Dear Educator, This Memorial Day, a new vision of America’s identity comes to life when HISTORY® presents a 21st century reimagining of Roots. Beginning with the story of Kunta Kinte, a young Mandinka warrior from The Gambia in West Africa who is sold into slavery, Roots traces the lives of his descendants through American history, from the 18th century through the Civil War. Featuring a stellar cast that includes Laurence Fishburne, Jonathan Rhys TARGET AUDIENCE increased in the mid-18th century as a result of freedom. Kizzy finds freedom in an unexpected Meyers, Anna Paquin, High school and college students in American colonial expansion and an ever-growing market way — by learning to read. Have students Anika Noni Rose, Forest history, film and media, and African American for crops such as tobacco. A great deal of new explore how identity and connections to their Whitaker, and Malachi studies courses. research about this period and the brutal realities past or family heritage have shaped the ways Kirby as Kunta Kinte, of the slave trade inform this reimagining of people have resisted oppression throughout Roots airs over four nights PROGRAM OBJECTIVES Roots. Tell students that they will see the result history (e.g., slavery, the Holocaust, the Civil on HISTORY at 9pm ET, • Communicate the historical and cultural of new research into The Middle Passage — for Rights Movement, etc.). How do people draw from Monday, May 30, significance of the events chronicled in example, a slave ship that was built based on strength from their family identity? through Thursday, June 2. Roots and their relevance today. dimensions/characteristics of real slave ships • Examine how identity and culture define that were organized to control slaves and deter Activity 3 To help you and your our lives. rebellion. They will also see examples of the students explore the world RESILIENCE AND RESISTANCE • Explore how resistance to oppression ways enslaved people united, communicated, portrayed in Roots, Young This activity ties in with the last two nights of Roots. and acted, and the important role female slaves Minds Inspired (YMI), shapes our history and our future. played as they risked their lives for freedom. Discovery – Multiple forms of resistance in collaboration with Discuss how the experience of The Middle were important to bringing about the HISTORY, has created this PROGRAM COMPONENTS • This teacher’s guide Passage, as portrayed in Roots, has left its mark end of slavery. In Roots we see examples study guide, with activities • Three reproducible student activity sheets on our national identity. Then examine how ranging from Nat Turner’s rebellion to the that guide students slavery persists in our world today in forms such continued singing of “Binta’s tune,” which through the historical • A wall poster for display in your classroom as child soldiers, forced labor, and debt bondage. becomes enmeshed in American culture. sources of this epic saga Spirituals were also a form of resistance that and identify themes STANDARDS This program aligns with Common Core English Activity 2 imparted important values and told of the for thought-provoking Language Arts/History and Social Science YOUR NAME IS YOUR SHIELD: hardships of slavery. Have students explore classroom discussions. spirituals through the lens of identity and Standards for grades 9-12. For a standards IDENTITY AND FAMILY correlation, visit ymiclassroom.com/roots. how they have played a significant role in the We encourage you to This activity ties in with the first two nights ofRoots . development of African American identity. share this resource Discovery – Students research the experience with your colleagues. HOW TO USE THIS PROGRAM Discussion – Students should create a Photocopy this teacher’s guide and the three of enslaved people and gather evidence of Although the materials continuum of acts of resistance that they witness student activity sheets before displaying the how the identities of Kunta and his daughter are copyrighted, you may in Roots, from emotional resistance, such as poster in your classroom. Make additional copies Kizzy develop over the course of the series. They make as many copies as prayer or song, to plans to run away to freedom. of these resources to share with your colleagues. will focus in particular on important traditions, you need for educational Various forms of resistance illustrate not only Provide students with copies of the activity such as Mandinka music and language and the purposes. the resilience of the human spirit but also how sheets to enhance their viewing of Roots. naming ceremony that empower Kunta and enslaved people continued to imagine freedom Please let us know his family to maintain some of their Mandinka Note: Roots is rated TV-14, L, V, S. This series even amidst incredible violence. Students your opinion of this culture and individuality despite tremendous contains intense language of the time period, can also consider forms of resistance such program by returning the violence. Students also gather evidence of violence, and sexual violence, and therefore as Nat Turner’s rebellion. How effective was enclosed reply card or alterations in the American identity during this we do not recommend it for students under this rebellion, and what were the outcomes? by responding through era as the North and South evolve regional the age of 14. The modes of resistance depicted in Roots, the feedback form at identities influenced by their distinct social, when compared with other forms of resistance ymiclassroom.com/roots. Activity 1 economic, and political realities. throughout history (e.g., the Holocaust and the We depend on your Discussion – Explain that Kunta and Kizzy, Civil Rights Movement), offer an interesting comments and ideas to AN AMERICAN EPIC like anyone else, had aspects of their identities perspective on how individuals and communities continue providing free This activity provides a general introduction to Roots. they could shape (such as their interests) and can triumph over adversity. The discussion educational programs that Discovery – Students investigate some of the others they could not (such as their ethnicity). becomes even more complex when considering make a real difference in new research that informs this reimagining Their identities were shaped by circumstances modern acts of resistance or organizing for students’ lives. of the Roots epic. Have them complete the as well as by their family and their heritage, change, like the use of social media. Sincerely, short quiz that focuses on the era when as evidenced in Nights 1 and 2 of Roots. Quick Activities: the Mandinka were thriving in Africa, and In Africa, Kunta Kinte was a well-educated • Encourage students to explore their own slavery was a vital part of the economy in warrior with a promising future. This stands roots by searching for photos of their the Americas. (Answers: 1. T, 2. F, 3. T, 4. F, 5. in stark contrast with his identity as an ancestors or oldest living family members. Dr. Dominic Kinsley T) Then have students use the model on the enslaved person who is renamed “Toby” • Students can read an excerpt of Alex Haley’s Editor in Chief activity sheet to create timelines as they watch and his focus on freedom for himself and classic at www.rootsthebook.com. Young Minds Inspired the series and put the events it covers into the his family. His daughter Kizzy’s name (“you context of key events in American history. stay put”) influences the development of her RESOURCES identity. Kunta wants her to have warrior-like Discussion – Explain to students that the www.history.com/roots instincts so that she may find a means to ymiclassroom.com/roots demand for slaves in British North America © 2016 YMI, Inc. REPRODUCIBLE MASTER ACTIVITY 1 The epic mini-series Roots is a historical portrait of one family’s journeyAN from AMERICAN slavery to freedom and their struggle EPIC to pass on their cultural identity from one generation to the next. Featuring a stellar cast including Laurence Fishburne, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Anna Paquin, Anika Noni Rose, Forest Whitaker, and Malachi Kirby as Kunta Kinte, Roots airs on HISTORY® over four consecutive nights beginning May 30 at 9pm ET. DISCOVERY DISCUSSION The Mandinka: The story of Roots begins with Kunta Kinte, a young Mandinka Use your research and what you learn warrior from The Gambia in West Africa, who is sold to European slave traders from watching Roots to explore these by a rival family in his own town of Juffure (also spelled Juffureh). Learn about questions: the Mandinka at mandinkapeople.org. Then complete this short quiz. • Why was there an increased demand for slaves in the Americas in the mid- 1. Many Mandinka were well-educated. T F and late-18th century? 2. West Africa was a primitive part of the world in 1750. T F • What were the conditions on the slave ships? How did the slave traders 3. The majority of Mandinka people were Muslim. T F attempt to control slaves on ships? 4. The Mandinka had no knowledge of Europe until the 18th century. T F How did enslaved people resist? 5. Warrior culture was extremely important to the Mandinka people. T F • How did the slave trade affect the colonies in both the short and long The Slave Trade: Use these resources to learn more about the time period in term? which Roots takes place. • Visit www.notforsalecampaign.org • Learn more about the Atlantic Slave Trade at to learn about the persistence of abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=96659&page=1 slavery today. Compare and contrast • See how the Atlantic Slave Trade evolved at the type of slavery depicted in Roots www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/slav/hd_slav.htm with what is happening in parts of • Hear firsthand accounts of former slaves at our world.