Wow! There's a lot of food for thought in this essay, especially with the current situation in Israel/Palestine. I also appreciate your contrast of the Atlantic slave route and all of its implications for identity.
The interesting thing to me about the discussion of roots is the assumption that identity comes from them alone--or at least primarily. But it ignores the reality that living things both accommodate to changing conditions *and* spontaneously mutate. Nature tells us that identity isn't static; living things evolve. And this has to be even more the case when we add the social/cultural dimension that has a tremendous influence on human beings. We always have been, and always will be, more than our roots. The issue is what--from the amalgam of our sources and conditions--we decide to prioritize. I really enjoyed this read!
This especially interesting to me as an adopted person. The severance of roots isn’t considered, especially by the anti-abortionists who promote adoption as the solution. Even with DNA testing and Genealogy work sometimes I still feel unattached, but I also get blessed with double the relatives because I’m related through Nature-DNA: my birth mother had funny knees like me; and also Nuture: the attitudes, expressions, values passed to me by my adoptive parents (which were passed by their ancestors. )
Forgive me for not editing that long sentence. It’s a real longgg thought.
Always appreciate your ability to articulate complex topics and ideas.
Especially feeling enlightened by the description of her trip to Ghana and how people there are just as eager to forget slavery as people here.
In 1970 or 71 Alex, Haley spoke to our small anthropology class at our small college in Minnesota. He chain smoked through the entire hour but related how he came to write the book roots.
It was after his trip to Africa and his research that he said Hugh Hefner invited him to take the time he needed on Heffner‘s large yacht.
There he could write in peace, and even spend time trying to sleep in the bottom hold of the boat to re-create the experience of the ocean passage.
But at that time, 50 some years ago, Halie described how welcomed he was when he found his village.
Wow! There's a lot of food for thought in this essay, especially with the current situation in Israel/Palestine. I also appreciate your contrast of the Atlantic slave route and all of its implications for identity.
The interesting thing to me about the discussion of roots is the assumption that identity comes from them alone--or at least primarily. But it ignores the reality that living things both accommodate to changing conditions *and* spontaneously mutate. Nature tells us that identity isn't static; living things evolve. And this has to be even more the case when we add the social/cultural dimension that has a tremendous influence on human beings. We always have been, and always will be, more than our roots. The issue is what--from the amalgam of our sources and conditions--we decide to prioritize. I really enjoyed this read!
This especially interesting to me as an adopted person. The severance of roots isn’t considered, especially by the anti-abortionists who promote adoption as the solution. Even with DNA testing and Genealogy work sometimes I still feel unattached, but I also get blessed with double the relatives because I’m related through Nature-DNA: my birth mother had funny knees like me; and also Nuture: the attitudes, expressions, values passed to me by my adoptive parents (which were passed by their ancestors. )
Forgive me for not editing that long sentence. It’s a real longgg thought.
Always appreciate your ability to articulate complex topics and ideas.
Especially feeling enlightened by the description of her trip to Ghana and how people there are just as eager to forget slavery as people here.
In 1970 or 71 Alex, Haley spoke to our small anthropology class at our small college in Minnesota. He chain smoked through the entire hour but related how he came to write the book roots.
It was after his trip to Africa and his research that he said Hugh Hefner invited him to take the time he needed on Heffner‘s large yacht.
There he could write in peace, and even spend time trying to sleep in the bottom hold of the boat to re-create the experience of the ocean passage.
But at that time, 50 some years ago, Halie described how welcomed he was when he found his village.
Times have changed.
Thanks very much for this.
This is a beautiful piece that is written with empathy and historical clarity. Noah, thank you for this. You are a special one.
Thank you!
Thank you for this eye-opening essay.
Very thought provoking. This is an issue that tries to examine where's "home"? Settled or nomadic?