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The Roots Give 'Schoolhouse Rock' History of Slavery On 'Black-ish'

The Roots delivered a powerful "Schoolhouse Rock"-style history of slavery in America on the excellent season premiere of Black-ish on ABC. Roots frontman Black Thought gave a concise breakdown of slavery's continuation after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and the official end of slavery on June 19, 1865, all set to Schoolhouse Rock's iconic "I'm Just a Bill" song. 

The entire episode featured musical segments used to deliver this important history lesson. Read some of Black Thought's lyrics below:

“I am a slave in the home of the brave. A product of the triangular trade, please pardon my ways. If I’m nervous or the slightest bit skittish in the presence of the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, or British. They kept me in colonial chains. Tell me how to persuade them to chill or to save me and still I’m a slave. I hope and pray that they don’t kill me today. I am still just a slave.”

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