Why Alex Haley’s “Roots” Should Be Part of Your Black History Reading
A Review of An African American Classic
The sub-title of Roots is “The Saga of an American Family.” The word “saga” has Nordic origins and describes a protracted tale of legacy and heroism. Now with “Roots”, you may not get Ragnar Lodbrok like tales of epic battles, treacherous journeys, betrayal, love-making and fights with gods and titans but you will certainly get legacy and heroism in a different way. You see, unlike many stories, Roots is a historical marathon of sorts spanning over more than two centuries. However, the story is predominantly involved with the first three generations and their part of the tale is covered in very intricate detail…heart-wrenchingly intricate detail but no spoilers just yet.
Histories and biographies are one thing but historical fiction, well that’s something else. The best ones give a totally different perspective on historical events; let me explain. Works like Hugo’s “Les Miserables,” Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” and Adichie’s “Half of a Yellow Sun” all introduce several characters into the chronology of events that make up a certain period and colour the experience with a humanity that really puts the reader in a prime position to understand the events from a unique vantage point. “Roots” is no exception but first, a bit of background.
