Iowa

Police: Man Forced Woman to Watch ‘Roots' for Racism Lessons

When she tried to move, the woman said he told her to remain seated or he would “kill her and spread her body parts” across the interstate

UNITED STATES – JANUARY 24: ROOTS – Sunday, Jan. 23-Sunday. Jan. 30, 1977, The 12-hour Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Novel for Television “Roots”, which aired for eight consecutive nights, remains one of TV’s landmark programs. Based on Alex Haley’s best-selling novel, “Roots” followed 100 tumultuous years and several generations of the author’s African ancestors, from the arrival of Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton, center), the West African youth kidnapped into slavery and shipped to America, through emancipation after the Civil War., Pictured: Kunta Kinte was recaptured after an attempted escape (Jan. 24). , (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)

An Iowa man is accused of forcing a woman watch the nine-hour miniseries “Roots,” threatening her and telling her the episodic drama would make her better understand her racism.

Robert Noye, 52, is charged in Cedar Rapids with harassment and false imprisonment. His attorney didn't immediately return a call Tuesday from The Associated Press.

The Gazette reported that the woman told police that Noye made her sit with him to watch the miniseries. It was based on author Alex Haley's family history, from the capture and enslavement of his ancestor Kunta Kinte in Africa to the liberation of Kinte’s descendants.

When she tried to move, the woman said, Noye told her to remain seated or he would “kill her and spread her body parts” across the interstate.

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