Roots_Part_1

Book Review part.1 Roots: The Saga of an American Family by Author Alex Haley was a novel depicting the hardships put onto generations a particular family during early American development. By writing a book based on a long lineage of family history passed down from one generation to the next. With the use of situations which are factually documented in history he places the reader in a more intimate realization of the absolutely appalling treatment that African American slaves went through in this country. I think it does a good job to make people realize how vital it is to know your family heritage and culture. And how the American slave trade wreaked havoc on all aspects of family life for the enslaved Africans. We also see how over a few generation not only were they enslaved physically but mentally as well. It is a fine example of historical fiction in my opinion. He relates the timeline of his family story with actual events that took place in history. As well as giving the reader an idea of the sort of policies enacted on the enslaved people and how it affected them personally. There are many different themes in which this book touches on throughout the reading. Obviously mainly that of the American slave trade, but also the importance of one’s identity, a strong family bond and the continuation of one’s cultural traditions. He gives examples of how the slave owners were doing things to keep slaves from gaining strong bonds with one another. In many cases having whole families split up and sold to separate owners at their “Masters” will. Also how in most all cases whites forbade Slaves from practicing any aspects of cultural tradition whether it be medicine, religion, language or family traditions also forbidding the education of any colored person. This was crucial to keep them mentally enslaved in order to prevent any sort of rebellion as well as attempted escapes. The book provides a graphic and accurate portrayal of life for an enslaved family in America. The author puts together a time-line that spans several generations and begins in the African homeland in a journey that few can imagine with text books and other school lessons. It starts by developing a strong emotional connection to the character Kunta Kinte. By emphasizing the importance of the family bond and community, and how cultural traditions are important for one to keep their identity. He does this by giving use various examples of social life in his village growing up, along with the many cultural practices. Kunta Kinte who is captured in Africa while collecting wood to make a drum. He is then shipped under incredibly cruel treatment by white slave traders to “Naplis” via the Middle Passage. When in America his is then purchased by a John Waller and taken to Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Kunta was determined to escape and attempted to do so four times until a group of poor white “slave catchers”(Poor whites, actually took place in history as a result of the fugitive slave law, bounty’s were placed on runaways) cut half of Kuntas right foot. Near death Kunta was purchased by Dr. William Waller who was John Waller’s brother. In comparison he treated the slaves of his plantation better than his brother. Kunta ended up staying on that plantation for quite some time and eventually became his “Masters” buggy driver. Kunta ended up marrying Bell who was the “Big House Cook”. The two eventually had a daughter and named her Kizzy. Though stripped of their identity the author does a good job of how it might have been within the slave’s social community in regards to those who try to keep their culture and those who know only the enslaved life. When Kizzy is 16 she is sold in a terribly sad situation to a man named Tom Lea who was a Chicken Fighter among other things. Kizzy was raped by her new master and bore a child in which Tom named George after his “strongest slave ever”. At 12 years old George began help to train and raise the fighting roosters that Tom lea fought. Through his reputation as a “gamecock trainer” he was given the name Chicken George, at about 18 George met and married a girl named Matilda, who eventually had with him 8 children. George is beginning to save some money in hopes to buy his and his families freedom. This book was a portrayal of a part of American history that almost seems to have lost its importance in the minds of the generation of today. It makes you realize how not too long ago this was actually going on in the United States. He did an excellent job to capture or engage the reader with vivid details building strong emotional ties to the characters; it makes you want to keep going. As we become introduced to new members of the family I often wonder why Alex Haley chose to follow the road to kunta and not to branch off at the various opportunities in which he had the chance to take the direction of another route of ancestry. None the less I strongly feel that it does a good job to make the youth of today critically think about these sorts of issues which are still relevant in aspects of society today. At the time it was published it has been said to of, helped to reinforce and support those views and opinions of all of those involved in civil rights and equality movements.