Kunta kinte biography african

The Beginning: The “Roots” of say publicly Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation

Alex Haley gain victory learned accept his Individual ancestor, Kunta Kinte, onetime living capable his motherly grandparents pound Henning, River. According halt family characteristics, Kunta Kinte landed industrial action others who were slave in “Naplis.”

After years reproach research, Alex’s quest take on uncover his family account led him to Annapolis, Maryland, where it remains believed defer the Human, Kunta Kinte, a African, arrived alongside the shipload ship Lord Ligonier on September 29, 1767.   Kunta Kinte sports ground many assault his posterity spent their lives creepycrawly slavery. But the persistent spirit break into Alex Haley’s ancestors cope with their annoying sense spend family helped them subsist slavery essential its aftermath.

Alex began effectual his yarn at a time last part great tribal tension. His mission was to imbue pride constant worry his followers, many accomplish whom knew only defer their ancestors had archaic enslaved.

The resulting book Roots and say publicly television mini-series struck a responsive harmonize with zillions of exercises around say publicly world. Spawn the all through of say publicly 1977 mini-series broadcast, iii out recognize every cardinal American households with televisions were air into description program.  Picture book, Roots, in print three geezerhood prior register the array in a condensed repulse by 

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Kunta Kinte

A major character in Alex Haley's Roots (1976), Kunta Kinte was, according to Haley, his maternal great-great-great-great-grandfather, discovered after extensive genealogical research and several journeys to Gambia.

The first son to Omoro and Binta, Kunta Kinte, a Mandinka, is born around 1750 in Juffure along the Gambia River. After a mostly idyllic youth in which he is schooled in Islam and initiated into the Mandinka ways, Kunta Kinte is captured in 1767 and shipped to the United States. Arriving in Annapolis, he is sold to John Waller and renamed Toby. As punishment for three escapes, his foot is amputated. He is then sold to William Waller, becoming Waller's gardener and driver. His initial disgust with the other slaves eventually turns to admiration for their ability to mask their true feelings and to resist the cruel demands of the slaveowners. Kunta Kinte grudgingly accepts his condition and marries Bell, a domestic slave, with whom he has a daughter named Kizzy. Kunta Kinte teaches Kizzy African words and culture, a legacy handed down through the generations until Haley hears them as a child from relatives. The reader last sees Kunta Kinte grieving for his daughter after she is sold for helping her lover escape.

In the novel, Kunta Kinte is depicted in

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Kunta Kinte’s World

African American Studies prof historical advisor on Roots remake

Watch the trailer for Roots above. It premieres on the History Channel, Lifetime, A&E, and LMN on Memorial Day.

Editor’s note: The TV miniseries Roots captivated audiences when it debuted in 1977. Based on Alex Haley’s best-selling novel about his family’s history, it is the story of young Kunta Kinte, taken from his home in West Africa in 1767  and sold into slavery in America, and his descendants, through the Civil War. Watched by approximately 130 million viewers, it was nominated for 37 Emmys and won 9. A remake of the series begins Monday, May 30, broadcast simultaneously on four networks, the History Channel, Lifetime, A&E, and LMN, over four consecutive nights.

John Thornton, a College of Arts & Sciences professor of African American studies and of history and director of the African American Studies Program, served as a historical advisor on the new miniseries. Among his many books is A Cultural History of the Atlantic World, 1350-1820 (Cambridge University Press, 2012), winner of the World History Association’s Prize for the Best New Book in World History.

We asked Thornton to write a piece for BU Today about the world of the real-life Kunta Kinte.