Roots: The Saga of an American Family

by Alex Haley

“Will toubob never change?” “That will be,” said one of the elders, “when the river flows backward!”

he turned his thoughts to prayer for the souls of the men who had been thrown over the side, joined already with their ancestors. He envied them.

“We cain’t go nowhere.” “We’s gon’ somewheres now.” “Jes’ Massa John’s. We don’t show up, dey have de dogs out at us by sundown.” “’Cause dey be worried ’bout us?” “’Cause we b’longs to dem, jes’ like dese hosses pullin’ us.” “Like I b’longs to you an’ mammy?” “You’se our young’un. Dat different.” “Missy Anne say she want me fo’ her own.” “You ain’t no doll fo’ her to play wid.” “I plays wid her, too. She done tole me she my bes’ frien’.” “You can’t be nobody’s frien’ an’ slave both.” “How come, Pappy?” “’Cause frien’s don’t own one ’nother.” “Don’t mammy an’ you b’long to one ’nother? Ain’t y’all frien’s?” “Ain’t de same. We b’longs to each other ’cause we wants to, ’cause we loves each other.”