Know your ‘ROOTS’… that’s the overall theme of the original 1977 miniseries, as well as the 2016 remake of the classic slave story.

British actor Malachi Kirby made his debut as Kunte Kinte reloaded with the help of Lavar Burton, who appeared in the first production.  There are also several high profiles names associated with the 2016 version including Will Packer, Clifford ‘T.I.’ Harris, Forrest Whittaker, Laurence Fishburn & more.

[FLASHBACK: Tip “T.I.” Harris, Will Packer, Phaedra Parks & More Attend #ROOTS Advance Screening… (PHOTOS + VIDEO)]

The original “Roots” miniseries drew more than 130 million viewers (over half the U.S. population) when it aired back in 1977 and won nine Emmy awards.  Last night’s premiere episode was just the first of what’s to come.

Check out what ‘Black Twitter’ thought of ‘ROOTS 2016’ + watch full premiere episode below…

VIDEO: Roots (2016) – Part 1(NOTE: This video is not hosted on StraightFromTheA.com’s servers.) Roots 2016 is vastly different than the original version but it still stuck with the classic storyline.

As you know, the 1977 miniseries was quite controversial back in the day and even drew comments from then President Ronald Reagan, as one astute twitterer reminded us:

In 1977, there was no such thing as social media, but I’m almost positive the show would have trended then as much as it trended last night… if not more so!  #Roots was already trending on Twitter three hours BEFORE Part 1 aired at 9 p.m.

Accrording to the AJC, #Roots was the #3 trending topic in Atlanta. Coming in right behind #MemorialDay2016 but above #Game7 (the NBA playoff game aired the same time “Roots” premiered).

What did you think of episode #1 of the newly remodeled ‘Roots’?