Roots’ focuses on a particular group of people who defy the odds and win, eventually, even if it isn’t in their lifetimes. This is, for me, a very positive story and a very empowering one, if only we have that perspective on it. Malachi Kirby Read Quote
Kids under, I’d say, 14 are still maturing; they are still growing. They are still understanding themselves. To hit them with something like ‘Roots,’ to hit them with this particular period of time, it’s important to discuss the matters beyond the program itself. Malachi Kirby Read Quote
Kunta Kinte is the closest thing I’ve ever seen… to a superhero. He’s amazing. He’s inspirational. Malachi Kirby Read Quote
I never got picked for the athletics team for about three years. I was in my third year, and I really wanted to join, and I kept basically knocking on the door of the PE coach. ‘Can I join? Can I join?’ He’s like, ‘No… No.’ And then one day, he’s like, ‘Okay, you want to race? Cool. We have a free spot for you. You’re gonna be doing the 400.’ Malachi Kirby Read Quote
My roots go back to West Africa, but my last name is Kirby, which is not an African name. Malachi Kirby Read Quote
I think about Shakespeare. Because there have been hundreds of variations of Shakespeare’s plays since they’ve been written, and I believe it’s because they’re important. They’re still relevant today. ‘Roots’ is still relevant today. The idea that we shouldn’t tell this story again is very strange to me. Malachi Kirby Read Quote
I don’t think I’ve ever spoken to anyone who’s told me that the story of ‘Roots’ isn’t important. Malachi Kirby Read Quote
I found that there were things that God could reveal to me that I could never get myself physically. Malachi Kirby Read Quote
I was thinking, ‘What is it about Kunta Kinte that allowed him to live such a long life?’ For me, what came down to it was his spirit and his knowledge of self. Malachi Kirby Read Quote
