How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
The days of hunger had begun so early that five goats and two bullocks [...] were sacrificed to strengthen everyone's prayer's that Allah might spare the village from starvation. (3.1)
Even before he's kidnapped and enslaved, Kunta is well acquainted with suffering. West Africa can be a harsh land, with sudden jumps in the climate making it difficult to grow crops at certain times of the year. Because of this, Kunta lives through some seriously lean years, and at many times he's forced to subsist on insects, roots, and grubs.
Quote #2
As far back as time went, Kunta guessed, the lives of the people had been hard. Perhaps they always would be. (14.9)
As a result of his early brushes with suffering and mortality, Kunta gains a mature disposition at a young age. He has a broad understanding of how his people have adapted to the harsh natural world, and that makes him feel less alone.
Quote #3
The pain of his blistered feet was terrible, but Kunta found by the fourth night that he somehow didn't mind. (23.11)
Another big learning experience for Kunta is his visit to his uncles' village with his father. It's unheard of for a kid as young as him to take part in such a long journey, but it ends up making him a lot tougher as a result, like we see here during his manhood training.