTORY, from A+E Studios, is a historical portrait of American slavery recounting the journey of one family and their will to survive and ultimately carry on their legacy despite hardship. “Roots” will be simulcast on A&E and Lifetime, in addition to HISTORY. Roots’ will allow new audiences to experience this epic family saga with a new vision that is both incredibly inspiring and tremendously entertaining.

Will you be tuned in for the History channel’s ROOTS remake?

Photo Credit: Paras Griffin for Getty for HISTORY

CLICK HERE for more photos from this event.

FULL PHOTO GALLERY