The recent remake of the groundbreaking 1977 mini-series “Roots” has been nominated for seven Emmys this year. To ensure accuracy in depicting the lives of enslaved people, the show enlisted UT-Austin history professor Dr. Daina Ramey Berry to read scripts, ask questions and ensure the production's accuracy – from word choices, to cloth used in costumes, to the breeds of on-screen horses.
Berry says that level of detail hasn't always been evident in portrayals of slavery, and that her experience as a scholar helped both lend historical credibility and, more importantly, humanity to the show's narrative.
You can hear an extended version of Berry's interview with KUT below.
