The groundbreaking 1977 miniseries "Roots" returns to television Easter Sunday, giving generations of African-Americans the chance to reconnect with their roots.

TV One, a national cable station featuring African-American programming and on Comcast Channel 172 in Chicago, is pairing with African Ancestry, a company specializing in using DNA testing to determine African lineage, to bring back the tale of African-American experience that captivated the nation 30 years ago.

"Roots," an adaptation of Alex Haley's book by the same title, traces the journey of a West African man sold into slavery from Gambia to the U.S., and follows his family through emancipation in the post-Civil War South.

More than 85 percent of households watched either all or part of the drama unfold when the program originally aired.

Michael Dawson, professor of political science at the University of Chicago, chalks the program's success up to good timing.

"'Roots' came out shortly after the civil rights and black power movements, when people felt very connected with their African heritage," he said, adding that an all-star cast added to its appeal.

Lynn McReynolds, a spokeswoman for TV One, said the station decided to bring back "Roots" in celebration of its 30th anniversary.

"TV One tries to focus on the breadth and depth of the African-American experience and provides a look at African-American culture viewers may not see elsewhere," she said. "'Roots' is a perfect fit."

McReynolds said the station paired with African Ancestry in hope of attracting a younger generation of online users.