Roots: The Saga of an American Family Memory and the Past Quotes

In Juffure, the elderly play a very important role for the younger generations, keeping track of history and relaying lessons learned from the past. This helps the culture stay true to its roots despite changes in the wider world.

Part of Kunta's final exam in school is to recount his family history. That's pretty amazing, but we wonder how many people these days would be to do that. Would you? Knowing this about Kunta's background, it's no wonder why he is so proud of his ancestral heritage, and so unwilling to let it go after he is kidnapped and brought to America.

Roots heavily favors oral traditions over written records. While Haley ultimately uses both to corroborate his research, he clearly has a preference for stories that are literally told.