ThE cAsT oF "RoOtS" fIrE bAcK aT dIrEcToR qUeNtIn TaRaNtInO

Yesterday on "The Wendy Williams Show", part of the cast of the infamous slave film "Roots" came on to share with America, the timeless classic story written by author, Alex Haley. 

The cast also appeared on daytime talk show "The View" with co-host and moderator Whoopi Goldberg, leading the extraordinary first time on prime time TV interview to the masses!

I had NEVER in my life seen the characters of this film appear on prime time TV, and Ms. Goldberg hinted a suggestion that ABC, should air the film in its entirety one day. I concur! But I digress.

On The Wendy Williams Show, the exuberant host shared a public statement made by writer/director Quentin Tarantino, and his thoughts on the film "Roots": 

“When you look at Roots, nothing about it rings true in the storytelling, and none of the performances ring true for me either,” said Tarantino. “I didn’t see it when it first came on, but when I did I couldn’t get over how oversimplified they made everything about that time. It didn’t move me because it claimed to be something it wasn’t.”

Levar Burton, who played the character of young Kunta Kinte in the film, immediately took offense to Tarantino's comment and had this to say:

"Come and explain to me. He makes movies that are adolescent fantasies on steroids."

Leslie Uggams, who played the character Kizzy in the film, also had fierce words for Tarantino:

"We're telling our black story, he ain't black!"

I am a fan of certain Quentin Tarantino films but for the director to make a comment such as this, it makes me feel he doesn't fully understand the black struggle. For him to say "Roots" was oversimplified is astonishing to me, because I actually felt that his film "DJANGO UNCHAINED" was more oversimplified than any slavery movie I've ever seen. Even the slave film "Mandingo" was more reminiscent of slavery time than, "DJANGO".

Tarantino got the usage of the n-word down packed in his film, and the hostility and violence was graphic but true. However, the story itself just doesn't compare to Roots, period. 

DJANGO was more of a drama-comedy and during those horrid times of slavery, there was hardly anything funny about it. But Tarantino found a way to make light of the human holocaust. 

The film was absolutely interesting, but doesn't come close to the "authenticity" that Roots so brilliantly portrayed. 

Sorry Quentin can't have your back with this one.

2013 LA