In order to analyze the characters in "Roots," one must first take into consideration the reoccurring themes that correspond with the characters. There are two resurfacing themes in "Roots." Those themes are resistance and assimilation. Each character in the movies embodies at least one, if no both of these themes. The usually parallel lines of assimilation and resistance seem to somehow come dangerously close to touching, or even crossing, each other. However, in watching and understanding "Roots," there should be no questions as to why this is true.
             The history of the African-American has been a story of assimilation and/or resistance. When taken against their will, some slaves, such as Kunta Kente, refused to completely settle. Inside, they held true to their beliefs and their goals of once again being a free people. They met slavery with resistance. They resisted the seasoning, the conditioning, the training, and the stripping of their cultures. A real life example of this, "Kunta Kente Mentality," would probably be a person such as Harriet Tubman. Her attitude of resistance not only led her to free herself, but it also led her to free others. However, resistance, as we all know, is sometimes futile and just as it may free some, it may kill others. The fear of how resistance could be met, grouped many African slaves into the assimilation category. The instillation of fear into one's mind, makes the assimilation of a person that much easier. Some slaves, like Fanta for example, were quickly broken. They settled into the process of assimilation. In other words, they began to take on the cultures and the language of the majority. Thereby, leaving behind the beliefs and traditions that had been taught to them in Africa. Many of the African slaves in America had the "Fanta Mentality." They met slavery with adaptation. They adapt...