I've heard some black people really say that this is a true story and not fiction. I've heard people say that kunta kinte escaped and moved to canada where he became a famous philosopher, but all of his books were burned to erase this from history. Does it really matter that some people think this, or should people just be allowed to believe what they want as long as it doesn't hurt others?
2007-03-09 02:34:36 · 22 answers · asked by Matt 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
I cannot answer that but I do think that by continually harking back to the past it indicates an inability to cope with and live in the present.
How many millions of whites and non blacks were enslaved by the Romans, by the mongols, Syrians and a whole host of other countries. I have not heard a single non black voice mention all that!
Whilst slavery has been virtually eradicated in the free world it is still alive and very much thriving in many of the original black countries. Slavery run by black men and do you hear any worries about that?
Perhaps these stories and the persistent harking backwards is another white mans ploy to keep the non whites at a disadvantage!
The simple fact is that history happened - cannot be changed - and unless people can move on then they will remain shackled to disadvantage - not the disadvantage of a slave ancestor but the disadvantage of a closed mind unable to move on.
Thankfully there are now loads of people with slave ancestors who have moved on and do not wear it like a badge.
2007-03-09 02:57:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
I've persoanlly never heard that theory before. But because the story has alot of historical accruacy, alot of blacks (there are not African Americans, there are no Scottish americans, if you are in america you ARE american..sorry..)
Feel that they can "connect" to the story and turn the fictional peice into something of fact. Just like the Movie Queen. (Both of which i loved!!) I'm not sure about the chracters, wheather or not they were real or fiction, but the life they lived, was as real as a film maker could make.
2007-03-09 14:53:05 · answer #2 · answered by Pandora 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ROOTs was written by Alex Haley based on his research of his family history. I am sure that some parts were made up but some of it is pretty accurate. if you read the book, Kunte Kinte did not move to Canada. He died a slave.
it is important because many african Americans use this term but they have no idea about their familes. i am sure that you can trace your great_grandfather back from Ireland (or whatever) and not many blacks can do this. so Alex Haley took it upon himself and researched it.
I have done the same, but I havent researched as far back as he did because that part is gone from the memories of my elders. However, on my mother's side, my great++ grandfather was irish and came to Barbados to acquire land. my father's side..well you read african american history and slavery. that is all there is to it
2007-03-09 10:44:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Roots is not entirely fictional, it is based on the author's family history. Obviously the dialog and specifics are imagined, but none of it was unrealistic.
Haley did very thorough research for this book, spending ten years and traveling throughout three continents to find out the specifics, and most (if not all) of the names and dates are accurate.
2007-03-09 10:50:33 · answer #4 · answered by Ashley 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
roots is not a true story but is based on one. i mean a lot of the things that happened and the way slavery is portrayed, most of that is true. It may have not happened to that person but they are things that really did happen during that time period. I don't know really know why it matters because either way you're supposed to read it and learn something from it whether it's completely true or not.
2007-03-09 16:38:27 · answer #5 · answered by angelicasongs 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Roots is the family story of author Alex Hailey, how do you not know this? History passed down by his own relatives, did you seriously think that every bit of that story was made up?
2007-03-09 14:03:31 · answer #6 · answered by micheleh29 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The characters maybe be fictional, but the events did happen to many slaves (forced to change names, the beatings, oppresion, etc). The fact of whether he actually existed doesnt really matter. It was a story that was too true for many african americans.
2007-03-09 10:40:44 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Um...I haven't thought about ROOTS since i was a kid. And most people will believe with they want, regardless of how asinine or retarded it is and they'll keep knocking their heads into a wall for as long as they live. Luckily, I'm not one of those types of people. I don't believe just any old thing because someone else professes it to be true. That's shows poor character and naivety.
2007-03-09 10:47:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Root was based on the family history of Alex Haley. It is based on true events and people.
2007-03-09 10:41:08 · answer #9 · answered by abgroove 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I've never heard anyone say that, but most people understand that the movie was based on truths from that time.
2007-03-09 10:39:21 · answer #10 · answered by Dane Cruz 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋