Ep 2. Part 2

Kunta Kinte, a young Gambian man, has been captured and taken from his village to be sold into slavery in America. In episode two of Roots (2016), titled Part 2, we see Kunta's journey continue as he experiences the horrors of the Middle Passage, the voyage across the Atlantic Ocean that transported millions of Africans to the New World.

As he endures the cramped conditions of the slave ship, Kunta struggles to maintain his sense of identity and culture in the face of the constant brutality of the slave traders. He bonds with fellow captives, particularly a young woman named Fanta, and together they try to resist their captors in small ways while clinging to their memories of home.

Meanwhile, back in America, Kunta's daughter Kizzy has been born into slavery on a plantation in Virginia. She is raised by her mother and the other enslaved people on the plantation, but her father's spirit and teachings still live on in her. As she grows into a young girl, Kizzy becomes increasingly aware of the injustices of the slave system and the cruelty of her master, Tom Lea.

Throughout the episode, we see glimpses of the lives of the other enslaved people on the plantation, as well as the white characters who benefit from their labor. As Kizzy and the other enslaved people work in the fields, we see the violence and deprivation they must endure every day, from lashings to lack of adequate food and shelter.

Part 2 also introduces a new character, Chicken George, a charismatic and cunning slave who becomes a key figure in Kizzy's life. As a cockfighting trainer, Chicken George earns a small measure of freedom and respect from his master, and Kizzy begins to admire and even love him.

As the episode comes to a close, Kunta and the other slaves finally arrive in America, where they are sold at auction to various slave owners. Kunta is bought by a man named John Waller, who takes him to his plantation in Virginia, not far from Kizzy. Though Kunta is physically and emotionally battered from his journey, he refuses to let go of his identity as an African warrior and continues to plot his escape.

Part 2 of Roots is a powerful and emotional continuation of the story, exploring themes of identity, resistance, and the enduring legacy of slavery. The episode is notable for its unflinching depiction of the horrors of the Middle Passage and the brutality of the slave system, as well as its focus on the complex relationships between enslaved people and their masters. Despite its challenging subject matter, Roots remains a deeply compelling and impactful series, offering an essential look at the history of slavery and its ongoing impact on American society.