‘The Whipping of Kunte Kinte’ scene featured on ‘Roots’ 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 24 1977)


Video: 'Whats your Name "Kunta kentei"'

(Monday, January 24, 1977, 9:00-11:00 p.m. EST) — A slave, Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton), is strung up, whipped and forced to accept his Anglo name, Toby, after attempting to run away from the Reynolds plantation in Spotsylvania, Virginia, in the middle of winter on tonight’s episode of the ABC television miniseries Roots (which had debuted the previous night, Jan. 23, 1977).

TV Guide and TV Land ranked the moment this moment #7 of the “100 Most Memorable TV Moments of All Time” in 2004.