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George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) is given a piece of primitive African art as a housewarming present from his new neighbors, the Willises. This generous gesture sparks a debate over the importance of ancestry -- or lack of importance, so far as George is concerned. The loquacious Mr. Jefferson changes his tune about family ties when he receives word that he himself is descended from a royal African family. Originally telecast January 25, 1975, "George's Family Tree" might have been regarded as The Jeffersons' answer to the classic TV miniseries Roots -- except in this case, the answer came two years before the question.