thank goodness because I needed my job.

I lived in the Bay area at the time "Roots" was first aired. After a couple of shows, my boss called me in his office. He asked if I'd been following the saga and what was my views. (I was the only black in the office and I suppose he figured I could answer for all Blacks )

I replied that I was pleasantly surprised and pleased by the accurate description of families living under slavery.

He bowed his head and told me that his ancestors owned "slaves", but they were good people and good to their slaves. He asked if I believed that ALL slaveowners were bad.

I replied (sigh!) that anyone who believed it was OK to enslave a fellow human was Bad.

He hung his head and I walked out of the office.