Loading summary
Transcript29 lines
- [00:00]
Rocket Money Advertiser
The number one resolution for people last year was to save more money, but nearly half gave up by February. Don't let that be you. Download Rocket Money to reach your financial goals this year. Track your spending, cut waste and automate savings in one simple app. Rocket Money shows you all your expenses and categorizes them so you know exactly where your money's going and where you're overspending. From there, the app cuts waste by canceling your unused subscriptions and lowering your bills. No customer service needed. With that money freed up, the app will automatically set some cash aside for your goals. Whether it's an emergency fund, paying off debt or saving for vacation, Rocket Money's got you covered. Users love the app, with over 186,000 five star ratings, and on average, users can save up to $740 a year when using all the app's premium features. Make saving money a priority this year. Go to rocketmoney.com cancel to get started. That's rocketmoney.com cancel rocketmoney.com cancel.
- [01:10]
Lindsey Graham
It's 1756. In a village in what's now Nigeria, 11 year old Olada Equiano runs through the yard of his family home playing tag with his younger sister. She shrieks in delight as she cuts a quick corner and races away from her older brother. But Olauta almost clatters into his sister's back when she suddenly stops running. Puzzled, Olota follows her gaze, and his stomach lurches when he sees three figures climbing over the fence into their yard. Ever since he was a young child, Olota's parents have warned him what to do in a situation like this. This part of Africa is plagued by kidnappers who work for slavers. They abduct children to be sent to slave markets on the coast. Olota's parents drilled into him that if he's ever approached by strangers, he must run. So Olota grabs his sister's arm and they dash in the opposite direction, away from the men. But the kidnappers quickly catch up. One of them pulls Olota's sister down to the ground. Then the other two men seize Olota too, and a hand is clamped over his mouth as Olota is roughly pushed to the ground and restrained. Then he and his sister are hustled out of the yard and away from the home, to which they'll now never return. Six months after being kidnapped, Olauta Equiano will be placed on a slave ship and taken across the Atlantic Ocean to America. Eventually, years later, he'll buy his freedom from slavery and dedicate his life to ending the cruel Practice, forever becoming a major figure in the abolition movement, thanks to a memoir that documents the horror of the slave trade. But accounts that depict the brutal reality of slavery will struggle to find a mass audience until almost 200 years later, when one man's quest to trace his family history will result in a best selling book and a hit television series that will premiere on January 23, 1977. When I first began thinking about a live show, I knew I wanted it to be a little more special than just a podcast episode on stage. Something with a bit of theater to it. Because after all, I'll be live on on stage in a theater. So I put together a band to accompany the stories live. And because I can't resist, I'll be joining in on guitar. I mean, I wrote the History Daily theme song, you know. So come out to see me live. For information on tickets and upcoming dates, go to historydailylive.com that's historydailylive.com and if you're in the North Texas area, buy your tickets now@historydailylive.com Five years ago I.
- [03:43]
Rocket Money Advertiser
Was paying $65 a month for my subscriptions. Today those Same subscriptions cost 1:1. I don't even use half of them anymore. That's why now I use Rocket Money to manage my subscriptions for me. The app gives you a list of all of your subscriptions and reminds you of upcoming payments so you're not hit with any surprise charges. On top of that, it also sends you alerts when subscription prices go up, so you always know the price you're paying. If you decide you no longer want a subscription, you can cancel it right from the app. No customer service needed. And the best part is, Rocket Money even reaches out and tries to get you refunded for some of the money you lost. On average, people that cancel their subscriptions with rocket money save $378 a year. And overall, Rocket Money has saved its members $880 million in canceled subscriptions. Stop wasting money on things you don't use. Go to rocketmoney.com cancel to get started. That's rocketmoney.com cancel rocketmoney.com cancel if you're.
- [04:44]
Grainger Advertiser
The purchasing manager at a manufacturing plant, you know having a trusted partner makes all the difference. That's why hands down, you count on for auto reordering. With on time restocks, your team will have the cut resistant gloves they need at the start of their shift and you can end your day knowing They've got safety well in hand. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.
- [05:12]
Rebel.com Advertiser
Did you know you can save up to 70% on the best brands just by shopping at from rebel.com we're talking about strollers, car seats, high chairs, espresso machines, cookware. Everything you need for way less. Here's how it works. Every single day, rebbl drops thousands of new products on the site for up to 70% off. It is a constant stream of endless deals from top brands like Uppababy, Nuna, Baby bjorn, Breville, Nespresso, KitchenAid, Le Creuset and more. But you have to act fast because every deal is one of a kind. So if you see something you love, make sure you add to cart fast. So stop paying full price when you don't have to. Whether it's baby gear, kitchen upgrades or a treasure for your home you didn't know you needed, REBBL has it for way less. Up to 70% less. Shop from rebbl.com and save big certified plant Genius here.
- [06:10]
Genius from Global Payments Advertiser
Most people see a busy plant shop, but I see a perfectly balanced ecosystem thanks to Genius from Global Payments, Inventory tracked payments, seamless reviews in one place. Absolutely genius. From sold out crowds worldwide to running this shop, genius grows with you. Your monsteras potted, healthy roots, strong growth. Just like this shop. Big league reliability for your business. That's genius.
- [06:41]
Lindsey Graham
From Noiser and Airship, I'm Lindsey Graham and this is History. Daily. History is made every day on this podcast. Every day we tell the true stories of the people and events that shaped our world. Today is January 23rd, 1977, the television premiere of Roots Foreign. It's May 1967 in Jufiray, a village in the Gambia. 10 years before Roots first screens on American television. 45 year old American journalist Alex Haley lays a tape recorder on a table and opens his notebook. Then he looks up and gives his interviewee a smile. But the elderly man on the other side of the table doesn't notice. Instead he's staring at the tape recorder with a puzzled expression. Alex picks it up and hands it to the old man. He tells his interviewee that the tape recorder will record his words and it'll help Alex to write his story when he returns home. Three years ago, Alex began researching his family history. As a black American, Alex knew that his ancestors were enslaved, but he wanted to find out who they were before they were taken across the ocean, hoping to write up the story as a book he scoured archives and libraries until he managed to plot his ancestry to the Kinte clan that originated in West Africa. There, Alex heard rumors about an old man with an encyclopedic knowledge of the families of the Gambia. And now Alex has tracked that man down, and he's eager to find out more about his ancestors. After taking the tape recorder back, Alex presses a button and then asks the man what he knows about the Kinte clan. The man settles back in his chair and begins. Alex quickly realizes that the rumors were correct. This man has a vast knowledge of local history. He speaks for hours about the various members of the Kinte clan as Alex takes detailed notes. One tale in particular captures Alex's imagination. The old man tells the story of the capture of a Kinte tribesman by an African gang collaborating with slave traders. According to the old man's account, Kunta Kinte had wandered into a forest to gather firewood when he was attacked by four men and knocked unconscious. When he came to, he found he was bound and gagged, the prisoner of a slave trader who transported him to America. When the old man finishes talking, Alex realizes that he was so engrossed in the story of Kunta that he'd stopped taking notes. Thankfully, he has the tapes. When Alex listens to them again, he's certainly Kunta Kinte will be the perfect main character for his book. Now he just needs to write it. But that's easier said than done. Alex has immersed himself in his family's history for the last three years, and he struggles to know when to stop researching. He repeatedly visits the Library of Congress to scour the archives for information about the slave ship that transported his ancestors to America. And then he travels to Virginia and even England to find out more about his family's enslavers. But the further Alex digs into his ancestry, the more complex the story becomes. And one discovery threatens to derail the entire project. Several experts claim that the old man who told Alex about the life of Kunta Kinte is not a reliable source of information. They advise Alex to return to the Gambia and interview more people to resolve contradictions in the original account. Alex has been working on his book for eight years, and he feels that it's too late to make major changes to the story now. The manuscript he calls Roots is already long overdue at the publisher, and Alex has neither the money nor the heart to start all over again. Instead, he tells himself that he isn't hiding the fact that this is a fictionalized version of his family history, so he doesn't think his readers will mind a few examples of dramatic license as long as the story captures their attention. Alex's hopes prove correct. In 1974, an early excerpt of Roots is published in the monthly magazine Reader's Digest. Dozens of people then write in to ask when the book will be released, and a Hollywood producer is so impressed by the excerpt that he asks Alex for the rights to adapt Roots for television. Alex is thrilled, but there's a catch. The producer has heard Alex has been working on Roots for more than 10 years, and the book still isn't finished. So he offers Alex a weighted deal. He'll pay $50,000 up front to secure the rights, but the bulk of the money, another $200,000, will only be paid to Alex when he finishes the book. This deal will motivate Alex to push on and finally finish Roots. At the end of 1975, he'll hand over his final manuscript to the publisher. Work to adapt the story for television will begin almost immediately, but the producers of the TV version of this epic tale will soon find that filming routes will be almost as difficult as writing it.
- [11:49]
Rocket Money Advertiser
The holidays are expensive. You're paying for gifts, travel, decorations, food, and before you know it, you've blown way past what you were planning to spend. Don't start the new year off with bad money vibes. Download Rocket Money to stay on top of your finances. The app pulls your income, expenses and upcoming charges into one place so you can get the clearest picture of your money. It shows how much to set aside for bills and how much is safe to spend for the month so you can spend with confidence, no guesswork needed. Get alerts before bills hit. Track budgets and see every subscription you're paying for. Rocket Money also finds extra ways to save you money by canceling subscriptions you're not using and negotiating lower bills for you. On average, Rocket Money users can save up to $740 a year when using all the app's premium features. Start the year off right by taking control of your finances. Go to rocketmoney.com cancel to get started. That's rocketmoney.com cancel rocketmoney.com cancel get that.
- [12:48]
Lindsey Graham
Amex Gold Card ready. I'm too tired to cook.
- [12:50]
Rocket Money Advertiser
We feeling Five Guys or the Cheesecake Factory? Both earn up to $120 a year in statement credits of participating partners up to $10 each month when you pay with the AMEX Gold Card. Learn more@americanexpress.com Explore Gold enrollment required terms apply.
- [13:03]
Rebel.com Advertiser
Did you know you can save up to 70% on the best brands just by shopping at from rebel.com we're talking about strollers, car seats, high chairs, espresso machines, cookware. Everything you need for way less. Here's how it works. Every single day, Rebel drops thousands of new products on the site for up to 70% off. It is a constant stream of endless deals from top brands like Uppababy, Nuna, Baby bjorn, Breville, Nespresso, KitchenAid, Le Creuset and more. But you have to act fast because every deal is one of a kind. So if you see something you love, make sure you add to cart fast. So stop paying full price when you don't have to. Whether it's baby gear, kitchen upgrades or a treasure for your home you didn't know you needed, Rebel has it for way less. Up to 70% less. Shop from rebel.com and save big if.
- [14:00]
Grainger Advertiser
You'Re the purchasing manager at a manufacturing plant, you know having a trusted partner makes all the difference. That's why, hands down, you count on Grainger for auto reordering. With on time restocks, your team will have the cut resistant gloves they need at the start of their shift and you can end your day knowing they've got safety well in hand. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.
- [14:40]
Lindsey Graham
It's April 1976 in Georgia, one year after author Alex Haley finished writing Roots. 19 year old LeVar Burton paces in his hotel room, a film script in his hand. His eyes scan the words on the paper, but Lavar isn't really taking them in. Instead, he's merely worried. No matter how many times he reads through the script, Lavar is struggling to remember his lines. A few months ago, Lavar spotted an ad inviting actors to audition for a screen adaptation of Alex Haley's roots. Although LaVar was a novice actor with only one film credit to his name, he was cast in the picture pivotal role of the young Kunta Kinte. It's Lavar's job to portray Kunta as he's kidnapped and sold into slavery. But filming is due to begin tomorrow and Lavar's feeling the pressure of being part of a big budget production for the first time, so Lavar tries to push any negative thoughts from his mind and refocus on just the script. But he's only read a couple of lines aloud before there's a knock at the door. Glad for the distraction, LeVar opens the door and finds Alex Haley himself standing in the hallway. After exchanging greetings Alex hands Levar an advance copy of the book Roots. Although it's still not available in stores, Alex says he wants all the actors to have a copy. During filming, he tells Lavar that he's bookmarked a passage that he wants him to study and wishes him the best for the start of filming tomorrow. After seeing Alex off, Lavar opens his copy of Ruth Roots at the page Alex had marked. It's one of the story's most profound early scenes describing Kunta's experience as a captive on a slave ship while crossing the Atlantic Ocean. As Lavar reads Alex's description of the nightmarish voyage, he realizes that his performance won't just rely on him remembering his lines. He needs to capture the emotions and feelings of despair that the enslaved Africans must have gone through. And when filming begins the next day, Lavar is immediately thrust into an emotionally taxing scene portraying Kunta's capture. But the nerves he felt yesterday have gone. Lavar has been inspired by Alex's writing, and when the first scene is finished, the director makes his way over and congratulates Lavar on a great performance. But that scene is not the last challenge Lavar will face over the next few weeks. He depicts Kunta's voyage across the ocean in a slave ship and a brutal moment in which Kunta is savagely whipped. These are difficult scenes for an inexperienced actor, but Lavar can rely on the help and advice of the rest of the cast. Oscar nominated actors James Earl Jones and Cicely Tyson have agreed to take on roles, while the cast also includes prominent writer Maya Angelou and NFL superstar turned actor OJ Simpson. But Lavar and the other actors can't help noticing a racial imbalance in the production. The majority of the show's cast is black, but all its directors and producers are white. The actors aren't the only ones to spot the disparity either. As the first month of filming comes to a close, criticism mounts from civil rights groups. In response, the producers hire more black talent to take roles behind the camera. Gilbert Moses is employed as a director, while Joseph Wilcotts is appointed director of photography. These new hires help dispel the criticism, but some black pundits still suggest the showrunner's worrying lack of sensitivity does not bode well for the finished product. And it's not just the TV production that's dogged by controversy. Five months after filming begins, Alex Haley's book is finally published. Roots spends the next 46 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. But questions arise about the authentication, authenticity, of Alex's research, it's suggested that he base the story of Kunta Kinte on the words of an unreliable African storyteller. Alex defends his work and insists that Roots has always been a blend of historical research and fictional storytelling. But the ongoing controversy spooks executives at television studio abc. They worry that their adaptation of Roots will flop after the intense and often critical media coverage of the book book. So studio bosses meet to discuss the show's future. After much debate, they decide to go ahead with the premiere of Roots. But in case it bombs, they plan to air the eight episodes on consecutive evenings to get it over with quickly. And as the show's debut approaches, the controversy over it will grow. All the executives at ABC will be able to do now is cross their fingers and hope for the best.
- [19:15]
Rocket Money User/Mike
Let's do the 60 Second Savings Challenge Step 1 Download Rocket Money Step 2 Link your accounts and see every subscription you're paying for. Tap one you don't use and cancel it. That's money back every month. Step three create a financial goal $50 every paycheck. Or let the app automatically move small amounts of cash. When you can afford it in a week, you'll forget you set it up. In a month, you'll see real dollars piling up. In a year, you'll be shocked at how much money you've saved. Bonus Challenge Upload an Internet or phone bill and let Rocket Money try to lower it. You only pay if they find you savings. On average, Rocket Money members can save up to $740 a year when using all of the app's premium features. Users love the app with over 186,000 five star ratings. Make saving money the resolution you actually keep. Start the 60 second savings challenge at RocketMoney.com cancel that's RocketMoney.com cancel RocketMoney.com cancel.
- [20:15]
Grainger Advertiser
This is the story of the one as the purchasing manager at a manufacturing plant, she knows the only thing more important than having the right safety gear is having it there when you need it. That's why she partners with Grainger for auto reordering, so her team members can count on her to have cut resources resistant gloves on hand, and each shift can run safely and efficiently. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.
- [20:45]
Grainger HVAC Technician Advertiser
If you're an H Vac technician and a call comes in, Grainger knows that you need a partner that helps you find the right product fast and hassle free. And you know that when the first problem of the day is a clanking blower motor. There's no need to break a sweat. With Grainger's easy to use website and product details, you're confident you'll soon have everything humming right along. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by grainger for the ones who get it done.
- [21:16]
Grainger Advertiser
This is the story of the One as the purchasing manager at a manufacturing plant, she knows the only thing more important than having the right safety gear is having it there when you need it. That's why she partners with Grainger for auto reordering, so her team members can count on her to have cut resistant gloves on hand and each shift can run safely and efficiently. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickgrainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.
- [21:51]
Lindsey Graham
Foreign it's the evening of January 23, 1977, in South Carolina, six months after Roots was released in bookstores. As ten year old Zenobia Harper plays with dolls in her living room, she hears her mother call out her name. Zenobia takes a comfortable spot on the carpet in front of the television. As her mother bustles in with an overflowing bowl of popcorn. Zenobia looks up for the TV screen expectantly. This is normally her bedtime, but her mother had her take a nap earlier so she could stay up late tonight, so whatever show is about to start must be special. A few minutes later, Zenobia is already engrossed in the action taking place on screen. A cry of pain comes from a thatched hut as a woman gives birth. Zenobia's mom claps excitedly as she points out that one of the women playing the midwives is the famous writer Maya Angelou. Then another baby's cry rings out, and the newborn's father holds him up to show him the vast night sky. The young boy's name is Kunta Kinte. Zenobia and her mother are not the only people introduced to Kunta. At this moment, 50 million other Americans tune in for the premiere of Roots, and viewing figures only increase from there. Over the next week, the show becomes the hot topic of conversation across the across the country, and by the time the finale airs, a record audience of 100 million people are watching. Not every viewer enjoys the series, though, and its success does not dismiss all the controversy surrounding it. The television show reopens the debate over the authenticity and accuracy of Alex Haley's story, and some experts feel that the series oversimplifies a complex and nuanced historical subject. But these debates do not diminish the cultural importance of Roots. The book and its screen adaptation tackle the topic of slavery at a time when its true horrors were often minimized or overlooked. And the series embedded black history in mainstream American popular culture for perhaps the first time in the decades since its release. Roots has had sequels and remakes, but none have matched the impact of the original, which millions of Americans tuned in to watch on January 23, 1977. Next on History Daily January 26, 1926. A Scottish electrical engineer invites members of the Royal Institution to his laboratory to demonstrate his newest invention, the television. From Noiser and Airship. This is History Daily hosted, edited and executive produced by me, Lindsey Graham Audio editing by Mohammed Shahzib Sound design by Matthew Fuller Music by Thrum this episode is written and researched by Ruben Abrams Brosby Edited by Scott Reeves Managing Producer Emily Byrd Executive producers are William Simpson for Airship and Pascal Hughes for Noiser.
- [24:56]
Weight Watchers Advertiser
This is the new Weight Watchers. It works for members like JoJo, who's learning simple, healthy habits, Sharia, who's making progress with meds, and Kim, who still gets to eat what she loves. For over 60 years, we've helped millions of members find what works for them. Now it's your turn. Watch your life open up. Watch your story shift. Watch what you're capable of. Watch it work. Get started today@weightwatchers.com Weight Watchers now offers access to affordable GLP once it works.
- [25:30]
Rocket Money Advertiser
For members like I'm Haley and I've lost 100 pounds. Weight Watchers has everything I need from weight loss medications to nutrition support and help with my side effects. It's all in one place.
- [25:41]
Weight Watchers Advertiser
Weight Watchers handles the insurance for you and offers affordable cash pay options. With our program, our members are losing more weight with expert nutrition and side effect support.
- [25:50]
Rocket Money User/Mike
I'm Mike and I've lost 135 pounds. Weight Watchers prescribing GLP1 medications.
- [25:56]
Grainger Advertiser
It's been life changing.
- [25:57]
Lindsey Graham
I'm Sharia and I lost 80 pounds.
- [25:59]
Rebel.com Advertiser
On weight watch Watchers.
- [26:00]
Genius from Global Payments Advertiser
I realized that it would take more than a prescription to lose weight and feel good on a GLP1.
- [26:06]
Weight Watchers Advertiser
Better results, expert support, Lose more weight, make it last.
- [26:10]
Rocket Money User/Mike
I can't imagine doing a GLP1 without Weight Watchers.
- [26:13]
Weight Watchers Advertiser
Get started for as low as $25@weightwatchers.com GLP1 for over 60 years, we've helped millions of members find what works for them. Now it's your turn. Weight Watchers. Watch it work.