like many of us, roots 1976 was a huge deal. it’s sacred. that combined with the difficulty of remakes causes me to be quite skeptical re roots 2016. however, it is exceptionally well-made.
my stream-of-consciousness notes:
episode 3
wow! what a setup to buy chicken george from tom lee after tom wouldn’t sell george directly – wow!
“this is no accident. the thing aB rich white men, they’ll take 10 steps at a tilt just to take 1 step toward what they want.” ~marcellus
playing cards didn’t have numbers on them???
they really settled things with duels still at this day & time?
g~d, kizzie’s sacrifice … (& such a good thing that she stayed.)
was nat turner included in original???
damn! kizzie ain’t no joke
did we see the scene in the original when george began putting a feather his hat? g~d, the symbolism in 2016 is a-mazing!
g~d, when george loses his freedom just after he won it …
& yet another scene of my people’s family being torn apart b/c of a white man’s shortcomings, b/c of his whims … ~~~~~~~
jesus
the casting is sooo on point …
episode 2
somehow this episode is not as compelling as the 1st. perhaps it’s because it is more of a direct retelling of the original than a reinterpretation of the haley story, which i really enjoyed last night.
the highlight for me tonight is kunta’s teaching kizzie survival techniques. this strengthens her. with 2016’s portrayal, the link between kunta being taking from his parents and kizzie taken from hers is stronger.
overall, i am really enjoying seeing contemporary actors in these historic roles.
episode 1
reminder slavery not new concept to ancient world
slave trade part of african life & civilization existed
“your name is your spirit. your name is your shield.” ~omoro kinte
exploration of kinte’s life & the rivalry which led to kunta’s capture
whippings, etc part of their culture in africa
emphasis on importance of name & kunta’s impetuous nature
not sure how much they strayed from accuracy of haley’s family history (i wonder this only having seen the original series. i never read the book.)
the story was that kunta was captured getting wood to make his brother a drum as requested by their mother
see the history of making examples & of sending messages via songs
this is such a robust portrayal
– did they really put dead heads up like that on the slave ships???
LOL – kunta’s face when the slave trader felt his ass – 😂😂😂
the sense of brotherhood & fighting together lost in enslavement – every person for himself to stay alive & without injury
we get to see the roots of destroying black families & the assimilation into life as white people deem it ought to be
“work hard & cause no trouble” – fiddler – the way to survive oppression (along with full assimilation)
rebels are stubborn, and rebel at a price – the fruit of their rebellion may not harvest until much later – but there are bits of harvest along the way to fullness
favorites of the oppressor teach rebels how to survive & rebels teach (remind) favorites how to be free
connection b/w kunta & fiddler w/ lullaby from gambia
lovin’ this brother playing kunta!
lovin’ the subtle & powerful references to the antecedents of our issues in this country & our ways of being/life
music supports quests for freedom
fiddler’s name from his mother – henry (“your name is your spirit … your shield.”) take (change) the name, rob person – partially or completely – of person’s spirit & protection from harm – kunta reminds fiddler of this when he asks him the name his mother gave him (we still do this today re our nicknames; however, today sometimes this depth of meaning is flipped and our nick- or changed names are more reflective of our spirits and shields than our given/government (institutional) names. perhaps i can view the names we now make fun of Ina different, more liberators light.)
kunta remembers the lesson of caring for the horse & not just himself, even when he needs the horse to better his chances of escape
appreciate the prominence of kunta’s spirituality w/ allah & ancestors & elders
g~d! the symbolism of fiddler’s hair as he taught kunta the ropes – ripping it off after kunta’s 1st escape during the fight w/ the overseer, “i never want to be the same as you! i never want to be the same as you.”
it’s deeply blessing me to experience this story w/ all that we’ve experienced in these last 40 years of pursuing full freedom
with permission from his parents & encouragement from fiddler to shorten the suffering of the lashing, kunta says his toby name (“he isn’t coming home.” ~omoro)
final scene b/w fiddler & kunta is amazing!
fiddler promises to hold kunta’s truth inside with kunta – repeating some of kunta’s history – as oppressed people we have to be acceptable to the oppressor on the outside & remember our true selves on the inside
(c) 2016, candi dugas, llc
Image: variety.com
Freedom's Voice 