This week on "50 Weeks That Shaped America," we're headed to the winter of 1977, when everyone was tuned into a major TV phenomenon -- Alex Haley’s “Roots.” It aired over eight parts and was the most watch TV show of all time. It also led many Americans to confront the horrors of slavery for the first time, and set off a genealogy craze that lasts until today.

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Our team: Jacob Feldman, Researcher/Producer; Khawla Nakua, Transcripts; music by Teen Daze and Blue Dot Sessions; Audrey Mardavich is our Executive Producer at Radiotopia.