For most people whose lives were destroyed by the American slave trade, suffering was just a part of life. You suffered through bone-breaking hours of heavy labor. You suffered through the violent outbursts of sadistic men. You suffered through an unending barrage of physiological warfare.
How is someone supposed to stay sane amidst all of that pain? While there's no right way to endure such traumatic experiences, Roots shows us that we don't have to let our suffering define us. Instead, we can use our pain to make something beautiful.
Questions About Suffering
- How does Kunta maintain his sanity through his suffering?
- Does Roots reveal any benefits to suffering? Explain.
- Why is the family the only people to help Ol' George?
- What historical truths do we learn through the depiction of suffering in Roots?
Chew on This
Because the family has endured so much suffering themselves, they're able to be empathetic to Ol' George.
Through a combination of faith, family, and community, Kunta is able to find a small amount of relief from his suffering.