LA Auto Show 2011

Luis Mayberry & Josh Cooper posing with some epic cars

 at one of the best conventions on earth. Enjoy...

11/22/11

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The "John" Factor

What is it inside of us that defines who we are? Thst determines our very nature and establishes our very being? Could the answer be in genetics, or maybe in the spirit? This john is inside everyone, or maybe nobody in a similarly indistinguishable manor. The "John", what drives progress and inspires civilizations, can change the world in a blink of an eye or

Roots-Alex Haley Eng10 honors

Luis Suero Mayberry

Ms. Allen

English 10 Honors/ Period 3

11/31/11

Historical Essay

            The world is bigger than any single character and every isolated event. Even events occurring all alone are only part of a large painting of history, one where each person has a brush and thus the power to change the world. Larger than any person, though, are cultures, ideas, and beliefs with which the entire nature of civilization can be shifted. Alex Haley’s Roots perfectly exemplifies, personifies even, some of the major events and effects presented to the world through not only the diffusion of African cultures in America, but through an entirely new chapter of history being written.

            Haley’s story directly describes and was obviously influenced by the expansive slave trade networks in the 18^th century. On an individual scale, many Africans including Kunta Kinte where torn from their homelands and brought to treacherous new environments. These people’s journeys were not only cruel and savage but for many deadly. Without a doubt these ideas played a large role in Haley’s writing, but even more drastic events were taking place globally to trigger and prolong the slave trade. In the 1700’s English colonists had settled “the new world” and were beginning to form what eventually came to be America. Aside from the search for religious freedom, these colonists were motivated by the pursuit of economic opportunity that was no longer available in Europe. The newly found arable lands in the Americas provided them with this opportunity, but it quickly became apparent to them the same way it became clear to feudal nobility that the most profit would be made with the use of cheap and possibly even free labor. Unsuccessful attempts at civil service workers and Native American labor lead to the massively influential introduction of the African slave trade.

            “After about the ninth century C.E., the expansion of the trans-Saharan and Indian Ocean trade networks stimulated increased traffic in African slaves… empires began to make war [on smaller states] in search of captives destined for northern slave markets.” (Traditions and Encounters, Bentley/Ziegler) The trade of African peoples was brought about initially by their own means, in fact in search for more gold larger empires frequently raided others for no reason other than slaves. This concept is touched upon briefly by Roots, in the fact that Kinte’s captor was in fact African. The already established slave system proved to be a simple and effective answer to the labor woes of the Americans when it was found centuries later. Native cultures had spread in Africa already, but the newly introduced Americans experienced massive cultural and social changes upon contact.

            Once in America, widespread African culture influenced everything: society, religion, the economy, politics, art, intellect, and even geography, thus completely modifying history from then on.  Economically, the metamorphosis was expected and hoped for. Slaves introduced free labor that lasted in many cases for generations, it allowed for a massive increase in production (mainly on farms and open areas), and provided for more time and energy to be spent on other jobs, technologies, and advancements. This newly gained money increased America’s global power and capabilities politically. Additionally politically a rift began to grow between the slavery supporters and critics and eventually culminated in the American Civil War, who’s impacts are still being felt today. Regarding social views, unjust views on minority races have plagued this nation before and since the arrival of slavery. Discrimination due to race occurred along with the even more astonishing social levels based on the amount of slaves owned because for so many years it was considered the norm.

            Diffusion of African and African-American people sparked a massive cultural revamping as soon as they were introduced. New traditions were established and modified versions of the English language were formed. For example slang phrases such as “uh-hum” (yes) and “unh-unh” (no) were established and derogatory terms such as “nig**r” became popular. African intellectuals merged their ideas with more American concepts to make some truly astonishing advancements such as those of George Washington Carver.

New problems were prevented in society with the new possibilities of mixed raced babies and the rights given to both them and all other people of African descent.

            Alex Haley majestically described certain aspects of the centuries long African diffusion while still evading some major aspects in preference of a more personal story. Nearly all facets regarding this particular time in history can be explained by a logical cause and analyzed through rational evidence, thus making the monumental relation between Roots and accurate history even more discernable. The strokes of history’s brush were chronicled by Haley while still hinting at the tantalizing overall masterpiece of the era, the society, and the repercussions.

Prompt 2

            Men are truly defined by their actions, and actions are most truthful during hardship. Under tough situations, when others would crumble under the pressure, the best excel and prove that their strength is not merely a charade. Kunta Kinte, an astoning character in Alex Haley’s semi-factual narrative, Roots, is a superb example of one such characters. Through his perseverance, pride, and exceptional adaptability Kunta Kinte proves without a doubt that he is a unparalleled character clearly deserving of his major role in Roots.

            Kinte faced extensive challenges to earn his manhood while still in Africa, but considering many others faced the same trials it wasn’t nearly as impressive. Kunta Kinte’s true difficulties emerge at the age of 17 when he is torn from his home and life abruptly and violently by slave traders and sent to America. “Naked, chained, shackled, he awoke on his back between two other men in a pitch darkness full of steamy heat and sickening stink…” (Haley, 194) Kinte was nearly at the pinnacle of his development when everything was snatched from him. As would be the case with any person, shock and fear initially overwhelmed him. Extensive confusion and frustration occur early on in his three month long voyage to America. It is at that time, though, that he separates himself from the pack, raising up, not particularly high, but above the rest. In the retched conditions many of the captives had become depressed, resigned from the real world. These people were the first to pass away. But Kunta and his self-pride chose a different path, one that allowed for him to survive and give his bloodline a chance to live on all the way to Alex Haley. He decided that as bad as his situation was he wasn’t going to give up, in fact he even helped motivate some people to do the same. Not only does this demonstrate his perseverance but also his influence. The fact that his words carried the power to change live amplifies his impressive persona even further, and his difficulties were still only beginning.

            As a slave in America, Kinte was forced to adapt his lifestyle, but he would never his religion and values disappear. Partly fueled by rage and partly motivated by Allah, Kinte tried four unsuccessful times to escape. He was punished progressively worse each time, beginning with him being whipped forcefully: “The chief’s toubob’s whistling whip began to lash against Kunta’s back. He writhed under the pain, refusing to make any sound, but each blow felt as if it had torn him in half.” (Haley, 270) Kunta Kinte’s pride, his dignity, prevented him from yelling out in pain. He persevered that challenge as he did the rest in his life, and while some would lose motivation, he continued and continued to try to escape until his foot had to be amputated.

            Kinte would rather die than to lose touch with his heritage, as evident by many of his words. Words can be said by anyone, but Kinte backs his up with actions. Rather than accept the slave name of Toby, he puts up a valiant fight and faces brutal punishment. He, like Haley, respects and admires where he came from, a characteristic lost in many slaves then and citizens even now. Perseverance, pride, strength, wisdom. These are all words that could be used to capture the essence of Kunta Kinte in Roots, but no single word could be as accurate as the truth: inspirational.

Prompt 1

            Why is suffering endured? What is it inside of us that pushes us to fight on? Could it be a primal instinct, or maybe a default code? While reading and analyzing Alex Haley’s shockingly thorough novel, Roots, the hardships African slaves endured became all too real, posing the question of why any person, any human, would treat others in such a way. It is possible indirectly to relate to the characters, the constant battle between individuality and conformism, and the unique aspects of African culture.

            Personally, I take great interest in the overlying theme of individuality vs. conformism. In Alex Haley’s work, an example of the fight against conformity and the preserving of culture could be found in Kunta Kinte’s harsh denouncement of the name his masters gave him of Toby. Although the name wouldn’t physically affect him much, he knew that it is one of the last things connecting him to his heritage and that his captors would win if he gave it up. “’You Toby! Toby. Massa say you name Toby!’” (Haley, 275) The search for individuality is never more apparent in modern society than in typical high schools. Students are for whatever reason trying to prove that they are their own person, with their own unique traits, while many simultaneously attempt to adhere to social norms as to avoid being labeled as an outcast. I personally feel that the conflict between who people are, who they want to be, and who others want them to be is one of the main driving forces in both American and world culture by inspiring dreamers and forging losers out of those who deserve to lose. Roots’ complex psychological and physical conflicts pertaining to individualism add to the effect of the masterful story.

            An extremely compelling aspect of the novel and the era in history in which it takes place, is the shocking treatment of humans by other humans. I would not deny that there are superior and inferior people in the world, but to think that such a petty feature such as skin color should evoke such malicious acts as few as centuries ago is utterly disappointing. The unethical treatment of slaves in America strikes me as particularly repulsive. America, the country founded on freedoms and liberty, should not have ever been the harbor for such atrocious and contradictory beliefs. From this perspective, reading the novel became almost a journey of good vs. evil, with for the most part the innocent blacks being good and the slave owners being of less upstanding morals. Victory in this situation would be in gaining full equality, an achievement that still hadn’t taken place when Alex Haley was born.

            Morality, inner struggles, complex character trees: three traits found in Roots            and most satisfying and compelling novels. Despite the lack of an orthodox conclusion and resolution, I feel that the work in question more than made up for it with hundreds of pages of substance and content. Haley completed a profound saga that was made all the more better by its relative basis in truth.

Works Cited

Haley, Alex. Roots. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1976.

Bentley, Jerry H., and Herbert F. Ziegler. Traditions and Encounters: A Global Perspective on                             the Past. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill, 2003.