Nearly 40 years ago, the miniseries "Roots" drew a record-breaking 100 million viewers. It was the most-watched miniseries in history, beating the previous year's series Gone With the Wind, which depicted a romantic version of an antebellum south.

And all this week, the History Channel has been airing a reboot of the series. 

Matthew Delmont, associate professor of history at Arizona State University and the author of Making Roots: A Nation Captivated (University of California Press, 2016), talks about what Roots meant to Americans in the 1970s.

And listeners who watched the History Channel remake call in to share their thoughts.

.@BrianLehrer: Note that Twitter users have put together a #RootsSyllabus: https://t.co/T9DvgagrM6

— Tiffany Winbush (@TiffanyPR) June 3, 2016

@BrianLehrer I watched the original my parents had our whole family watch I was 6. It is important to remember and honor our ancestors

— Jeanine T. Abraham (@J9dances) June 3, 2016

@BrianLehrer @roots it humanizes African Americans and helps us remember how strong we are survivors

— Jeanine T. Abraham (@J9dances) June 3, 2016

@BrianLehrer I liked that this version had new scenes. Last 2 eps were better. &, yes, 'humanity' is why 'enslaved black people' > 'slave'

— fafa sojidellha (@fafa019) June 3, 2016