Roots: Two Day Marathon Screening

We're bringing in Juneteenth with a two-day marathon screening of the legendary Emmy-winning show Roots!

"Roots" is a miniseries based on Alex Haley's novel, chronicling the journey of a West African man, Kunta Kinte, and his descendants through the horrors of slavery in America. The story spans several generations, as Kinte and his family observe notable events in American history, such as the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, slave uprisings, and emancipation.

This presentation will include an audience discussion, remarks from acclaimed scholars Andrew Sekou Jackson, and Rev. Carla Hunter-Ramsey. Breakfast and lunch will be served on both dates.

Thursday, June 19th

9:00amBreakfast

9:45am Opening Remarks - Andrew “Sekou” Jackson (Sekou Molefi Baako)

A Vietnam veteran, Andrew is a member of the Board of Trustees-Queens Public Library (2017-Present) and Executive Director Emeritus, Queens Library’s Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center (1980- 2016). He is a Professor of Black Studies (York College CUNY) (2001-Present) and retired Adjunct at Queens College (CUNY), Graduate School of Library and Information Studies (2007-2024). Andrew is editor of award-winning book, The 21st Century Black Librarian in America: Issues and Challenges (2010), and the Handbook of Black Librarianship, Third Edition (2024).

10:00am – 11:30am Episode 1

11:30am – 11:45am Break

11:45am – 1:15pm Episode 2

1:15pm – 2:15pm Lunch break

2:15pm – 3:45pm Episode 3

3:45pm – 4:00pm Break

4:00pm – 5:00pm Episode 4

5:00pm – 6:00pm Audience Discussion/Closing Remarks – Courtney Ffrench, JCAL Artistic Director

Friday, June 20 th

9:00am Breakfast

9:45am Opening Remarks – Rev. Carla Hunter-Ramsey

Mrs. Hunter Ramsey has been recognized as one of the top supplier diversity executives in the nation and one of the top 25 Most Influential Black Women in business from The Network Journal. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Queens College, an Executive master’s degree in public administration from Baruch College, and a master’s in divinity degree from New Brunswick Theological Seminary.

10:00am – 11:00am Episode 5

11:00am – 11:15am Break

11:15am – 12:45pm Episode 6

12:45pm – 1:45pm Lunch break

1:45pm – 2:45pm Episode 7

2:45pm – 3:00pm Break

3:00pm - 4:30pm Episode 8

4:30pm – 5:30pm Audience Discussion/Closing Remarks – Carla Hunter-Ramsey