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Haley's Inability to Trace His Roots is the Real Tragedy

posted 11 years ago by PretoriaDZ
4 replies | jump to latest

Yes, it was wrong of him to use another author's work within his own. Yes, it was wrong of him to allow the miniseries to perpetrate a hoax on the public which thought they were actually seeing him find his African relatives.

However, if you think about it, it demonstrates the most tragic part about slavery, the disconnectedness, the inability to have a family tree, to have basically no idea where you came from. A lot of African-Americans (or blacks if you prefer) don't even know what tribe their ancestors came from and that is the most basic identity you can have in Africa. It's what the oppressors (whether white or black) paid no attention to when they carved up the continent into countries, countries that often cut right through the area of land where the majority of a tribe lived, so that then tribal members might be living in separate countries.

As far as how truthful the barbaric acts of slavery in Roots, I would bet that stuff like that did go on. However, there were a lot of families with slaves who were not animals and, though they committed the sin of owning human beings, did treat their slaves as human beings and not as animals. That wasn't shown in Roots and it should have been.

[–] LesterFester 11 years ago

PretoriaDZ...As far as how truthful the barbaric acts of slavery in Roots, I would bet that stuff like that did go on. However, there were a lot of families with slaves who were not animals and, though they committed the sin of owning human beings, did treat their slaves as human beings and not as animals.

While there is much I probably could comment on I chose the last portion of your post: From the moment an African-American was purchased at auction or captured to the date of his death he was treated INHUMANELY. The auction/capture was the beginning violation of his basic right to freedom ie. The right to pursue those things required for human happiness. I ask you the question regarding those slaves you think were treated HUMANELY: What would've happened if they had chose to leave the plantation? What would've happened if they chose to "read/learn" in defiance of the master's rule? What would've happened if they had just said NO?

No matter how well a slave is treated he lives at the behest of his master. He works when his master says work and he rests ONLY when his master allows. You have to explain further how the slaves were not treated like animals.

' Fighting A Never Ending Battle For Truth, Justice & The American Way '

[–] Luxn 10 years ago

I think the OP's silence speaks volumes. It's pretty hard to argue with your eloquent post, LF.

It's a little saddening to me that any enlightened person can seriously think that a slave could be treated humanely. He is denied his freedom. Nothing that happens after that can be considered humane (but I guess you could say some owners were less cruel than others).

[–] MissMillie420 10 years ago

I think the OP's silence speaks volumes. It's pretty hard to argue with your eloquent post, LF.

My thought's exactly.

No matter how well a slave is treated he lives at the behest of his master. He works when his master says work and he rests ONLY when his master allows. You have to explain further how the slaves were not treated like animals.

It's a little saddening to me that any enlightened person can seriously think that a slave could be treated humanely. He is denied his freedom. Nothing that happens after that can be considered humane (but I guess you could say some owners were less cruel than others).

Both of these statements hit the proverbial nail on the head. 👍

Here's to those who wish me well...🍻

[–] activista 8 years ago

The OP did get this part right,though:

However, if you think about it, it demonstrates the most tragic part about slavery, the disconnectedness, the inability to have a family tree, to have basically no idea where you came from. A lot of African-Americans (or blacks if you prefer) don't even know what tribe their ancestors came from and that is the most basic identity you can have in Africa. It's what the oppressors (whether white or black) paid no attention to when they carved up the continent into countries, countries that often cut right through the area of land where the majority of a tribe lived, so that then tribal members might be living in separate countries.