Roots: The Saga of an American Family

by Alex Haley

Pointing back down the trail, they said that village’s chief had kept on doing things his people disliked until one night not long ago, as he slept, everyone had quietly gone away with all their possessions to the homes of friends and families in other places—leaving behind an “empty chief,” the children said, who was now going about promising to act better if only his people would return.

“When you clench your fist, no one can put anything in your hand, nor can your hand pick up anything.”