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trishawojcik 's review for:
Roots: The Saga of an American Family
by Alex Haley
I grew up hearing of the television mini series “Roots”. I came across this book in a used book store and decided to start off Black History month with the story of “The African”.
It took me a little while to get into it. As a middle age white woman, African history told by a man is not something I’ve really read before. But I stuck with it and am glad that I did.
This book tells the story of 7 generations of a black family that tells its oral history when every generation is born. It starts in the 18th century in Africa, telling the story of Kunta Kinte being captured by slave traders and shipped to America. He tries to escape multiple times and patrollers chop off his foot to stop him from running again. He sees his daughter sold away from him. She is raped by her master and a child is born. That child grows and has eight children. Those children are sold and stay together through the Civil War. They then start a community in Tennessee. From there, generations continue, leading to the author, Alex Haley.
It’s an in depth read, but worth it.
It took me a little while to get into it. As a middle age white woman, African history told by a man is not something I’ve really read before. But I stuck with it and am glad that I did.
This book tells the story of 7 generations of a black family that tells its oral history when every generation is born. It starts in the 18th century in Africa, telling the story of Kunta Kinte being captured by slave traders and shipped to America. He tries to escape multiple times and patrollers chop off his foot to stop him from running again. He sees his daughter sold away from him. She is raped by her master and a child is born. That child grows and has eight children. Those children are sold and stay together through the Civil War. They then start a community in Tennessee. From there, generations continue, leading to the author, Alex Haley.
It’s an in depth read, but worth it.