October Prompt: Who Inspires You? LeVar Burton

Seeing LeVar Burton twice a day on TV as a child shaped my view of black men

LeVar Burton, image credit via American Library Association

I’m taking up the prompt of talking about being inspired by black achievements, black leadership, and black creatives to talk about LeVar Burton.

He is an American icon of literacy and made a lasting mark on pop culture as one of sci fi’s most beloved characters. Everyone I know has either heard of Reading Rainbow or watched it, and everyone I know has seen Star Trek: The Next Generation and remembers Geordi La Forge. As an adult, I also learned of Burton’s groundbreaking role as Kunta Kinte on Roots.

I am referencing LeVar Burton’s personal website for all background information on the shows he has been involved with.

Of course, Roots came first.

LeVar Burton as Kunta Kinte from Roots, via ABC

LeVar Burton made his acting debut in 1977 when he played Kunta Kinte in the ABC award-winning drama series Roots, based on the novel by Alex Haley. Burton’s audition for the role of Kinte was the first of his professional career. As a result of his performance, he was nominated for the Emmy for Best Actor in a Drama Series…