Roots tackles the topic of slavery with incredible nuance. First, author Alex Haley examines how slavery traditionally worked outside of America, noting the many ways that slaves were still granted basic human rights.
From there, we look at how the American institution of chattel slavery is radically different than these more ancient forms, taking a system that was akin to indentured servitude and turning it into an industrialized system of mass incarceration. This is never a fun subject to discuss…but that's exactly why it's so important to do so.
Questions About Slavery
- How does American slavery differ from other forms of the practice?
- What rationalizations did Americans make to justify slavery?
- What is the psychological effect of slavery on the family?
- What historical and economic realities led to the widespread expansion of slavery in America?
Chew on This
While slavery was practiced similarly to indentured servitude in most places of the world, American slavery was unique because it denied the humanity of those who were enslaved.
In America, the ideas of race were shaped to rationalize the practice of slavery.