Roots, the saga of an American Family, the 30th Anniversary Edition by Alex Haley. Narrated by Avery Brooks with a special introduction by Michael Eric Dyson.
Chapter 1
Early in the spring of 1750, in the village of Jufety, four days upriver from the coast of the Gambia West Africa, a man-child was born to Omoro and Beteckety. Forcing forth from Binta’s strong young body, he was as black as she was, flecked and slippery with Binta’s blood and he was bawling. The two wrinkled midwives, old Nobolto and the baby’s grandmother Yissa, saw that it was a boy and laughed with joy. According the forefathers, a boy firstborn presaged the special blessings of Allah not only upon the parents but also upon the parent’s families. And there is the prideful knowledge that the name of Kinte would thus be both distinguished and perpetuated.
Roots by Alex Haley
