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14 Things You Didn’t Know About the Original ‘Roots’ Miniseries

14. There is an island dedicated to Kunta Kinte

In the Gambia River there is an island now called Kunta Kinteh Island, which was formerly James Island. The island is home to Fort James, which was used in the West African slave trade. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and some ruins remain although erosion has reduced the island to about one sixth of the size it was when the fort was actively used. Whether Kunta Kinte was ever real or not, certainly the experience of Alex Haley’s character/ancestor resonates with many a slave’s experience.

Kunte Kinteh Island
unesco.org

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