Original subtitles

Omoro!

Being born is hard work.

We will give him a very good life.

We've given him life, Binta.

Good or not good, that is for Allah to say.

What do you call him?

We call him baby boy.

And we'll go on calling him that

on a name for him

eight days from today.

-Peace be unto you. -And unto you, brother.

Brima Cesay, you are the most important man in the village, huh.

Yes, that is true.

Well, tell me, which is best? You know about these things.

Should a child be named after a person or a thing?

Omoro, there are no rules.

the child will take on seven of the characteristics of that name.

A person or a thing? It shall be for you to choose.

I hope, Brima Cesay, that a man of your great learning will not be offended

a very small amount.

Omoro, tell me this.

Do you believe your wife, Binta, has been faithful to you?

Following ...

Brima, why, yes. I know she has.

Then you're truly the father of the child born to Binta?

Yes.

If the child is truly yours, then so is the problem.

I have lessons I must teach.

Municipality Kinte.

Behold,

the only thing greater than yourself.

Very impressive, Captain Davies, very impressive.

Thank you, Mr. Vilars.

May I ask why you left the Mary Rose?

and that owner refused to honor my contract, so I left.

Hmm.

As simple as that?

Either a man keeps his word to me or he does not.

There was nothing further to discuss.

Well, Captain, your credentials are fine ones. It's the best I've seen.

Good enough to lay any doubts to rest.

-The Lord Ligonier? -The same.

She'll be seaworthy by the end of the month.

And her cargo will be?

hardware of various sorts, from England to the Gambian coast,

there to pick up any available spices.

Uh, what need of the hardware, may I ask?

will consist of slaves.

We'll be taking on slaves.

I see.

Welcome aboard.

There is still much food in your bowl, come finish it.

-But, Mother, I'm all-- -No, you are not. Come finish it.

Yes, Mother.

Hmm. Her belly grows every day. She'll have the kid soon, I think.

Before the next moon. Maybe twins.

If she drops twins, you would find some way to take the credit.

There are goats to be fed.

- Yes, Mother. - Take care.

Yes, Father, I will.

He does a good job with our goats, you know.

You might tell him so.

He tells himself often enough.

He's 15 rains, Binta.

And all boys of 15 rains have a partnership with impatience.

As quickly as yours passed, Omoro?

Municipality, it is so. I know it is absolutely so.

taken to manhood training?

A boy has a hood placed over his head.

Then he is taken away to the secret place of manhood.

When he returns he knows all the things that men must know.

His photoo?

The fotoo of a man and the fotoo of a child are not the same, you know that.

But do you know how this difference gets done?

The she-goat!

Municipality, Come Back!

Hyah!

Hyah! Hyah!

Can I help?

I must do it.

The she-goat?

Yes, Father. There was a leopard.

You're not harmed?

No. I drove it off, but--

How did you drive it off? All you have is a slingshot.

That's what I used.

There is much you have to learn, Kunta.

Yes, my father.

is that all men make mistakes.

I lost a goat to a lion when I was your age.

This I received from the lion, and I learned.

that's happened to you.

Never run towards any dangerous animal. Never.

Do you understand me?

-Yes, Papa. -You said?

-Yes, Father. -Good.

Then that is all that needs to be said on this matter between you and me.

Don't forget to bring firewood to your mother.

No, Father, I will not forget.

We took on 250 pair of wrist shackles.

Two hundred and fifty, yes. Go on.

Same number of neck rings, sir.

Two hundred and fifty neck rings.

-Yes.

-Two dozen thumbscrews. -Thumbscrews?

Aye, Sir.

Are those necessary, Mr. Slater?

They have an advantage to them, sir.

especially a young nigger bitch,

that's one way of doing it without marring the skin

and knocking down the purchase price.

Mr. Slater, have you ever seen a thumb that's been subjected to a thumbscrew?

Oh, yes, sir. Many a time.

But you see, Captain,

a comely nigger bitch is rarely purchased for the way her thumbs look.

Thumbscrews, two dozen.

Two branding irons marked double "L" for the Lord Ligonier.

Aye, Captain. Necessary.

Weigh anchor tomorrow, Captain?

No.

I've always preferred to set sail on the Sabbath.

Seems the Christian thing to do.

Aye, Captain. Whatever you say. Thank you, sir.

Mother, do you know what Sitafa said today?

How would I know?

He said that some of the boys have heard

in the woods.

He said some think it's the white tubaab.

-But do you know what I think? -I do not.

I think there is work being done

for manhood training.

That's what I think.

That's possible.

Do you think I'm right?

Kunta, women do not know of such things.

even be speaking of such things.

Municipality.

Municipality.

You have been a very good boy.

I want you to know that. A very good boy.

Our boy has just left, a man will return.

Don't fight, boy. Come on.

This way.

You must go.

Quiet!

How, how.

This way.

How, how.

Come.

Come on, move up.

Face this way.

Turning this way.

Here.

Here.

That's good.

Hoods off!

I am the Kintango.

Kintbo.

not to anger their fathers,

you will be careful not to anger the Kintango.

As dry grass does not challenge the fire, you will never challenge the Kintango.

You will do everything I tell you to do.

and for as long as I tell you to do it.

I am the Kintango.

Children left Juffure village, men are to return.

You must arrest your fears

and a weak person is a danger to his family,

to his village

and to his tribe.

If any are unable to become men,

by your families, by all in the village.

You will never be allowed to marry

for the offspring of such a marriage will be weak

I will not permit you to be unworthy.

I think he's trying to make us afraid.

They do not have to try anymore.

I'm not afraid.

Municipality Kinte.

Municipality Kinte.

Yes, sir.

Sit.

Sit. Sit. Sit.

if there was a tribal war

and the men of the Mandinka had the enemy surrounded on three sides,

what should be the next thing done?

Men of the Mandinka will enclose the circle and surround the enemy.

The goal of war is to win.

By surrounding the enemy, you would force him only to fight more desperately.

If you surround him on three sides and leave him an escape route,

less blood spilled on both sides.

For a warrior of the Mandinka, courage is not enough.

But, sir, won't an enemy who escapes alive fight you again?

It is impossible to kill an enemy.

but his son is now your new enemy.

A warrior respects another warrior, even when he is his enemy.

A warrior Kills only to protect his family or to keep from becoming a slave.

and there is no object more valuable than a man's life.

The way of the Mandinka is not easy,

but it is best.

Yes, Mr. Slater. Everything seems fine.

I was just checking to see if all is in readiness down here.

Everything's ready, sir. Make no mistake about that.

we'll be able to fit in here?

Begging the captain's pardon, sir,

we'll be taking on women as well as men.

You see, women take up less space than the bucks.

in the planning of it all

is how many women as well as how many men.

There's a certain mix

that's the most efficient and profitable, you see, sir.

A hundred and seventy, more or less, sir.

Yes, sir. Thank you.

Tell me, Mr. Slater,

how many voyages like this one have you made?

I'd say 18.

Eighteen?

That's 17 more than I've made,

that below decks, let's say, you're the expert.

That's very kind of you, Captain.

What are they like?

The blacks?

You know, like a man that breeds a dog for hunting

and breeds another sort of dog for his wife and children to play with.

Black breed's kind of slow at thinking but strong.

just as you're suited to be commander of this here vessel.

The natural order of things, you might say.

Yes.

Myself, I think it's good for them, us taking them like that.

They're better off for it, sir.

I'm not quite sure I understand that part, Mr. Slater.

We're bringing them to a Christian land.

It's got to be better for them than that heathen Allah they got with them now.

That's the first thing.

we're probably saving them from being eaten by their own kind.

They do that, sir, you know. Cannibals, all of them.

Well, as I said before, Mr. Slater,

I'll get us there and home again.

Can't ask no more than that, sir.

I'll keep as many alive as can be kept alive.

Well, then,

And surely that's as it should be.

Site, life, Captain. You leave the cargo to me.

I speak their language, you might say.

In a manner of speaking, sir. They have no proper language.

No need of it. Just grunts and groans.

The ability to wrestle with skill

is the ability to uphold the honor of your village.

It's a test of strength.

The stronger you are, the more honor to your people.

Can learn to shoot a bow by watching.

Can learn to track in the forest by hearing the words of great hunters.

to learn to wrestle,

and that is to do it.

Who will be first?

Municipality Kinte?

Very well.

Who will be next?

Phew!

I don't think I'm strong or brave enough to be a man.

We will all be men. You will see.

Municipality Kinte.

Kunta Kinte, A Panther Has Courage,

so does a warthog.

The best kind.

If it is for certain that you are not yet a man,

and that is for certain,

then it is even more certain that you are not a philosopher.

"The best kind" is not an answer, Kunta Kinte.

Well, a warthog's courage, then.

Why?

Well, a warthog never retreats, he never gives up.

that warthog's courage.

That's right.

They all say what a brave animal that warthog is.

That's right.

And all the hunters usually end up killing that warthog.

They all usually end up eating that brave warthog.

You think I should have given up today when we were wrestling?

We were not wrestling. I was wrestling.

You were charging and flying and landing.

Thank you for teaching me these things.

-You may go. -Thank you.

You have already thanked me.

Oh, yes, sir.

I can teach you many things, but I cannot teach you courage.

Not even a warthog's courage.

That is something you will take with you wherever you go.

-Hmm?

Oh, he just wanted me to tell him a few things about wrestling.

Hey-- Hey, wait. What's--

Land Ho!

Three points off the port bow, sir!

-Congratulations, sir. -Thank you, Mr. Slater.

Africa.

You are to leave this camp and catch a bird.

Not kill the bird, mind you, but catch it,

and return with it alive and well.

Hey, ow, wait!

-Look what you've done! -I'm sorry!

-Father! -I didn't mean to--

- Hey, listen. I must catch a bird. - Father!

Father!

But, sir, I am a Mandinka warrior.

I no think you Mandinka warrior. Not yet.

a Mandinka warrior

and I've been assigned to--

You were assigned to speak to your elders without first giving your name?

No. I am Kunta Kinte, a Mandingo, from the village of Juffure.

I am traveling with my family to the village of Kerewan. Is it far?

Kadi Touray, I have been assigned by my Kintango

to catch a bird without the use of a weapon and--

and not bother to put it back,

or apologize to my daughter?

No, I have been assigned to--

Municipality Kinte, My Daughter, Fanta.

-Peace to you, municipality kinte.

My daughter, Fanta, that you were going to apologize to.

I apologize for not apologizing louder when you were hitting me.

And it's one day to Kerewan.

-Peace to you always, Kunta Kinte.

Peace to you, Mandinka warrior. I hope you catch your bird.

Keep moving!

Go on, move! Move!

Go on, move.

Move it.

Move it.

Damn it!

Municipality of Kinte, are you to be a child forever?

Were you not sent to catch a bird? Did you forget the instructions given you?

I did not forget.

to disobey those instructions and--

I saw white men.

What did you say?

I said I saw white men.

Slater!

Six months older, not a bit wiser, Mr. Gardner.

Like you to meet Captain Davies.

Captain Davies, sir, this here is Mr. Gardner.

Yes.

Fine, let's talk.

To your health, Captain Davies.

A welcome to Africa, you understand.

Now then, Captain,

can you give me some idea as to how many blacks your vessel will hold?

One hundred and seventy, Mr. Gardner.

One hundred and seventy?

You people seem to think this is easiest thing in the world to do.

Well, it ain't. There's ships slaving all up and down this coast.

you ain't never seen.

If I can't catch enough blacks, I gotta buy them from their own chiefs,

and that'd bring a tidy sum per head these days.

Mr. Gardner, I have neither the time nor the temperament

your price-raising maneuvers.

Moneys will be discussed at a later date.

The question now is, can you capture or buy 170 healthy blacks

and deliver them to the hold of the Lord Ligonier?

I'll capture some, I'll buy some, I'll fill your hold.

I'll deliver.

For the rest of your lives, even when you have come to be men,

and the black traitors who help them.

These things I'm going to tell you now you must hear with more than your ears,

for not to do as I say can mean

you're being stolen away to a place outside our world,

outside of us, forever.

Never be alone when you can help it.

Never be out at night when you can help it.

And day or night, if you are alone,

And if ever you see much smoke away from any village,

it is probably the white man's cooking fires, which are always too big.

And remember, when you are close to where he has been,

It is a smell like a wet chicken.

And most importantly, remember that Municipality Kinte Saw the White Man

less than two days' walk from where we are now.

There now remains but one more test on the path to manhood.

It has to do with your fotoos.

You have seen that the fotoo of a man and fotoo of a child are not the same.

in our traditional way by cutting.

Hold out your fotoos.

This paste will soon take away the feeling,

and there will be less pain when the time comes.

This thing to be done

also was done to us, as to the forefathers before us,

so that you will also become, all of us, men together.

to your homes and to your farms,

and in time you will marry,

and life everlasting will spring from your loins.

Which of you will speak to be first?

I have your things all packed for you.

You are a man now, and a man must have his own hut.

you know that.

Of course I know that.

Yes. Your things are inside.

Here is your spoon and your bowl and cup

as well as your sleeping mat.

Now that there is plenty of room in this corner,

I will have your father build a shelf

where I can store my sewing needles and threads

will not lose what I need to keep, and...

Your father has built a hut for you. It is next to that of Brima Cesay.

I will find it.

And you will thank your father.

Excuse me.

Here are your things.

Thank you.

What are you doing?

Wait! Stop it, stop it!

Warrior! Hunter! Teacher!

You were a dirty-bottomed baby when I first saw you.

I'll come and remind you again.

You can grow as tall as a tree, and I will still be your grandmother.

And you will still respect me. Do you hear me?

I hear you, Grandmother.

that you do not know everything,

cannot do everything,

and that Allah is still considered greater than you?

-l understand that, yes. -Hmm.

But now that you are a man, what will you do?

Sit under that tree with the other men and make important decisions? Is that it?

I do not yet know.

what your mind tells you,

I believe there is some good thing you can do for your mother.

There were tears when you were away at manhood training.

Well there was sadness, Kunta.

the building of a shelf,

but she said she would ask my father to do that.

What about Lamin, your baby brother?

Is there something that you can give to him?

would touch your mother as well.

Do you think he would like a drum?

Oh, I know he would.

Good, then I'll make a drum for my brother.

to make such a drum.

Again!

Get back in line!

Hurry. Hurry.

Come on, move!

Come on.

Get in there.

-MAN 2: Come on, go.

Put more irons in that fire.

Come on. Get up!

Move!

- Next! - Get in there! Get in there!

A week or two more should do it, sir.

Unless you want to wait and carry an even 200.

I expressed my wish, Mr. Slater.

It's all a matter of philosophy.

-Philosophy? -Asa, Sir.

It's a question of loose pack or tight pack.

Now, if we was using tight pack, we'd pack them in laying on their sides,

like they was silver spoons, you might say,

that way we get 14-inch shelf space to a nigger.

We can carry 200 of them.

And, um,

by your reckoning?

That's hard to say, sir. More of 'em die off.

But then again, we start with more, sir.

Ah.

-One hundred and seventy will be enough. -Asa, Sir.

There's them that would agree with you. Loose pack has its point.

Better chance of bringing more through the passage.

Is there another cask of rum about?

Aye, sir. I'm sure there is. I'll see to it right now.

I was under the impression you didn't drink, sir.

connection with this voyage, Mr. Slater,

that I've never done before.

Municipality Kinte.

Omoro!

Municipality!

Come on. Keep ‘em in line, let's go.

You heard him, you heard him. Let's go. Move, move! Come on!

Come on, move. Yeah, move them. Move!

Step along now, step along.

Come on, in you go, in you go. Come on.

Come on!

Put ‘em in this one. Put some in this one, right here.

Get back, get back.

All right.

Your family?

My family is well. I know they are.

Your family is well?

I know they will be.

You were the only one taken?

It was nighttime,

but I am sure my father fought them off.

He is a very great man.

A very great warrior.

Were there many who raided your camp?

Yes.

Did he call your name?

Did he just cry out?

He just cried out.

But now one is forever outside your embrace.

Forever outside of us all.

Allah!

Allah!

- Lay aloft! Check the topsail. - Aye, Sir.

Hands to the braces,

handsomely, handsomely.

Aye, sir. Topsail secure.

Lay the starboard sheet.

Municipality. Municipality Kinte!

Wrestler,

-will they come after us, our warriors? -No.

No, too far away. The canoe-house has traveled for three days now.

There is no trail in the water, no trail to follow.

Then we are alone.

Oh, there are other Mandinka men. I heard a shout, but I don't know--

Municipality! Municipality Kinte!

Municipality, Listen to me.

Listen to me.

There are other tribes. I've heard their words.

and some I do not know.

We are not alone.

Wrestler, when the big canoe moved,

my stomach came up into my mouth and spilled.

I am ashamed.

Yes. Now when my stomach comes up, there is nothing.

Only bitter spit.

Wrestler, I am a man, a warrior!

Municipality!

canoe-house for many days now.

Allah sees.

He understands.

He knows you are a man. He knows.

year of our Lord, 1767.

Three thousand, two hundred and sixty-five elephant teeth,

3,700 pounds of beeswax,

800 pounds raw cotton, 32 ounces of gold,

One thirty-eight, sir.

How is that, Mr. Slater?

There was that buck that went over the side during the boarding.

If the black was not loaded, why was he on the manifest?

There's a custom, sir.

The seller takes the risk,

then the merchandise is delivered to the beach,

then it's on our books.

And the other?

God save us, only eight days at sea.

Is there anything else, Mr. Slater?

Aye, Sir.

and dance 'em, sir.

Gotta have exercise, keep them in condition.

Gives us a chance to muck out the hold.

The stench of 'em, sir. A bile-puking smell down there.

what ain't worth feeding.

Yes, yes, yes.

And look over the wenches.

I am a Christian man and I command a Christian ship.

-Aye, Captain. -I will not lead any men into sin.

Sin?

Fornication.

Begging your pardon, Captain,

you ain't never sailed a slaving ship before.

What are you getting at?

Captain, you gotta give the men their ease in their off-duty.

Don't hurt the cargo none.

Point of fact, it's good for them.

bring heathen souls to Christ?

Captain, sir, if I was you, with all respect,

I'd leave Christ gospel to private prayer and meditation.

Oh, and Sunday meetings, of course.

Site, life, Captain.

You won't be wanting a belly-warmer then?

That will be all, Mr. Slater!

Site, life, Captain.

Allah.

Allah, the merciful.

Allah,

Allah, the compassionate.

Please,

hear my prayers.

Allah.

Allah, please.

Look alive. Look alive!

Lay above deck.

Get up!

What is it?

I do not know.

If they let me out of here,

and swim to the riverbank.

Get him up!

Hurry.

Come on, come on. Let's go. Move, move, move!

Move, you monkeys.

There's no riverbank.

Wrestler, where's the riverbank?

Where is the earth?

The earth is gone.

Come on. Over here.

I don't blame you standing windward, sir.

They stink something fierce.

First batch on deck, sir.

I do not.

Appear a likely cargo, sir.

We'll lose some to the bloody flux.

-Mr. Slater. -Aye, sir?

Aye, sir. I believe in clean cargo.

Cleanliness is next to godliness.

It pays off in pounds, shillings and pence.

-Mr. Slater. -Yes, sir.

Come on, you dirty heathens. Move it. Let's go!

Carry on with your duties.

Aye, sir. Heave away, bo's'n!

Handsomely!

Get them up and dance them, damn your eyes!

I want them exercised!

Jump!

Jump!

Get them up!

Keep jumping. Higher. Higher!

What is it that they're saying there, Mr. Slater?

How would a white man know that, sir?

more than likely.

No.

Mr. Slater, I don't understand a syllable of their language,

but I believe I can guess what they're saying down there.

They're telling us to sleep lightly, Mr. Slater.

But then I've not slept well since this voyage began.

I know the wherefore of that, I believe, sir.

Hold it, you wait. You'll get some.

Municipality.

Municipality Kinte.

You do not eat?

When I eat the white man's food, my stomach comes up.

So does mine. But eat the food, Kunta.

You are a warrior.

And a warrior must eat, because he must be strong to kill his enemy.

So eat the white man's food.

Be strong to kill the white man.

Hey, Tom. We got a dead one over here.

Another one?

Yeah.

Yeah, he's dead all right.

There goes 100 guineas to the sharks.

Dearest Elizabeth.

If only

know

how much I regret having taken this command,

not only because it forces me to be apart from you and the children

but because it...

Yes? Who is it?

Mr. Slater, sir, come with something for your chill.

Come in, Mr. Slater.

Here you are, Captain.

Mr. Slater,

I've told you my views on fornication.

Yes, sir. You did, right enough.

Just brought her as a belly-warmer, sir.

them cold sheets.

Didn't figure it'd be any problem

for a high-born Christian white man like you, sir.

I'll be by to fetch her in the morning, Captain.

I do not approve of fornication.

My name is Thomas.

It's my Christian name.

Well, now...

Of course.

You don't understand anything I say, do you?

Oh, merciful heaven.

Municipality?

Wrestler, I was dreaming.

I dreamed I was hunting.

Running faster than I ever ran before, spear in my hand.

-In, Listen to me. -I was hunting

from one riverbank to the other.

It turned and flew towards me

and I saw it was all white.

All white.

and choked me.

They choked me.

I opened my eyes

and I was here.

We will kill the white man and we will go home.

It's in Allah's hands.

It is in our hands. Allah made us warriors.

Mandinka Warriors.

I counted the white men.

I saw 20 with the long knives and killing-sticks that make smoke and fire.

Ten more are in the long poles pulling the ropes and great cloths.

And the chief who stands and watches.

out of here together.

I have listened.

Three more times the Wolof beats the drums.

That means there are 160 people.

Some are women.

And with 100 warriors, a chief could raid a large village

and carry off all the cattle.

With chains on their feet?

You have seen the piece of iron they put in the hole and turn,

and the ankle-irons open?

One of them wears it around his neck.

I could get it.

If we had a plan.

But we're different men.

We can't even talk to each other. We're different tribes.

Men chained together are brothers.

Who cannot speak the same words.

Who is Mandinka?

Who speaks the language of the Mandinka?

I am Okiyu, the wrestler, from the village of Jaihutswa.

/ people Mandinka.

I am Bowayo, from the village of Kafure.

Falilu, from Ubowa.

Oetebu, from the Fatawbe village.

Those who speak other words, words of the Wolof,

of the Serer, the Fulani,

talk to the man chained to you.

Teach him your words. Learn his.

We will destroy our enemies.

And we will be one village!

We Will Kill!

We will win!

We will live!

Next on Roots...

Who will offer me £100 for this fine wench?

We will.

Sold. Your name, sir?

John Reynolds, Spotsylvania County, Virginia.

Mrs. Reynolds owns you.

But sooner or later, nigger, you're mine.

Chains ain't right for nigger, Fiddler.

Municipality of Never Forget You.

Helped municipality be free.

You're going to learn to answer to your name.

-What's your name? -Kinde.

What's your name?