Man arrested for allegedly forcing woman to watch 'Roots' to 'understand her racism'

A Cedar Rapids, Iowa, man was arrested Monday on charges of false imprisonment and domestic assault over allegations that he forced a woman to watch the 9-hour slavery miniseries "Roots" so that "she could better understand her racism."

What are the details?

Local newspaper The Gazette first reported that Robert Lee Noye, 52, allegedly held a female victim captive, insisting that she sit with him to watch the television series based on a 1976 book by author Alex Haley in order that, according to a criminal complaint, the woman "could better understand her racism."

When the woman attempted to move, the complaint stated, Noye threatened her, telling the purported victim to "remain seated and watch the movie with him or he would kill her and spread her body parts across Interstate 380 on the way to Chicago."

Noye is African-American, and according to the Daily Mail, the woman he allegedly forced to watch "Roots" is Caucasian. Police reportedly told the outlet the two have been in an on-again off-again relationship for several years.

Anything else?

"Roots" first aired on television in 1977 and starred LeVar Burton as Kunta Kinte, a Gambian warrior who was kidnapped and sold into slavery. The show was based on Haley's book, "Roots: The Saga of an American Family," which chronicles several generations of the author's family.

The New York Post reported that the original acclaimed miniseries received a staggering 37 Emmy nominations. "Roots" was remade starring actor Malachi Kirby as Kinte a handful of years ago in a version that aired on the History Channel in 2016.