Synopsis
August 20th, 2008 | Uncategorized |Episode One:
In the first episode of Roots, we meet two main characters: Kunta Kinte, a young boy growing up in the area of Gambia in West Africa, and Captain Davies, the new captain of a slave ship.
Kunta Kinte
We meet Kunta Kinte as he is born, grows up and goes through manhood training. We learn a little bit about what his tribe believes and how they live. Soon after he goes through his manhood training, he is captured by slave traders and taken aboard a slave ship headed for America.
Captain Davies has just become the captain of a slave ship and he is not sure how he feels about slavery. His First Mate, Mr.
Captain Davies
Slater tries to teach him how to be a “good” slave ship captain, but it is very hard for the Captain to adjust. He is basically a good man who finds himself doing a very bad thing.
As the episode ends, Kunta Kinte and 160 other slaves are captives onboard the Lord Ligoneer and are trying to find a way to escape.
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Note: Remember to post your blogpost as a comment on this page, not on the instruction page. Make sure you include your Block, your first name and last initial only, and the name of the character you are blogging as.
Good luck.
- Mr. Fladd
ErinR
Block A
character:captian Davie’s wife when she finds out the her husband is going to be the captian of a slave ship.
How could he do this to me? more inportanly how could he do this to out childern? Why is he doing this if its against out religion? why’d he have to say yes? how come he didn’t say no? Will he make it back alright? What kind of person will he be when he gets home?
These are the questions that have been running though my head sense the moment my dear husband told me that he was going to be the captain of a slave ship.
When my husbamd first come after accpting the offer her didn’t seem happy nore sad, but he did seem frustrated. he sofly told me the news not wanting the children to hear. My heart sank as he told me that he’d be leaving in a few days; i didn’t let him see how much this hurt. Oh, i was going to miss him.
Later that night, at dinner we broke the news to the kids. The begged and begged him to stay, all he could do was shake his head and say i can’t. Seeing the kids like that broke my heart and i’m pretty sure it broke his too.
A few short days later, me and the kids said our goodbyes to him. The kids were crying as they watched their father leave and walk away from our house. That would be the last time we’ll be seeing him in the next few mounths, or maybe that will be the last. It was way to hard for me to think about him. I love him so much and now that might be my last time i ever see him.
* * *
I’ve been thinking about him everyday sense he has gone out to sea. The kids ask about him often too; but all i can say is i’m sure he’ll be fine or daddy will be back soon.
Wow! You did a GREAT job of climbing into her head. Next time, please spend a little more time working on your spelling and grammar so your readers won’t be distracted and will give your writing the attention it deserves. Well done! – Mr. Fladd
Isaac D, Block B
Man from search party that discovers Kunta Kinte has been captured
I watched Kunta Kinte go into the woods, but didn’t mind because I had heard that he was going to make a drum for his little brother, so I didn’t worry. I just went back to doing my business.
I had not been thinking about it until his father came to me asking if I had seen him lately. I told him about the drum and told him about seeing him walk into the woods. I was asked to help make a search party for him and I did. I showed them where he went into the woods and we went straight from there. All of us looking for some evidence that he had been there or even find him but we just kept walking. No signs of him or really anybody else. The search went on a lot longer than we hoped and had expected. I just couldn’t understand why we kept walking away from the village, since he wouldn’t have gone out of the forest because there usually aren’t any good logs in the tall grass. Finally out of the grass we went and found ourselves on a beach. Again I don’t think he would have came all the way out here, but I didn’t say anything. We all were looking, behind rocks and other things that were there, but found nothing. Then I looked down and saw it. It was Kunta Kinte’s bag. There would be no reason that he would take it off and even if he did he wouldn’t forget it on the beach. He would have also noticed if it fell off. There was only one explanation. He had been chased and captured. Since Kunta Kinte had seen white men at man hood training this was definitely not out of the question. We had heard about the sighting and were told to be on the look out. I couldn’t believe it. We all started our way back to the village still with our heads looking around hoping we would see him, but there was no luck. As we approached the village we all put our heads down as we had all figured out it was true. Kunta Kinte had been captured and taken. What really got me the maddest though was that I could have prevented this, and seeing his mothers face when he told her the news was heart breaking. It was unbelievable, especially since I didn’t want to believe it.
Good job. I know this wasn’t the easiest essay in the world to write and I’m looking forward to what you write about your NEXT character. Keep up the good work! – Mr. Fladd
Pierce O. [last name removed]
Sitting here. Drowning in my own filth and stench. Me and my family, separated. Until that day these crazy animals set me free. If they don’t I will break away. Saving myself from the hunger and non cleanliness I have to suffer through. I am weak now, and may seem tamed. Although I can be dangerous, and if all of us work together we can break free. Saving our own selves. Right now I am sitting here. Pine wood digging into my back. I can feel the skin starting to fade, and soon it seems as if I will be nothing. They feed me unknown food. Stuff that makes any man get sick. It is terrible here. We are regular people in the hands of these murderous things. White as sand their shells are. They are not human all of us are sure. We sit here, surrounded by our own kind, luckily. Covered in sweat, it is so hot. Covered in our own filth, stench and food that didn’t agree with us. We seem like nothing to the white things. We feel like nothing to the white things. Taken over by the white things is what has happened. We eventually can destroy them though. The white things torture us, taking away anything that we care for. Now we seem to just be alive, heart beating, yes we are breathing. Every once in a while the strange white things take us out of our contraptions and we breath air not consisting of our last meal that came up. They force us to jump around like we are less human than these creatures. They throw the cold water of theirs at us for no purpose. None of us understand what the white things do, and why they do it. We don’t understand their language. They are not as civilized as us, for they make no sense. Everything they do is useless. Yet somehow they dare to think we are the useless ones. How dare I say that, I don’t know them, therefore I should NEVER understand their thoughts. They are bad things. I am not, i should have no relation with their terrible ways. I must get these thoughts out of my head. The others might think I turned on them. I cannot let this happen. They are my only hope.. the only reason im still living. Hope is what is keeping all of us alive. I wonder what keeps the white things alive. They have no hope or wishes for anything, the only point in them is to hurt us. Use us for their own. We may be great but we have no use to them. We are strong enough to refuse to obey their unusual commands. We will not let them have anymore control over us then they do now. We will succeed. But for now I must eat the white things food. The need to help us survive so we can be a help to them. I don’t know how. But we will not let this happen we will eat there food, and what they do not realize is the strength we get from it we will refuse to use for their needs. we will use it to rebel against them and claim our freedom!
Well done! You did a good job of imagining what this must have been like. – Mr. Fladd
Morgan F. [last name removed]
Block A S.S
Charater:Mr.Slater(Talking about captain Davies)
Why does the captain act so wierd when I report to him about the slaves?Who cares that he’s christian he took the duty to be a slave captain.And being the first mate I need to teach him how to be a good slave ship captain.
I have noticed that when I talk about the witches how much he changes.His eyes get big and he teanses.I wonder if he felt better after I brought him that witch.Man you should have seen how he acted when i walked in with her.He tryed to get me to take her back but I insisted for him to use her for his pleasur.
My other questions are…
How does the what those male slaves where chanting?Why doenst he like talking about slaves?We are sailing on a slave ship too.Also when i told him what the thumb crusher was for he was not amused.
Why didn’t he let me pack the slaves tight?He said to pack the with room not squished.Maybe after this voyage he will think of slaves differently and maybe get one.But probably not.so lets not think that.
So back to Captain Davies,i herd he left a family back home his wife was not too happy to hear tha he is the captain of a slave ship.But they really need to get over the slave thing they of animals not human.They need a job so we gave it to them.Anway most of them would have died cause the other blacks would have eaten them so technecly we are saveing them.I should go and tell the captain that.Then maybe he wont think it is so bad.
You did a good job of letting us know what Mr. Slater said in the movie. Next time, I’d like to see more about what ELSE he thinks and feels. – Mr. Fladd
Kyle C.
Block B
Mr. Slater
To be honest Captain Davies has no idea how to run a slave ship. The blacks are nothing but animals there for they should be treated as such. They must learn to obey on command just like any other domesticated animal. I don’t see why some people like Davies are against taking blacks from their homeland it is a good thing, taking them away from their certain death in Africa. Plus most of those blacks are savages and need some construction in their pathetic lives, and what a better way to do that than chaining them up. Then keeping them under the ship helps them from going wild and hurting them selves, and we don’t want that to happen or else we’ll lose money on their selling price. The only bad part about transporting the blacks is their horrid smell in just a few days on the ship. I guess it is not great for the poor sailors who have to clean where we keep the blacks, all that vomit and all their muck everywhere. The worst part about those blacks is that they don’t hear a dang word you say to them, but then again they’re not the smartest breed. The problem with the blacks is that they die off on the way back home which makes my job even harder trying to keep the other ones from doing the same, because when that happens I don’t get as big as a pay check I would like. Another problem about these blacks is all their moaning and groaning their like babies, and some nights I would like to get some sleep. Whatever though it’s a job and I’m not suppose to like it.
You did a good job of climbing around inside this guy’s head. – Mr. Fladd
Leah H.
Block B
Kunta Kinte after being captured
This couldn’t be happening to me. No. For I am Kunta Kinte, brave and wise man. This is farther then my worst dreams could ever imagine. I lay down chained up in the bottom of this rotten white man’s ship. Other men and woman just like me are laying around me, the smell of this place is gut-wrenching and I am laying in a pool of fluids that I don’t even know what they are. We haven’t eaten for days and when they do serve us, I refuse to eat it. This isn’t fair but I will not just eat that white man food. It is nasty and makes everyones stomachs churn. My body is covered in all the things people never want on them, the stuff soaks into my cuts and wounds and it stings. All I can do for now is just lay there. I start thinking back, how did I get captured? I always knew about the white men, I saw one right in manhood training but I never thought that it could happen to me. We learned about what to do, watch the monkeys, if they are scared we should be scared. Don’t go in the high grass alone and especially don’t go in the woods alone. Now that I think back I realize I should have listened to the wise men. For my stupidity my life is taken from me. NO! I refuse to think that! It’s not my fault! GET ME OUT OF HERE. I have a plan, as soon as they bring us up I will jump off the boat and swim the miles home, Mama and Dad will be so happy to see me. So will Nana and my brother. I will finish my drum for my brother and I’ll be a hero for everyone in my village. Kunta Kinte; the man who escaped a slave ship.
You give a feeling of how proud Kunta Kinte is and how hard this must have been on his ego. Well done. – Mr. Fladd
I have kunta Kinta after manhood training
When I came home from manhood training I thought everything was going to be awesome. I went home to my mother and got my things and went to find the house my father had built me when I got there I meet my grandmother in a very unpleasant way she beat me over the head with an object that I did not ever find out what it was. So we talk and she told me I should do something for her or my brother. I asked her if she thought he would like a drum, she said she was sure that he would. I told her that I would go and look for the right kind of log tomorrow. so that next day I went looking I thought I had found the right kind of log when the monkeys stopped and started to act weird I stopped and looked around I saw someone and then another and a white man with them . They came running at me so I turned and ran through the tall bushes and grass that in manhood training they told us not ever to go in alone. I just kept running they were not gaining on me or falling behind. Then more of them cut me off. I pulled out my knife, they came at me, and I stabbed one to them before they got the chains around my hands. I started to fail trying to get them off me I failed even longer dreaming to get the cuffs off and kill them, kill them all, they sat around me almost looking like they were laughing at me and the way I struggled to get free of the chains. Then they picked me up and dragged me to a group of others that have been caught and walked us all in one chain to the cages when I got there they threw us to the ground inside of the cage not to think of the whippings we got on the way here. When I was standing inside I saw the wrester we talked a while and then they put us on the ship we were 1 person apart he kept talking to me then about a month in to the trip they took us up to the deck and had us jump and dance while they r@ped the woman. When we went back down I stared to refuse to eat but the one of the people next to me died, so I took the food even though it made me puke. Then me and the werelser came up with the idea to become one tribe and take over the ship so we told everyone to teach echother there langue and we could kill all the white men everyone started to teach echother their language
This is a good start, but I’d really like to read more about what he thought and felt. Next time, please don’t concentrate so much on the events. – Mr. Fladd
NicoleJ, Block B
Slave on Ship(male)
Why me? What about the rest of my village, were they taken too? This is all I can think about while I lay here on these hard boards that dig into my back. I swear soon there will be nothing but bone. There are so many of us here, so many different tribes, but none that I can see came from my village. I am so weak, who knows how long I’ve been here for. I only wish to be back home. The heat down here is horrid, and not only that but the others bodily waste is adding onto me. The whites feed us some… well, white man food. It turns the stomachs of most of us. Every once in a while, the whites unchain us in small groups, and we go up to the top of this place. They make us jump; if we don’t jump they hit us with whips until we do. They also take the women and give one to each white, after that they go their separate ways with them, into different places, who knows what they do with them. When I’m up there I try to inhale every last breathe of fresh air that I can. Sometimes they get buckets of water and throw them on us; it stings my wounds so badly. The other day, one man was talking upon all of us. I could not understand his language, but others could and they began to speak to. I guess what he had said was powerful because once he finished everyone began to talk. The men beside me understood each other. They spoke to me saying the same thing over and over again until I said it, then they would do something to help me figure out what it meant. I believe that the one man who spoke had told us to teach each other our language for some reason. I hope it was good plan, at least one to get us out of here. I had woke up today to the whites unchaining the chains across from me; another man dead. What did we do to deserve this? All I know is that one day I will become free, no matter how long it takes, I will return to my village, and reunite with my family.
I’ll bet it was tough to imagine what this guy was going through. You did a REALLY good job of putting yourself in his place. Well done. – Mr. Fladd
Kristin O. Block D
A slave in the slave pen on the beach (Kunta Kinte)
White men came to our land and took me from my family. They threw rope all around me and knocked me to the ground. After that they locked me in a big wood house like thing. But it couldn’t be a house there is no roof or walls. I am with others like myself but some are from other tribes. I wonder if my family knows I was taken? My father is going to be disappointed in me. I am supposed to be a man I am not supposed to let things like this happen to me. This is going to break my mother’s heart.
Then I heard chains rattle and people struggling, more people are coming. They’re coming right to this house like box. A white man came to the closed door and rattled a little chain until the door opened, they pushed the people in. I recognized one of the women; she was the girl I ran into when I was completing the task of catching a bird with no tools. I wanted to say something to her, but I couldn’t. Something inside of me wouldn’t let me so I just sat down, and started to think.
I tried to think of what this new land will look like but I can’t get my mind off my family. My little brother will never get a drum and my mother will be heart broken knowing that she only has one son now. Even know I am a man a tear came to my eye knowing I might never see my family ever again.
You do a very good job of writing about what this man must be feeling. Well done. – Mr. Fladd
Binta, Kunta’s mother (after Kunta has gone through Manhood training.) My son is back now and he is a man I packed all of his stuff up, and his father built him a hut. Kunta will he living on his own now he will need to take care of himself. He comes to me I tell about the shelf that his father will build me now that Kunta is leaving and I will have room to put every thing away. Kunta then left to find his new hut that his dad built him. I worry now I wonder if Kunta will be fine living by himself If he will get scared at night when no one is with him. As the day goes on I hear bad news no one can find Kunta. Men from I tribe went out looking for him. I stay in my hut I am scared that the white men got Kunta.
I look out my door I see Kuntas search party, but I do not see Kunta. My husband comes to me and says “ the white men got Kunta.” I start crying and go to my hut and lay down I wonder where the white men are bring Kunta, what they will do to Kunta, but most importantly will I every see Kunta again. I worry that the white men might be hurting kunta and he is in pain. I think that he must be uncomfortable on the slave ship packed full of slaves. Dinner time come and I can not eat I wonder what Kunta is eating for dinner, or if he is not eating at all.
It has now been a couple days sence the white men got Kunta I worry that he might be dead.
I’m impressed! This is some solid writing! I like how you really thought about her worries and thoughts. – Mr. Fladd
Travis Duh Block B
Character: Omaro Kunta’s father (many years after Kunta has been kidnapped) Description: African American
Hi I am Omaro, Kunta’s father. It has been many years since Kunta’s has been kidnapped by the white men and put on their ship. My wife has been sad ever since and she wakes up every morning thinking where she went wrong, and why didn’t he listen to his instructions on what to stay away from or watch for. I assume Kunta is dead because that is what Allah, our gracious leader thought would be better for Kunta instead of suffering for the white men. I still tell my wife that Kunta is ok to keep her spirits high. Since Kunta is gone the only son we have is Kunta’s little brother which helps to keep us going. We try to teach him things that Kunta didn’t follow, like watch for monkeys and stay away from the tall grass. We taught him that so we would not have to worry about this kidnapping incident again. I try to make Kunta’s spirit live with us by having his little brother do the thing Kunta like the most. I tell a lot about Kunta to his little brother so he knows how great Kunta was. I always wondered if Kunta would ever come back but it’s been so long that my hope and my faith that Kunta would comeback is fading away. I and as for my wife we pray that Allah our gracious god is giving Kunta a good after life or if Kunta is alive a great life where ever he is. I now take over watching the sheep and I teach Kunta’s little brother how to care for the sheep. I still wish Kunta would have listened to what he was taught during manhood training if he did listen this would have not happened.
Well done. I’m pretty sure this is a lot like what Omoro WOULD have felt like. – Mr. Fladd
Owner of the Lord Ligonier
Josh P
Block B
My guy that I’m doing is the owner of the Lord Ligonier. He wanted to go on the mission of getting slaves. I think the reason why he didn’t go on the trip to get the slaves is because, he was ashamed of himself. He didn’t want to go on the trip because he didn’t want to show his face to the slaves. I also think that he was ashamed of himself because if he was a Christian. I think he would think that he would be committing a sin. He would probably be committing a sin because he would be harming humans and that wouldn’t be right for a Christian to do that. I think he would be feeling strongly about slavery if he didn’t have to see them. It would be different to him if he had to see the slaves. If he had to see the slaves on the boat I think he would feel strongly about not having slavery. But sense he doesn’t have to see the slaves on the boat he feels strongly about having slaves. I think if he had to feel what the slaves felt he wouldn’t like slavery. I think he was scared to go on the ship and see what he would see. He would probably bring the slaves back if he saw the slaves on the boat. I think he would feel bad for the slaves. He would want to change his mind on slavery. I think that the captain would be a better man if he didn’t want slavery.
I know you had to write a couple of versions of this blog post before you came up with one you were happy with. The hard work shows. Good job. – Mr. Fladd
Gitana D.
Block A
Sailor on slave ship
Damn, there are a lot of n*ggers on this ship. Where do they all come from? We sailed to Africa to get them. Before Mr. Slater left to get the monkeys, he said he was hunting for some animals. When he said animals, I thought he meant real animals. When they came back they had a whole bunch of n*ggers. Well, I did agree to go with them so there is my answer. We are on this thing called the triangular trade route. First we started in Europe, then we went to Africa to get these stupid n*ggers, now we are on our way to America. Last night Mr. Slater gave us a n*gger woman to please us. Trust me, I took full advantage. I herd he gave one to captain Davy. Honestly, I don’t think he did anything. He is such a christen man. When we first started this sail, he looked alive. Now he just looks dead. Some n*ggers have been dying. That’s good for them. They deserve it. Anyway they are just animals. When we get to America, they are going to be sold. The buyers are going to make them work. The n*ggers are just animals. None of these animals speak English. I bet it is real comfortable down there is the slave quarters. I took a look down there on day a it was hell. It smelled so bad. There was puke everywhere. There are a lot of sharks following the ship. To feed the sharks, we throw the dead n*ggers overboard. Trust me, they are worthless when dead.
I like how you worked in details that we learned in class. – Mr. Fladd
Sarah K.
Block B
A sailor that has to exercise the slaves
Today was the day we had to bring the slaves up on deck to be exercised. At first I was not sure of why we did this; then one of the other men explained to me that the slaves had to in somewhat good condition to be sold at a good price.
When they first came up the stench was almost unbearable. I had only smelled the stench from above deck, and had no idea how horrible the slaves smelled; it was revolting! They were covered from head to toe with things any civilized man would never let be on him. This just shows how uncivilized and savage they are.
While other men cleaned below deck, we were assigned to exercise the slaves. This meant that one or two men played music and the slaves jumped around. They seemed confused that our boat was nowhere near land. Many of them seemed to think we had been on a river all this time. After a while they started to chant something. It was in their native language, though, so we couldn’t tell what they were saying.
Once the slaves were done exercising, we thought they should be cleaned. We took buckets of water straight from the ocean. Some men did, and others didn’t, know what the salt water would do to the cuts they had on their backs from the whips. They started screaming and writhing in pain. I’ve had cuts cleaned with salt water before, and know how bad the stinging felt. But they were barely human it couldn’t have hurt them as much as it hurt me.
Finally, after below decks was somewhat clean and the slaves had been exercised and washed, we sent them back to their places. The smell got a little better after they were below deck. Luckily we have a few more day before they have to be exercised again.
Was it hard to put yourself in the place of someone so slimy? You did a good job of it. Well done. – Mr. Fladd
Shannon M
Block D
Boy from manhood training
All of the hard work finally paid off. As soon that bag got thrown over my head I knew exactly what I was going to soon become, a man. I held on tightly to the shoulders of person in front of me, not knowing whom it was or where they were going. If I could only see, things would be much better. I kept on stumbling over rocks and plants. So far this was not fun, and I knew it was not supposed to be. At this age I am not to have fun any more, but to work hard and soon raise a healthy family.
The person in front of me came to a sudden halt and I then knew we had come to the destination for manhood training. I was a little nervous, but I was trying to overcome my fear and just followed the chief’s instructions when he removed the bag from my head. The sunlight was bright and I realized there were many of us ready to become men waiting in a line. First, we all sat down in a circle. A man came out from a tent and joined us. He was called The Wrestler and had to fight with each and every one of us as a part of the training. His moves were excellent and strong. You could tell he had a lot of experience in wrestling and enjoyed showing us his great skill. When it was my turn I slowly approached him and he took me down just like that.
Next, we got a very unpleasant custom done. The leaders made us stand in a line and brought over a knife to get circumcised. They first patted us down with special leaves and then took our underwear off. That was a moment in my life that was torture, but it had to get done.
The leaders gave us another task. We were told to hunt down a bird, but to catch it with our own bare hands. As I went out to the woods I found a good-looking turkey and snuck up on it as quietly as I could. I got as close as possible without it hearing me, then I ran and grabbed it and twisted it’s neck.
When I arrived back at the training spot Kunta Kinte was there with some horrid news. He had said that he saw white men. This was definitely not a good sign. The chief of the manhood training told us to not go into tall grass and to be very aware of our surroundings. This made me feel scared, but I knew I could handle it now being a man.
This is well written, particularly the parts about how he feels and what he thinks. – Mr. Fladd
Zander F
Block C
Slave on Ship (Male)
I am an African slave who was captured and put on this canoe house. It is a giant canoe that the white people use to live on water. It is horrible here. Our legs are chained to the bottom of the bunks and our hands are shackled and chained to the other side of the bunk. The swaying motion of the ship makes us throw up, and it also makes our backs raw because our backs rub up against the bunks. They also feed us some sort of white goo. Every so often they will take us above the canoe house and wash us off with salt water. It is extremely painful because the salt hits our raw backs. Then to keep us fit they whip our feet and make us dance. There was one guy who had someone die right next to him. They brought him on top of the canoe house and threw him over the side. Then they went about like nothing happened! If I ever get loose, the white men will pay. Then there was a man who said that it just might happen. He told us to teach the person next to us their language. We would be one tribe and we will kill the white men who captured us, because there are many of us and only a few of them. I don’t understand why they treat us so badly, and why they make us their slaves. Why don’t they enslave their own people? They come to our land and bring us to theirs. Never again will we see our homes. I will miss my village but I am also curious to see what the white people’s village looks like. I’ve been told that they have several story huts there. Maybe someday if I ever escape I can steal a canoe house and go back to my village. The hard part will be getting around their death-sticks. They make a big bang and then whoever they’re pointed at dies. Someday though I will make it home, or die trying.
This is a very strong start. Next time, I’d like to read more about your character’s thoughts and feelings and a little less about the events of the episode. – Mr. Fladd
Wrestler
Riley K
Block C
The wrstler wrstly the other carter in manhood training he was stron and tuff he was westling the other caraters like kuntakinte the were scaerd of him and he tot the kids during ther manhood training.He was in charg of it then he got cote.
You were paying attention during the movie. Good job! -Mr. Fladd
Cody M.
Block B
Captain Davies (before sailing on the trip)
I am very nervous about this trip because I don’t know what this trip will be like. I have never bought, sold or traded black people before. If I mess up I don’t know how Mr. Slayter will react if I mess up. So for a little bit I am just going to go with the flow of things. I think someone would have to be crazy to buy, sell or trade items for human slaves. I am not familiar with the ship I will be sailing. I am also not familiar with the trade of slaves. What will my reputation be if I don’t know what I am doing? I don’t want to get off on the wrong foot with my crew on the ship. But I don’t want to sound like too much of a nice guy to the blacks in front of my crew. I also don’t want to sound like too much of a jerk to the blacks in front of my crew because if they think of their captain as a jerk or a nice guy they might use that against me someway. I would never think of using another human being as a slave. I don’t know how many male slaves or female slaves we are getting I just don’t want to deal with that, because I don’t believe in buying, selling or trading black people. I just hope I can keep my ship under control with all my crew, and the black people.
I like how you have Captain Davies worried about his reputation. I really think that that WOULD be something he would worry about. Good job. – Mr. Fladd
Jason M.
Block A
Kunta Kinte’s father after Kunta has been captured
How? How could this have happened? How could have captured my boy, my Mandinka warrior? Has he not learned all he should have from his manhood training? Has he not gotten it into his head that he should have stayed away from tall bushed and weeds? I know he was reckless, but this, this goes beyond reckless. What was he doing in the woods alone anyway? Telling my wife is going to be the worst thing I have ever done, but she must know what has become of our son.
And what has become of the wrestler? I have not seen him lately. Has he been captured too? If he is with Kunta they must be together, and if they are they might be able to escape. What shall become of them? Will they be murdered? Will they be slaves for the rest of their lives? Or will they be forced capture more of us? This is looking really bad for everyone, my family, the village, the new men, especially for Kunta.
What are the white men doing with our kind when they take them really far away? And what is stopping us from uniting with other tribes to take our men back? What do they have for weapons, sticks? Their bare hands? We can easily overpower them if that’s all they have. But what that loud bang I heard back when we were training the boys to be men? Do they have a really painful weapon? Or a weapon that can kill instantly? Do they have something to go through our shields?
That isn’t anything we should worry about there is power in numbers. If we out number them then we will be able to overpower them and rescue everyone. But then that leaves the question
What? What question?! Don’t leave me hanging like that! – Mr. Fladd
Brima Cesay, village leader (talking about slavery).
I think that Brima was very upset about the white men and slavery all together. I think that he was warning all that he was talking too to be a careful. He was very clear about making sure you know not to be out at dark, to make sure that you are with someone at all times, and that you should watch the monkeys and smoke from a fire. I think he was afraid for all the people he was talking to. I think that he thought that if they weren’t careful the whole tribe would be wiped out because of the slavery. Many things I think he wanted to tell the people he was talking and warning them not to get caught. I think that slavery made him consider his own mortality. These big white men with their sticks that spew fire and metal and their metal rope how could we ever overcome them. Once we are taken we will never see home again, I don’t want these good people to experience this. I think that is why he emphasized so much to be careful. I think that even though he was village leader he and people respected him he couldn’t keep them from being caught. I think this scared him even more even though he never showed weakness he was scared for his beloved people in the village. Whenever a village person got captured I think he was hoping and praying that somehow they would find a way to escape and somehow make it back to the village. I think he loved his village and all that lived in it.
I think you’ve got a good bead on who Brima Cesay is. Next time, please try to write AS whatever character you pull from the Awesome Jar of Destiny (Bah buh BAAAAHHHHH!!!!). I know it’s a risk, but I’d like to see what you can do in character. – Mr. Fladd
Kunta’s Grandmother (when Kunta comes back from Manhood Training)
Hi I’m Kunta’s Grandmother, I am very proud of Kunta for finishing manhood training. Now he is a man so I think he has a lot of work he needs to do. Kunta has a lot to learn but I still have more power then him even though he is a man. He thinks that life is good now that he has his own hut. He has been gone a while now. We don’t know if he is dead or not. I think he will be ok but they sent out a search party to try and find him. The day he came back from the Manhood Training he was saying that he saw white men. I am very worried. His mother said the last time she was talking to him was when she was telling him to make a gift for his brother. He said he would make him a drum and go out into the woods to find a good log for it. I hope he did not go out alone because the white me are out in the woods somewhere trying to find new slaves. Kunta is very nice and a hard worker that would be horrible if he was captured. It is only a matter of time that the met that were looking for him come back with good or bad news. If the white men do have him I hope they did not beat him or kill him. I have been told that they get put on a big slave ship and they are in the ship for a few months and do not have good food to eat. I just need to pray and hope he is ok.
This is pretty good, but I’d like to read more about what she felt and thought and less about the events that happened in the movie. I’m looking forward to seeing what you write as we get farther into the series. – Mr. Fladd
Stephanie Z.
Block B
African Slaver
Man, I hate that Mandinka tribe! I hate them so much that I don’t mind helping the white men capture members of their tribe to take back to America to sell into slavery – more like misery. There is a part of me that knows it is not the right thing to do, but working with the white men is one way to hopefully protect my tribe from becoming slaves, too. I have seen some people being taken away, chained and caged like lifeless cargo with no feelings. However, I know that they are no different than me – hard working, loving, and just enjoying life. I’ve heard that during the 2 month or longer ship ride, the soon-to-be slaves are kept below deck, chained down on hard, splintering wood, unable to move, which is the exact opposite of comfortable. Every time we capture a black for the white men, those are my thoughts, and I can’t help but to feel a tiny bit of sorrow for the person, even if they are a member of a tribe that I hate, like the Mandinka tribe. However, capturing other blacks seems to be the only thing keeping me from becoming a slave myself. I would never be able to survive those conditions on the ship, let alone being a slave for a person who whips and beats his slaves, sometimes to death, if they aren’t doing his back-breaking labor good enough, or if you try to run away to get your life, freedom, and sanity back.
I helped with the capture of a young man the other day. He was in the woods and tried to fun from us, but we had him surrounded in not much time. He put up a good fight, though. It was a little amusing, watching him squirm around, trying to break the chains and run away, like he even had a chance. It was really just a waste of energy. I knew what he was thinking, though. He had obviously been told about slavery, like most people. I could tell just by the way he tried to run away from us out of fear. He looked like a strong man – smart, too. It’s kind of a shame he was in that area of the woods at that time. My only question now is how long he will last once he is in the hands of the white men.
Well written – a very good job. – Mr. Fladd
Cheyenna S.
Block:B
Village Girl(seeing the boys come back from Manhood Training)
One hot sunny day I was in my hut and I happened to look outside and I saw a bunch of boys walking by. It was different from any oyher day though; They usually all walked with a slouch, on this particular day when I saw them they were all walking a little taller. I couldn’t figure out why, then I remembered hearing my parents talk about manhood training. I thought to myself that must be where they are all comming back from. Manhood training was to teach them how to live like adults and to learn to take responsibility. When the men walked by on another they smiled and really seemed happy.Then i saw my friend Kunta Kinte talking to his mother. She had went into their hut and came out with Kunta’s clothes and things. Kunta’s parents had a surprise waiting for him for when he got back from manhood training. I then over heard her saying “now that you are a man Kunta your father has build you a hut while you were away”. Kunta was so happy to hear that his parents were so proud, and had done such a wonderful thing for him. Kunta was very thankful. When he got to his hut his grandmother came over and said ” just because you are a man now Kunta doesn’t mean you are goin to tell me what to do like you did your mom”. Then she said “remember Kunta I will always be your grandmother”. She said ” you don’t think you could help your mom out with anything”. He said “she doesn’t need any father is making the shelves and that is all she wanted help with”. Then his grandmther said ” you can’t make anything for your brother to play with you know he is going to miss you Kunta”. Then he said ” well i guess i could make him a drum”. And she said “I think he will like that Kunta”. Then while I was walking back to my hut I heard screaming not of pain but of joy. I looked again and it was comming from Kunta’s new hut. I looked out to see what he was doing asnd he was hanging from the roof of the hut. Then after a while everything had calmed down, and I could finilly get some sleep.
You are a good writer! I like the detail of how the boys walked taller and with more pride – that is EXACTLY the sort of thing an African girl from the village would have noticed. Well done!
The Kintango
The boys who come are always scared. They are always frightened of me. The boys who came this time were the same expect for one boy Kunta Kinte. When I told them to never challenge me said he was not afraid to another boy. I was some what impressed but I knew he does not think enough before he acts, he doesn’t use his brain only his brawn. When I asked for a volunteer to wrestle the wrestler he volunteered first, I was not entirely surprised. I knew he was a brave boy and I knew he was a little to brave sometimes. As him and the wrestler, wrestled he charged and missed. The wrestler used his brain and Kunta Kinte his brawn. A good warier must poses both equally. A good Mendinka warier will kill when only necessary and use strategy always. As I explained to the boys you never really kill an enemy, if you do his son we become your enemy. I assigned the boy Kunta Kinte to catch a bird with no weapon only his hands. When he returned with no bird I was very disappointed. I asked him angrily “Do you want to be a boy forever?” when he interrupted me and told me he saw white man I was shocked. I then told the boys what to do if there alone, I gave very careful instructions and expected them to be followed. Thankfully all the boys survived through man hood training and we returned to the village. I was proud of the new men and I am sure Allah was too. Now I can only pray they don’t get captured by the white man and that they live happy lives and have many strong sons.
Both you and the Kitango have Kunta Kinte figured out pretty well. – Mr. Fladd
Hunter H.
Block: B
Person: A boy at man-hood training
I don’t know much about the others here and I have no idea where I am. But these are my brothers for now and I need to learn about them and train to be a man. I just hope the rumors about what happens here isnt true! The tasks that our trainers are giving us are hard but I need to stick out to them so I can become a real man. Life out here in the woods is tough, the ground is cold and the sounds of the woods are scary. Kunta Kinte is one of the bravest here. He went up and wrestled one of the trainers. He knocked Kunta down a lot, but he kept getting up. Hopfully I won’t be out here much longer, I miss my family. Once I get back to the vilage I hope I am treated just like all the other men in the vilage, with respect. One of the trainers took Kunta aside, all of us are wondering what he said. Kunta said it was nothing, but we all know that isn’t the case. This is such a exiting process, but hearing all the rumors of what’s going to happen is what really scares me. Are they really going to cut us in places that shouldn’t be cut? I hope not, but if thats what makes me a man I half to go through with it! I hope all is well in my village. And I hope all is well with my family. I can’t wait to get back.
Well done. You definitely put some thought into this. Keep it up! – Mr. Fladd
Anna R.
Block D
The Wrestler when he is brought up on deck and is thinking about defeating the white men
When I opened my eyes, I remembered where I was. On the dreaded canoe house of the white man. I could hear the moaning of my fellow brothers, those of the Mandinka and of other tribes. I could feel the iron holders around my wrists and ankles, keeping me to the canoe house. I smelled the bile and filth of those around me, and felt the rough wood gnawing at my back. I remembered young Kunta Kinte, not far below me. Young Kunta had much to learn. I had seen him fight against his iron holders. I knew that to fight against the white mans iron holders would do him no good. The canoe house rolled and dove like a fish in the water. My stomach came up into my mouth, and I could taste the sour juice of it. My legs felt limp, my arm felt stiff. But I was a wrestler, a Mandinka warrior, and must not give up.
A white man came down the canoe house stairs, with a circle of iron around his neck. The iron had other iron sticks strung on it, like beads on a string. Using the sticks, he began to undo the iron holders. I watched as he and his fellow white men dragged my brothers up onto the top of the canoe house. I was dragged up too, and was surprised to see that no land surrounded the great river. A white man stood away from the rest, and looked like he might be the leader of them all. He said something to another white man, and then I felt the sting of water on my back. I almost cried out. It was as if there were tiny grains of sand in the water, biting and stinging at the chafed parts of my back. A white man started to bang on a drum, and another started to make music from a strange box-like thing. A third man began to hit us with a rope, until we began to move in time with the music. It began as a low chant, but we became louder. “Wayo tou!” We cried. The white men, I knew, would not rest easy. We would kill them. I looked at the leader, and I saw fear in his eyes.
We were brought back to the bottom of the canoe house. A small bowl of white mash was put next to my head. I turned to eat it, and saw that Kunta Kinte would refuse to eat it.
“Eat the white mans food, Kunta,” I said.
“No. I will not. When I eat the white man’s food, my stomach comes up. I am a warrior, wrestler! A warrior!” He cried.
“And a warrior needs food to keep his strength. Eat it, Kunta,” I replied.
Kunta suddenly gave a cry. When I looked at him, I saw the man next to him lying dead. I had seen that man when we had been on top of the canoe house. He had given up. A warrior must never give up. I looked to Kunta Kinte and saw the fear in his eyes. I knew that there were other Mandinka men, and that if we could somehow all begin to teach our language to the man next to us, then we could fight the white men. If we could get the iron sticks from the white mans neck, we could free ourselves. I knew this could not have been the will of Ala, and I knew that a warrior must never give up. So in my mind, I began to plan.
You are very good at descriptive writing. I like how you noticed how that one man had given up and was waiting to die. I’m looking forward to seeing you write about the thoughts and feelings of more characters as we watch more episodes of Roots. – Mr. Fladd
mike
block D
african slaver
If I was an african slaver in my mind i would probably be thinking why am I capturing my own colored people. At the same it I would be happy that I am not getting captured. I would have a lot on my mind but one of the things that would be more important would be that how come I desided to do this it might mean I am not getting capture and nether is my tribe but I am ruining other tribes lifes. I also would be thinking about how I am taking little kids away from their family’s and how horrible that is. That is what would be on an african slavers mind during the capturing of slaves.
I’d like to read more about your character (This essay was a little skimpy). Also, try to blog AS whoever you are assigned. – Mr. Fladd
Jesse B
Block A
A sailor on the slave ship
Hi, I am a sailor on the slave ship that is bring the batch of Ni***** back to the US to be slaves. When it is my turn to clean out the down under I really don’t want to because the blacks smell horrible. This is my 3rd voyage and each voyage seems like it gets longer and longer each time. I sometimes feel bad about throwing a Ni**** over board but he isn’t a human so it isn’t a big deal. Mr. Slater is a nice guy I guess but captain Davie isn’t really into this voyage “I think he don’t like carrying blacks” I can’t wait to get back home to my wife. We live in West Virginia we will be buying 3 slaves in the auction work on our farm; we farm cattle and have horses. The other day I had to crush some Ni***** thumbs she cried but it wont hurt the resale value. I think we have about 1 month or so left in the voyage, this voyage is about 2 or 2 ½ months long but it feels more like 5 or 6 months. I think this might be my last voyage because my 2nd trip I got really sick with plague and barely made it through the whole trip. I like it when the black women come to my room at night time I have t a good time with them. When I get back home I am going to give my two daughters a huge hug and hug my wife. I am very excited about getting home.
Well done. – Mr. Fladd
ZoeB, Block D
Omoro, Kunta’s Father (after the goat was killed)
Oh my son. Lost the goat’s life today. But what can you do? He is not a man yet, but only a boy. And boys need teachings from their fathers and elders. I tried to stay calm when he told me about the goat and showed me the pelt. I started to yell but caught myself and easily blew it away. I did of course instruct him about what he should do next time. I can’t believe he tried to ward off a grown leopard with only his small sling shot. What was he thinking? I thought I had taught him better; and to be smarter when hunting. Ah, at least he tried; and I have to be proud of that. But then again his over confidence could get him killed.
I shouldn’t worry though. His manhood training is only a few days away. His mother won’t be happy about him being gone for a long period of time, but she can’t wait for her first son to finally be a man.
I remember my manhood training, and the respect me and my brothers got when we returned. Kunta will love that part. I just hope he’s not too strict with his mother when he gets back. Yes, women must respect the men; (even if she is his mother) but I’ve seen many men that are too harsh on their mothers and don’t speak with them for a long time afterwards.
I also hope he still interacts with his little brother. I thinks its important that he grows up with his older brother as a role model and a friend. But I don’t have to hope because I’m still Kunta’s father, and he still must respect me, his elder.
I’m sure Kunta will make a fine man and help protect his tribe any way he can. I don’t know what I’m worried about.
Wow! This is a very tight, excellently written piece. Well done! – Mr. Fladd
Block D
Leyan L.
Kunta Kinte (before Manhood Training)
Today I was feeding the goats and a leopard attacked the she-goat. Although I had driven it off with my slingshot, the she-goat was gone. I was very ashamed of myself, for the she-goat was my responsibility. She was doing so well and was so near to having her kid, too! I was afraid to tell my father. When I went up to him, I had this sinking feeling. Why did I wonder away from the goats? My friends could wait until later. I had all day, but what had happened had happened, and it was my fault. At first, when I told him, he was angry and tense and his face tightened. Then he calmed a little and told me about the time he lost a goat to a lion when he was my age. He had learned his lesson that day just as I have today. I learned a very good lesson and I told myself that must never forget it. I learned to “never run towards any dangerous animal. Never!” my father had made sure I understood that.
My friend and I were speaking of manhood training today. I have heard of it before and I think that there is work being done at the place where they take boys for manhood training, because some of the boys have heard strange sounds coming from the woods. My friend said that boys are taken to that secret place of manhood with hoods over their heads. When they go back to their village, they know things that all men must know. He also said that there is cutting and blood. I do not want to get hurt, but if that is what it takes to be a man, then so be it. I wonder when I, too, will be taken away and if all the things I have heard about it is true. I hope to find out soon, and when I return, I will be a new Kunta Kinte. I will be a man! I will have my own hut and I will marry and have children of my own. I will be a good father to my children.
My own father is a very good man and I hope that someday, I will be just like him. I will be courageous and full of vigor but kind as well. I will be disciplinary and yet sympathetic at the same time.
He DOES seem like a good father, doesn’t he? Good work. – Mr. Fladd
Character – Boy from Manhood Training
Episode 1
GriffinK – Block C
I am a boy who lives in Gambia, West Africa. The year is 1750 and I belong to the Mandinka tribe.
Since I am 15 years old, I am to begin my manhood training and it is a ritual of my tribe. People from my tribe have taken me and other boys into the woods for our manhood training. My manhood training teaches me to hunt for myself and to protect my family. I will learn about the type of job I will be doing, who I will marry and what I will do with my life. My tribe believes in peace and killing is not accepted. I am taught how to wrestle and I learn how to get rid of the enemy by not killing so there is “less blood on both sides.” When my manhood training is done, I will get my own hut.
During my manhood training, I am a little nervous and afraid of not knowing what is going to happen to me. I am anxious to become a man.
After my manhood training is complete, I will return to my village with the other boys and there will be a ceremony taking place to celebrate that we have all become men.
An OUTSTANDING start! Keep it up. – Mr. Fladd
In The first episode of roots a Boy named Kunta Kinte in a village in Africa was born. All through the episode it is showing how he can be a man and eventually leaves to go to man hood training. Well he was at manhood training one of his tasks was to catch a bird without a weapon to kill it with. As he is trying to catch the bird he runs into this girl named Fanta. You might think that you never see her again after that, but you are wrong. As the story continues Kunta Kinte and Fanta get captured to become slaves, and are put on a slave ship to America. Now for the rest of my blog I’m going to be Fanta telling you what it was like to be on the ship as a female slave.
Fanta: All the girls were physically assaulted and taken advantage of on the ship including me. I over herd the man they call Mr. Slater saying that they would physically assaulted us so we can get exercise and so the men will be satisfied. He also said that he would break our thumbs with this devise. He said that it doesn’t matter what our thumbs are like, but what our bodies were like. The courters that we sleeped in were awful and stinky, because of the vomit from the people next to me and all around me. I just felt like dying but I new that I had to stay alive because anything is better than dying on this retched place. I say this because I have seen what the do with the dead bodies they throw them off the big boat and let the sharks get them. No not me I will not die like this.
You put a lot of good thought into this. Next time, please try to write AS the character for the whole blog post. (I know it was hard this time, writing as a girl.) Also, remember what we talked about in terms of protecting your privacy online. Please just use your first name and last initial, next time. – Mr. Fladd
Character: Binta, Kunta Kinte’s mother years after he has been kidnapped.
How did it come to this? For years the guilt, sadness and longing have been eating away at me leaving me with nothing but an empty heart and feelings of anger and grief. I tell myself all the time that it wasn’t my fault Kunta got captured. How was I supposed to know? What would I have done? But the words do not comfort me. For I am his mother and I let him be taken away by the white men. My husband says Kunta was a man and he would have to be responsible for himself anyways and I am not to blame. But I will always be responsible for him no matter how old of a man he is just like every other mother with her child.
I never thought to blame Kunta for getting captured because I do not know if it was another one of his foolish actions that got him captured or not. All I know is the white men are unstoppable. They will do anything to get there way in the world and most of all have our people work as animals. I just expected my son to be more cautious and aware since he was through manhood training. I was told they would teach him techniques to know about his surroundings and where he shouldn’t be venturing off to. It may have been his foolish bravery that got him captured but I miss his silly mistakes all the same.
Lately it seems as if it doesn’t even matter to my family, especially my husband. When he first told me that Kunta was gone, he said that we still have other sons to care for, as if it didn’t even matter that we just lost Kunta. He was the most brave and fearless of them all. He was going to be a true warrior. But now he is gone or maybe even dead, or maybe he died years ago. I have no way of knowing what’s happened to him or what will happen to him. We are all sad but we must continue working and living. I know my husband is sad even if he doesn’t show it and I know he would do anything to get Kunta back if he could. But there is nothing we can do.
Wow! this is outstanding writing! I like that you focused on the anger she would feel. I think you’re right – she WOULD be angry. Well done. – Mr. Fladd
Lamine,Kunta Kinte’s brother, as a grown man thinking about Kunta
Nick B
Block B
My guy that I am doing is Kunta Kinte’s brother (Lamine). In this episode you don’t see Lamine’s face. He’s very young and you do not know much about him. As a grown man I think Lamine would feel pretty bad for his older brother. Especially, after knowing that he has some responsibility that kunta is now a slave. Although Lamine never talked to Kunta and said for him to make him a drum. It’s his responsibility that Kunta went out into the jungle area in the first place. If Kunta had not gone out there things would have been different. I think he must have some guilt, that he’s sick to his stomach. Having this lurking feeling that it’s his fault Kunta got kidnapped and sold into slavery. He must be saddened by the fact that he never got to meet his older brother. He must be horrified on how his brother was treated as a slave. To lay on a pine boat for two months covered in nasty liquids. Sweating pools of sweat and knowing he couldn’t do a thing about it. Having to eat the gross grub of the “white men”. To be whipped,chastised,bloody and sore to the bone. Every muscle aching as he’s forced to do work. Helpless alone scared and hungry. His brother must be ashamed to hear his brother was taken at the age of 15! Every morning every sunset and every night having the guilt sit in his stomach. He must be feeling terrible for what happened to his brother.
I think you’re right. There would probably be some sort of guilt there. That would be terrible. – Mr. Fladd
Emily L.
Block C
Character: Kadi Touray (Fanta’s father)
Today I met a young warrior by the name of Kunta Kinte when he stumbled upon my camp. He rudely knocked over the breakfast my daughter was preparing for me. He kept running, but I caught up and made him apologize to her. He kept stuttering something about a bird that he had been ordered to catch and about being a mandinka warrior and man-hood training. I did not let any of that keep him from apologizing to Fanta. He apologized unwillingly and also cleaned up the mess he had made then went on his way. I remember being a young warrior in man-hood training. I understand how hard it was to impress my elders and do as they say. That did not keep him from apologizing to Fanta. I could see that even though he had been rude to her Fanta wanted to get to know him. I could see them being friends and one day being together but we will let time play itself out the way it should. I hope that Fanta will find someone like Kunta that is dedicated to his tribe. I have heard word that the white people are near our camp. I must do everything I can to keep my family safe. I have faith that we will not be taken by these awful men, but I hope the other tribes know too. Poor Kunta Kinte, I should have warned him, but he is a smart warrior, he will be fine. I say that we can all sleep well for my family’s sake, but I shall wake in the night to make sure that the white men have not come any closer to my camp.
During the time I was patroling my camp for the white men I heard something in the woods followed by many screams. I knew it was Fanta and I tried to run to her and save her from the white men but it was too late she was gone and now I too was surrounded by them. I screamed and wailed for help as I took my last breaths. I know that our holy savior, Allah, has many plans for Fanta so I trust him to take care of her even if that means taking her out of her misery quickly.
You are a good story teller. – Mr. Fladd
Annie D.
Block A
11/16/09
Character: Kunta Kinte as a small boy
In 8th grade social studies class we have just finished watching Roots. It takes place in the Gambia area which is in northwestern Africa. We meet many but the main view is on an African boy or man named Kunta Kinte. We watch him grow from time of birth to after his man hood training. What I will be trying to figure out is how Kunta Kinte felt as a child and stuff that mattered to him. I’m not going to know exactly what he felt but there are a few thing I can be almost sure about, for one he must have heard about the white men and to stay away from them. The white men also had the “black traders” on their side so he must have been told to look out. Being a little boy this must have been frightening to be told that there are white me. Kunta Kinte’s tribe is has their own beliefs and Kunta Kinte was raised to respect and obey. Kunta Kinte also has the knowledge of man hood training, which is an honorable thing so I think that is something that Kunta would be astounded by yet a bit daunt. My over all view of how Kunta Kinte would feel is that he would have curiosity and about the unknown to him and though we know Kunta Kinte as a very brave boy I would think that there would be some fear. Kunta Kinte will soon learn that he is as brave as a warthog which can be good but also means that he may not be good at thinking things through and that can be a great weakness. Kunta Kinte has a best friend like him and they stay friend through the first episode meaning that they have a good relationship meaning Kunta Kinte is a companionate person for his family and his friends. I see now that Kunta Kinte isn’t just a little boy but a boy with thriving traits and emotions that are a great advantage yet they are also his biggest down fall. In this passage it is about Kunta Kinte as a small boy and a boy is a boy no matter what race or nationality and Kunta Kinte really is a boy with strength, bravery, and leadership no matter what age he is you will always see a little bit of that and possibly at times some stubbornness. If I had to think of some things Kunta Kinte would say as a small boy they would be; “who are these men of white who come to my land?” “Do these men of white bring badness to the tribe and alla?” “What does man hood training hold for me?”
Today the men of the tribe went in search of the white men. I wish to be with them though I am not yet a man I stay home with mother and help. I am told the white men are bad and they take away tribes and tribes never return. When I become a man I will go with them a fight the men of white and be the best warrior in the tribe and protect. I see father approaching with the rest of the men. Father had a content on his face so I believe that they have had success. One man even has a warthog so there will be a feast tonight to honor their success.
You put a lot of thought into this! (By the way, the boys were warned about the white men and the black traitors who help them.) – Mr. Fladd
Nick N.
Block A
Fanta (before being captured)
It was another day as typical as any other doing my chores. As I was hard at work doing the food a boy came running out of the forest not knowing I was there and he knocked over what food I’ve had in my bowls. I was very startled. I was fairly mad and started to hit him, and all of a sudden he ran in the other direction. My father was nearby and saw what had happened. He ran after him. My father is quite a fast runner. He caught him and brought the boy back to me so he could apologize to me and pick up the food that he had made fall on the ground. The boy did sincerely apologize to me and that was when I learned his name. It was Kunta Kinte. I didn’t know what to say to him at that time. After he had spoken to me, he then left quickly running off into the distance. I think I am starting to like Kunta Kinte. I am not around many boys a lot considering I am always helping my village. He would seem like a good person to be with in life. I wonder why he just left so soon? Where could he have been going? I shall only hope to see Kunta Kinte once again. I wonder what Kunta Kinte thought of me? I may have been a little too harsh. Perhaps the next time that we meet I shall be friendlier and we could have time to talk. It would be nice to have a friend that speaks my language who lives outside of my village.
Nick, you do a good job of paying attention to details. Next time, I’d like to read more about what your character thinks and feels. – Mr. Fladd
Shawn [last name removed]
Block B
Kunta’s Grandmother (as she dies, many years after Kunta was kidnapped)
“How could he have been so dumb? He should have gone with someone. If he went with someone this would of never happened. He calls himself a man. A real man would NEVER get caught! I can’t blame him for everything. If the stupid white men would mind their own bisness and stop taking our kind, we wouldn’t have to worry about all is. Taking or children, husbands, and wives, how can they be so be and selfish? How knows what horrible, discussing, scary things they are doing to Kunta. They have No respect for anyone, what so ever! How can they do this? I couldn’t live with myself is I did that. I would rather kill myself then to betray our own kind. I can’t even begin to imagine what they are doing to our people over there. They are probably treating them like nothing. I can’t imagine what he is thinking to himself right now. He is probably thinking. “Were I? What am I doing here? Where is my family? Wares mother?! Wares father?! Where is everyone?” I just hope is ok. “Were ever you are Kunta, please hear me. Please. Come back to us Kunta. Fight, run, do whatever you have to do. Just please come back! We all love you. Just please, PLEASE come back. I love you kunta” I wonder how his mother and father is feeling? Probably wondering where he is. Praying that he is all right. I can tell that his father is mad and angry at the white men. I swear, is his father got a hold of one of those white men. Who knows what horrable, dreadful things he would do to them.
I don’t think the people back in the village could even begin to imagine how horrible things were for the newly captured slaves! You do a really good job of empathizing with this woman. Well done! – Mr. Fladd
Travis D [last name removed]
Block D
I had a man in the village seeing the boys come back from man hood training.
I can imagine that this guy would be thinking to himself, remembering when he had to go to manhood training. I’m guessing that he wouldn’t have liked it because of what kunta kinte went through in manhood training. If I were in this situation, I would have remembered manhood training because it would have been one of the worst experiences, yet also one of the best things I’ve done. It would be the worst because of all of the pain that I would have had to go through. It would have been one of the best things because it would be a major accomplishment in my life. It would be a major accomplishment in my life because once you become a man, I could do almost whatever I wanted to do with my life. I would be able to get my own house, get all of my own weapons, raise my own farm animals for food, find a woman to get married to, and start my own family. This would allow me to fallow in the foot steps of my father and to earn his respect as a man. When all of the boys came back from manhood training as men, it looked like they felt more confident then ever. But being the man in the village remembering that day, I would be saying to myself that being a man is harder then they had thought. He knew that they shouldn’t have been looking like it was easy because he too was walking back from manhood training the same way that all of the other men were walking back. He was thinking that no one could ruin that day when he became a man. That is what I think that the man in the village would have been thinking about when he was watching the boys come back from manhood training as men.
This is a pretty good start; you do a good job of figuring out what your character would have felt and thought. Now, next time, take it up a step from there and actually write AS whatever character you are assigned. A very good start. – Mr. Fladd
Jessie B.
Block D
Captain Davies (on the way back to America)
I watch the “cargo” (slaves) suffer from the pain of the harsh whips slapping their backs. I, being a Christian know this is wrong and can’t stand to see it happen. I have to just bare the pain and look away because I cannot seem to stop it. I can’t convince myself that this is completely wrong, somehow this is okay. This is my first time ever having slaves aboard my ship, and it is worse than I thought. There are about 170 slaves on my ship, or there were to start with on our journey back to America. The slaves that have died have been thrown overboard. The slaves are chained to hard, rough, wood slates, covered in their own filth. Mr. Slater came into my cabin and told me how the women are going to be used as “belly warmers” for the sailors. I am strongly against this; I do not think the men should have the right to r@pe these women just because they have the urge. I want this stopped, but it will not happen, even though this is my ship I do not have the power to stop this. The blacks are being brought up on deck about 40 at a time. The smell of them is just horrid. Mr. Slater ordered them to be cleaned, so the sailors took the salt water and threw it at them. The water was burning at their cuts and wounds; I could see the pain in their faces and hear the pain in their screams. While the blacks were on deck they were ordered to be exercised. Mr. Slater said it was good to exercise them because the more fit they are the more they will cost at the auction. I cannot stand this anymore so I went back to my cabin. Soon after Mr. Slater brought in a girl, one of the slaves. Mr. Slater said that he just thought I would like a “belly warmer”. I do not believe in this, and it is wrong. I am trying to talk to her but I know she cannot understand me. I do not know what to do, all I can do is sit and stare and try to think of what to do.
This is well written. What I like best about it is where you talk about the Captain’s feelings and opinions. I’d like to see more of that and a little less of a summary of events, next time. All in all, a very strong essay. Well done. – Mr. Fladd
MayaW
Block C
Village Girl (seeing boys come back from Manhood Training)
I watched them walk over towards us. The look on their faces was proud, like they had accomplished something great in their lives. At the same time though, they looked uncomfortable, as if something embarrassing had taken place. Our little childhood friends, the boys we had grown up with were now men, real men. It was exciting to think about. I was happy for them. I wished I could know what had happened at Manhood Training. I hoped it hadn’t been hard or painful but somehow I didn’t think that was the case. I’d heard about Manhood Training and that it wasn’t something fun or enjoyable but the boys felt like they had accomplished something big afterwards.
Now as the men walked towards us, I looked around. It seemed as if the whole tribe was gathered to welcome back the new men. There was a big celebration being held. Beautiful single women were doing a traditional tribal dance in honor of the mens’ achievement. Someday that would be me, dancing to celebrate the return of the men but also trying to impress them.
The proud fathers were going over to their sons and placing a special necklace around their necks. The new men looked so content and grown up at that moment, it was nice to watch. I wished the best for the men in their new lives with their own huts. They finally had their own freedom but they also had important responsibilities. We celebrated the men’s freedom, their accomplishments, and them becoming powerful men of the community.
I know it sounds like a little thing, but I really like the way you choose your adjectives – “proud”, “embarrassing”, etc… You are a very thoughtful writer. I’m looking forward to reading other blog posts from you. Keep it up! – Mr. Fladd
Sailor Who Has to Clean Out the Hold of the Ship-
This may be the most revolting job in the world. These hideous animals leave a mess in every nook and cranny imaginable. There’s vomit, urine, feces, and blood everywhere. Not to mention I risk disease every time I go down there. They speak a gibberish kind of language, mostly grunts and groans, that I don’t think they themselves understand. I have to rinse out my mop at least ten times before the hold is finally clean. Even then, the wood is stained with various colors. Haven’t they every been on a boat before? They puke back up everything they eat.
I heard that the last time they were exercised, they started chanting in their odd tongue, and doing some kind of dance.
I think the only benefits to this job is they little pay I get, and the wenches. Many of the wenches are in good enough condition for Co. Captain Slater and the rest of us boys. I try my best to make sure they are kept clean enough as well.
I would like to let all of those who have read this that I do not support these words or opinions, and that I was just trying my best to capture the character’s attitude and feelings towards this whole situation.
Fair enough, Rigby. On behalf of the internet, I forgive you for expressing such unpleasant opinions. – Mr. Fladd
Caroline S
Block D
Kunta Kinte’s father when he is born
I am so anxious. I can hear her, screaming, piercing. I can barely stand as my legs are weak with anticipation as I await my new baby. My heart pound as my child is being born. The screams ring again. I watch the lake, some of the tribes women are gathering water for their family. Then I hear feet quickly run toward me, “She had the new baby, come see!” I run behind her. “It’s a boy!” she says as I walk into the hut. Now the duty is on me to name him a proper name. To give him good characteristics, Allah will choose if his life is good or not. I need help, trying to name my new baby is harder than I ever could have imagined. I ask the elder, he might be of some help. He tells me that the naming is up to me, he will get characteristics of the thing or person that he is named after, the naming is crucial to how he will be through his life. The perfect name finally comes to me. Kunta Kinte. The night of the naming ceremony finally comes. I proclaim Kunta Kinte my new child to Allah. The only thing that is left for me to do is to provide for him for as long as possible until he is an adult himself. The rest of Kunta Kinte’s life is in Allah’s hands. I hold my new baby, Kunta Kinte up for Allah to see. My new child, and also Allah’s.
You did a great job with this! MY heart actually started beating a little faster as I read it. Well done, particularly the very last sentence. You’ve summed Omoro up very well. – Mr. Fladd
Mr. Gardner, the American slave-catcher:
The Africans are getting pulled on the ship, my job is being done. they smell bad, not like people should smell. I hope we don’t loose many on the way. i don’t want to put up with them for nothing. I hear the chains dragging against the wooden planks and the Africans yelling in their strange mumbles. As I’m looking at the woman, I’m picking my favorites. The ones that i wouldn’t mind taking. The days are going by slow, it seems like this trip will take forever. I’m not looking forward to taking the slaves up here. i try to stay away from there awful stench. I sing along to sailors songs. I’m Watching to ocean waves hit the boat. Sometimes i wonder how many slaves are going to be sinking into that ocean someday. All the slaves that could have been used for something. The day to bring the slaves up is finally here, we pile them one on top of the other as we throw them off their beds. The wooden boards can hardly be called beds, beds are for humans. The slaves make me want to throw up. The chains are covers in unknown liquids. We throw the animals up on deck. They screech when they see the light. We pour water on them as we plug our noses and hold our breath. The slaves jump, like they’ve never felt water. As they dance to the music they mumble African words, i don’t understand. I’m counting the minutes till we throw them back down under deck. Exercise time is over, they go back down. I cant wait till this trip is over.
This is great stuff! You did a good job of thinking about how he would feel and what he would think. Well done. – Mr. Fladd
Dominique D
Block A
When my daughter, Fanta was kidnapped I thought that there might still be some hope, until my husband returned with news that it was the whit men that had kidnapped her. He also said that they were already on their large boat my hope was lost. Our daughter was gone and I knew in my heart that I had seen her beautiful face for the last time. The white men would either kill her or do bad things to her, I knew that she was probably wrapped up In their ropes, that is if she is even still alive, those white men tend to kill before we can explain, sometimes I don’t understand their ways. My husband said he saw one on the beach muttering in their strange talk before he got on the ship. My husband ran back, but he was slowed by the father of the boy who came in our camp and ran over my daughter, I think his name was Kunta Kinte, his father said that he as well had been taken by the vicious white men. Although she is gone my hope still runs deep, I pray each passing day for my daughter to return, if only a miracle would occur. I feel alone now that my daughter is gone I wish my husband could do something, like make a boat and go to the white mans land. When my husband told me Fantail was gone he seemed so expressionless I felt my knees go weak and I dropped to the ground praying the maybe he was not telling the truth. When I saw his expression after I knew that this was the truth, and she really had slipped from my fingers. When Fantail was born I promised to take care of her until the day they laid my in my grave, but now I knew that I had broken my promise and I had let her fall, I had let the white men get her. Even now my tears spill to think of that moment when my husband came shoving threw door of our small hut at first he seemed distraught but then he put his emotions in check and told me why he rushed so fast, I sobbed for nights but now no more tears will fall. I don’t know what to do know all I know is there must be something I can do to save her, me and all my people.
You’ve got a really good way with a phrase – “her beautiful face” (she DOES have a beautiful face, doesn’t she?), “slipped through my fingers”. I like your writing a lot. -Mr. Fladd
Brima Cesay
Block D Tyler K.
My name is Brima Cesay and I am the leader of a small African village called Jufare. Our ways are simple and we are very passive people. Along with being simple people we are a self sufficient village. Recently our teenagers of the village have gone off to manhood training. This is very important time in a boys life, we send them off as boys but they come back as men. While the young men of our village are at manhood training they pick various skills, such as wrestling, hunting, and being aware of the white man. I helped teach them to be cautious and fear the white man. As I become aware of the presence of white men on our land I realize some of my own villagers have been captured, including the great Kunta Kinte. I have seen other villages taken by the white men, and these villages never return. I fear for Kunta, and I wonder what his fate will bring. To this day I still remember when his father came to me asking what to name him. I told him to choose a fitting name, but I was unaware that such a great name would be chosen. I know that such a great name will make a great warrior and man. I know that life in the village will go on so my people and I must be strong and rebuild and prepare for the next generation of men/warriors. We as a village must improve our teaching skills and protection skills, for the white men will be back again and will take and attack again. They must not take any more of our warriors, for we must protect our people and village. As I cant bare to see another strong man like Kunta’s father breakdown. I can not bare to see the looks on villagers faces we they are told one of their loved ones will not be returning. We need to be strong we cant let our emotions get the best of us. If you show emotions it makes you more vulnerable to getting captured or killed.
You’d make a good Village Chief. One thing – I’m pretty sure “passive” isn’t the word you were looking for. All in all, a very strong first essay. Well done. – Mr. Fladd
Jeremy K.
Block A
The Wrestler(after being captured)
How did they catch me? I was so far ahead. I could barely see their bodies in the distance, how could they have seen me? I thought I was going to make it back to the village so I could see my family again, but no I was captured instead.
I was disappointed when I saw kunta kinte in the crate next to mine. He just became a man. How many other men and boys are in crates like us? None of us should have been caught. We don’t deserve to be treated like this. We are human’s just like them. Just because we’re black they treat us different.
I wonder how many men were captured besides me. We’ve been laying here for a very long time now in the dark and in our stench and filth. The pinewood is splintering into my back and my body aches from laying in one position. They barely feed us anything and I am so hungry. They let that one group go out, I hope they let us go out too. It would be so nice to be able to walk and stretch my legs.
We need a plan, we can’t just sit here doing nothing. If we can learn the other people’s language then we can all put our heads together and come up with something good. Maybe when the ship arrives in America there is some way we can escape, I just have to figure out how.
I’d like to know more about how he got captured. I’ll bet there’s a wild story there! I like how you thought about how much he’d care about other people like Kunta Kinte. – Mr. Fladd
Kunta Kinte’s best friend
Jessie S.
Block A
When I heard that lion cry. I jumped and Kunta pushed me out of the way and ran to save the mother goat. I cried; “Kunta, come back!” I was shocked that he ran so fast, I was scared he was going to hurt himself. When I caught up to him and the injured goat. I asked him, “Can I help” He told me that he had to do it himself.
When we got captured, I was frightened I didn’t know what to expect. I was frightened for myself and for Kunta. I didn’t know where we were going and who was taking us. I wasn’t sure what our adventure was going to be like or whom we were going to meet.
When we were all in a circle with the wrestler in the center. We were all looking at each other when the instructor asked; “who will be first?” I was thinking to myself not me, definitely not me. Then Kunta stands up and I was saying to myself that he is crazy. Kunta may be my best friend and he may be brave, but not that bright.
Kunta Kinte’s assignment was to catch a live bird, and not to ham it. When he came back with out any breath, I was wondering what was wrong. The instructore was very surprised and angry to see him, without that bird. As soon as he let him speak Kunta said; “I saw white men.” They all gasped. They were shocked that that came out of his mouth.
This is pretty good. Next time, I’d like to see more about what your character thinks and feels. – Mr. Fladd
Tyler B
Block B
I had the Wooloff slave who plays the drums on the slave ship.
I know that he is sad and mad that he had got caught and turned into merchandise for the white people. Having to be living in the tight spot in the cargo of the ship chained to the bushel wood planks. The slaves back would get the skinned rubbed off to almost bone and no source of bathroom behavior has to go in pants. When the slaves got brought up to get exercise and cleaned, the slave playing the drum I had believed that he was happy to not be getting wiped on the feet to jump for exercise and get washed with the salt water which would sting the wounds and give great pain. For the Wooloff salve playing the drums he didn’t get cleaned so he had all the pee, poop, and vomit all over his body still for the whole ride. Also no exercise to keep him in shape therefore is affecting his price. Maybe the food that they give them the corn mash might help them get the vitamins they need to help them survive the harsh ship ride even know it mostly makes them vomit after they eat it. So hopefully he well try and stay strong and eat and not die out before he is sold for merchandise so that he can at sometime get brought back to his village and live a normal life again. I think the Wooloff slave that plays the drum on the ship, plays drums at his village because maybe he plays the drums if they dance around the fire celebrating.
I’ll bet it’s tough for him. – Mr. Fladd
Male villager-I am a part of this village. i once went from a boy to a man, just as these boys did. When they walked out of the woods in such a orderly fashion it hit me that they are now men. I had tears in my eyes when I seen their proud faces, I was also proud of them. I remember how proud my father was when I walked out of the woods in the same way. In some ways I kind of miss my child hood, all the times I took care of the animals, all the times I could enjoy spending time with friends. They will now have the opportunity to live life as men. They will have there own home, wife, kids and responsibilities. As I am proud I am also worried that they will need help for the first part after being a man. But first they will settle in to there homes and then they will go hunting for food. Later they will realize that being a man is hard work and takes a lot of time and effort. I am a man and I have been for a long time, yet it is still very hard to keep up with the day. Over time they will also find that they it will be harder to be men but it gets harder before it gets easier. I can tell that they will be great, wise, and strong men that will be able to withstand (almost) anything.
Wow! You did this very well and ON TIME! Excellent! – Mr. Fladd
Matt F.
block C
Brima Cesay ( The Village Leader – talking about Manhood Training)
Description: I have a a band around my head.
Listen to my advice and directions. Stay away from long brush, Never go out alone at night watch the monkeys – when they are afraid you should be afraid and follow them when they run away. Also watch for heavy smoke because white men burn more wood than we do. Listen to what I say and you will live and not die. If you don’t listen to what I say you might be captured by evil white men. It is very important to take being a man very seriously. You will go away with your friends for a while and go through Manhood Training like learning how to hunt and fight and just to act like a man. You will return back as a real man if you follow these rules. I have been through Manhood Training myself and I made it, it was not always fun but sometimes it was. You will learn a lot and you will fight a lot and become a better man. I will see you all when you return from Manhood Training and give you your own hut to live in all by yourself and then you can get married.
This is a VERY strong start! I’d like to hear more about what your character thinks and feels. Keep up the good work! – Mr. Fladd
TRE
block D
kunta kinte on the slave ship
he dos not like it becus he got put on a ship and takein agents his will would u like dat not me. man that must have been bad for him. n he feels really bad it how would u like to be a slave huh.
I agree. I think being captured and taken on a slave ship would be just about the worst thing in the world. – Mr. Fladd
Sean C
Block B
Kailubo Kunta’s best friend (after kunta chases away the leopard)
I think Kunta Kinte is pretty brave to come face to face with a leopard just to try and save a she goat. If I were in his position at that time I would have ran away from that frightening creature and got a couple of other men from the village to help me scare away that leopard.
Today I was brought to manhood training, they put a bag over my head and tied my hands up and brought us all very far away from the village to be turned into men. Becoming a man should be challenging but I hope to succeed otherwise I wont be able to marry. The other boys here with me feel the same way including my best friend Kunta Kinte. Today there was a wrestler here teaching us how to fight if a enemy is close and we need to protect ourselves, and he was a big man and a good fighter. Kunta Kinte again today being the brave one and kept fighting the man. The wrestler just asked Kunta to talk with him for a moment and I wonder what they are going to talk about. This morning they sent Kunta out to catch a bird without harming it or using any weapons and he came back and told us that he saw white men with black prisoners. Than our teacher had us sit and listen to very important things he had to tell us. He told us not to go into the tall grass or the woods alone, and watch for signs of the white men like big clouds of smoke because the white men always build their fires too big
This looks like you had more to say. I’d like to read more about what your character thinks and feels. – Mr. Fladd
Bradley W
Block D
Female slave on the ship
What did I do to get treat this way? I don’t deserve this disrespect from the sailors. I deserve to be treated like a person not like an animal. I am trying to make the best out of this situation but I know it’s gonna turn out bad. I am scared to get r***ed by these white men. They want to r**e me, they make me do what they want or ill get beat. I don’t feel I should get treated this way I should get treated like human just like all the other people on this ship. I am in so much pain my shoulders are bleeding you can almost see the bones I think. It hurts to move just a little bit if the ship hits a small wave then my back is screaming in pain. They took me up top to the deck and I am so scared I am not sure what they are going to do to me. The white men will r**e me then they will just throw me back down in the cargo. I had to do training so when they sell me for goods I will be at a higher value. I don’t want to do the training but if I don’t ill get whipped, there are scars all down my back from getting whipped over and over again. I have to listen to the white men or they will whip me for no reason just because I didn’t listen to them. They think we are not human they think we are livestock and then can do whatever they want to us. I just want to go back home with my tribe. I don’t have a strong stomach so when I am on the ship I tend to puke a lot. I am on the bottom bunk so when the person above me pukes or goes the bathroom it gets all over me. I feel so gross and dirty, my back hurts even more because when I was on the deck they washed me with salt water. I am not sure where we are going bu I want to escape I want to get out of this miserable place. I try to fall asleep but all the people do is scream and wake me up. When we get to eat we barely get any food we got corn mash, it was gross and was clumpy with bugs in it. I am starving for food I need to eat to keep alive. I lay in my filth with bugs all around me and people are dying down here.
You did a great job of putting yourself in her position! (I know that it’s tough to write as a girl.) I particularly like that you focused in on the issue of respect. I think that women in her culture generally WERE treated with a certain amount of respect and losing that would have been almost more traumatic than the physical pain she was going through. Well done! – Mr. Fladd
Dana B
block b
(American slave loading the slave ship in Baltimore, MD as it gets ready to go to Africa to collect more slaves)
I think it would be very outward to be loading a slave ship full of touchier tools and shacks. Especially when being a black man that has been throe that voyage before. Throe he’s forced in to the job I think he’s probably feeling guilty carrying boxes and boxes of chains and keys and thump crushers and wipes all for the abuse of slaves. And all that is for money and tobacco. Most people in that age were thinking that it was good for the slaves to be doing that work and its not good for them to be alone in the wield trying to live in peace. There wrong because the slave is the same as a white man. So I think that they where wrong by making them do 5that. But I’m supposes to tell you about what the slave loading the save ship mites have thought or felt while he was loading the ship. I think that he may have thought other then weird or guilty or maybe even mad because he’s helping save drivers. But he’s probably confused and wondering why. He’s also thinking what the f**** why me, why my culture, why not us doing this to the whites, and why couldn’t we just all live in peace. Why couldn’t we have no ideas of hating each other and why couldn’t we just free each other and beat the white mans pouter stick that make big boom. This is my blog on the African that’s loading the slave ship for Africa.
I like your writing! Please be careful with your spelling – sometimes it’s hard for your readers to know what you are talking about. – Mr. Fladd
Connor R Block C
Things I know about Africa:
Africa is a big continent. It is surrounded by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Animals like zebras, giraffes, lions, monkeys, hippopotamus, snakes, and camels live there. It is hot. Mr. Fladd used to live there. There are a lot of people in Africa.
From reading the World Atlas I learned more things about Africa. The people in Africa wear bold and bright colors. Africa has gold and diamonds. Visitors from around the world come to Africa for the wild animals.
You have learned a lot about Africa! – Mr. Fladd
Danielle O
Block A
Captain Davies (after he saw Africa): When I took this job, I never thought I’d have to go against my religion, but I never go back on my word and I said that I could and would take charge of this ship. I intend on keeping my word. But sometimes I wonder, what would my wife and kids think of me if they saw me now? In Africa, the colored people were in cages like some sort of animal would be, and I just sat, watched and drank. I never have had any sort or alcoholic beverage, and I never wanted to. It’s just all the stress that’s coming down on me. It’s just pouring down like a giant waterfall ad it only gets worse. I didn’t do anything about the way the crew and the people who round up the slaves treat the slaves. I just sat there, trying to ignore it. It was hard to think that I had been the one who had ordered people to put them there, but I still didn’t do anything. I want to believe I am doing the right thing, but I don’t think I am. Is it ok to do something you know is bad and then feel bad about it or is it a sin? I hope my wife, children and all the other people I care about can forgive me for what I am doing and understand that I did this to be able to support my family.
Mr. Slater has been helping me get used to the way things are run here. He is and odd but a strangely confident man. It seems like he keeps testing me. He knows my views of slavery and that my religion goes against what he enjoys, but he keeps testing me. Oh well. He seems to know what he is doing, even though deep down, I fear and know that it isn’t right. I know that I should trust him because I have been following what he says ever since I got on the boat, but I do not think that he cares about me or my beliefs. When he brought that slave girl to my quarters, he told my it would be good for her vocal cords to scream a little. At first I was angry with him but he has a way of fixing his words so I can’t be. Deep down, I am furious that these pigs are my crew including Mr. Slater. I hope that when we finish the voyage, they will make better choices and treat women of all races better.
The living conditions that are set up for the slaves are horrible, but Mr. Slater says it’s fine and that when we reach land they will have a better life. I knew the living conditions for slaves wouldn’t be good but I didn’t expect them to be this bad. I thought that the slaves would be let out to go to the bathroom and exercise more than they are to keep them healthy, but they aren’t. They are packed in so tightly, with the hard rough wood shredding their backs, and the ones on the bottom are being vomited on. How can the slaves be in good shape to sell if they can get sick for being all locked up only coming out once every few days? Still, I am proven wrong. The whole crew seems to know what to do, and this is how the slaves are treated on a daily basis by every crew member so I must be wrong. The only ones treated half right are the slave girls, and that is for a totally wrong reason, for the crew, not for the slaves. How could my crew expect me to do such a thing? It sickens and weakens me to know that I am living with people who would do such a thing. That people out in this world even think like that.
Sometimes, I think that Mr. Slater and the crew think I am weak. They could all see the pain in my face when the first batches of slaves were brought up to get exercise and cleaned. They were all covered in sweat and vomit and huge scratches and sores from the hard rough wood they lay on. And all were screaming in pain as the cold, salt water hit their sores. But all I ever do is watch and bite my tongue. And as they chanted in their language something I couldn’t even understand, I knew whatever they were saying, we, the crew and myself, deserved it. And deep down, I hope they all get away and can sail back to Africa and to their families and their old life.
You really seem to understand what is going on in his head. Well done! – Mr. Fladd
Nicole C.
Block A
The grandmother looking back many years later
As I lie here on my sleeping mat I think about kunta kinta being ctured by the white men. I can’t imagine the torture he is being put through. So brave. Terrible, terrible way to go, he was looking for things to make his brothers drum with. If only he had fallowed the rules, he would still be with us. With me by my side, as ill as I am. I can only pray to ala with the time I have left, for him to be safe. No one was as brave as he was. Yet he never thought. I remeber the conversation that I had it happened. I was telling him how he would treat me. With respect! No matter how old he or I get. He decided to make a drum for his brother because it would bring his mother joy. I was so proud of him. But he did not make a plan. He did not ask someone to go with him. He went against all of the rules he was taught. I pray to ala that he is safe. I also pray that he is alive and not a slave. He is a warrior, not a slave. Help? Him Allah, help him think and plan.
This is a good start. I’d like to learn more about what she felt and thought. – Mr. Fladd
Samantha
Block B
Fanta (After Being Captured)
They’re mad… all of them! The white men are mad! How dare they capture me! I, Fanta! I feel so angry that they took me… I am embarrassed that they outsmarted me! Those horrid white men, with the aid of those Natives that betrayed us! But why are they doing this to us? What is going to happen? I’m worried and so scared of what they will do to us. And they were so rough to me! They knocked me to the dirty ground and put a rope around my neck, tying all of us together. They lead us to a beach where we were thrown in cages, like we were animals! They kept whipping me, with that horrid thing! It hurt so much! I am in so much pain! I was taken from my family to be treated like this?
My family… where are they? I miss them so much… but I know they will come and save me. I am sure they are already following my trail. But Kunta Kinte, that boy that came running through our camp and knocked over all of our food, he seems to know something I don’t, I’m just not sure what it is. He seems to think they aren’t okay. They are, though. They have to be. He doesn’t know my father. These white men are no match for him… I hope.
These evil white men… they treat us like we are of another species. THEY are the ones who smell so savage. THEY are the ones who act like beasts. THEY are the ones that want to take advantage of us. THEY are the ones who swat at us and attack us if we do not obey or do what they want fast enough. I am petrified of them, as they hurt me and make me suffer in more pain than I ever knew possible. And now they are loading us onto some floating house on a wide river with no riverbanks. I’ve never been here before, or on one of these floating houses, either. They confuse me.
We were all thrown onto these rough boards and chained down. We must eat food that is not edible… none of the 170 Natives here like the food of the white men. It makes our stomachs empty, and it is gross. It’s almost as bad as all the stuff on me. Almost. It is all so nasty. I can’t stand it, and won’t go into detail to spare you the agony.
I am beginning to doubt that anyone will save me now. We have been living this nightmare for days, now. The horrid boards on which we lay are rubbing the skin off of our backs, and when they took us out at last, they poured salt water on our wounds. Two words: sheer pain. As if being whipped isn’t bad enough.
I still miss my family, but I am glad they don’t have to go through this. I am terribly lonesome, though, without anyone that I know here with me. The only person I do know is Kunta Kinte, and I am glad he is with me. We keep each other company on this floating nightmare.
But there is a problem: the evil white men wish to take all of the women and r@pe us all! Just the thought! Ugh! They wish to take advantage of us! I am infuriated!
Then, the Wrestler from Kunta Kinte’s village gave this speech that was very inspiring and encouraging. We now have hope; we will all learn each other’s languages, and become one tribe. We will overcome these horrid white men, and we will all go home and be free. Now, at last, we have hope.
I like the “Outraged Princess” feeling to your essay. That is TOTALLY how I see Fanta, too! -Mr. Fladd