We see religion take a bunch of different forms over the course of Roots. We see the traditional spiritual beliefs of Kunta Kinte's tribe, the Mandinka. We see Kunta's own devout Islam, which is his guiding light through the most traumatic experiences of his life. And we see Bell's passionate Christianity, which is something she passes down through Kizzy to the rest of the family.
Throughout all of this, we see religion both as a spiritual experience and as an important marker of culture and community.
Questions About Religion
- How does Kunta's relationship with his faith change over time?
- Compare and contrast Bell and Kunta's views of religion.
- Why's it so important for the family to build a church in Henning?
- What aspects of religion are most emphasized in Roots?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Roots emphasizes the communal aspects of religion rather than its spiritual components.
The family's drive to build a church in Henning reveals their desire to create a community, which in their eyes in inexorably connected to religion.