ROOTS Cultural Festival - Delray Beach, FL

 

IT’S ALL IN THE STORIES

ROOTS: THE SAGA OF AN AMERICAN FAMILY, had a profound affect on the entire country, if not the world. It painted the picture of slavery in a more realistic way. No one could forget the brutal beating of Kunta Kinte by the overseer to get him to accept the name of "Toby." It was a systematic way of control for the plantation owner over his slaves. They will not know who they are if you take away their name (roots). But what the viewer witnessed was the courage by Kunta to remain true to his African roots not matter what he said in the anguish and pain of the whip.  That point (keeping his roots) was reinforced when his firstborn was blessed as "Kizzy" which meant "stay put." Kunta was passing down his legacy to his first born. That scene of Kunta holding Kizzy to GOD is replicated in a statue that one can see at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center in Atlanta. We all get values and culture passed down to us from our parents, elders and ancestors.

What ROOTS also showed us was that life in this country for African-Americans began in the proud continent of AFRICA and NOT at the end of the "Middle Passage". We were reminded that as Africans-Americans our roots came from a proud people. It reminded us that we were farmers, craftsmen, merchants, artists, herders, fishermen, healers, tradesmen, manufacturers, and artisans. We were from different tribes, villages, and countries.  But our roots ran deep into the African soil and our skills were still in tact when we arrived on this shore. WE’VE ALL GOT ROOTS

THAT SAME YEAR ANOTHER TREE WAS PLANTED

Ten years after the first showing of ROOTS: THE SAGA... another person was affected by the need to continue to tell the story. The burning desire to expand the story and celebrate the legacy of the roots that we all share was launched into the mind of I. Elizabeth Wesley more than 30 years ago. That idea took root in the minds of other neighbors living in Delray Beach’s Jefferson Manor neighborhood  It was so powerful an idea that it became a driving force: to create an event that would celebrate the creativity (Kuumba) born in the people of this community and provide a platform for education and life enrichment.  That idea formed into the workings of a community-wide festival that would be the catalyst for motivating and educating children, adults and families in the positive aspects of our culture. The collective inspiration of the neighborhood became a "spirit" and that "spirit" moved the community to begin a celebration that we now call Roots Cultural Festival, Inc. The ROOTS CULTURAL FESTIVAL has itself planted roots that live on today.

THE STORY MUST CONTINUE TO BE TOLD

The profound effect that Alex Haley’s ROOTs had on this country, and the tremendous influence the ROOTS CULTURAL FESTIVAL continues to have on this community and, indeed the State of Florida, bears witness to the power of legacy we all share. It is not only important for the community to have a sense of unity, belonging and strong traditions  to follow, but it is especially important for the children to know and appreciate who they are and whose they are. The roots of Africa run throughout many of us. Whether we were born in this country, the Caribbean, Jamaica, Haiti, Central or South America, we’ve all got roots were first planted in Africa and therefore a SHARED legacy. It is most apparent in the rhythms and sounds that permeate deep within our bones and cause our bodies to move in unison on the same beat.

As Henry Louis Gates, Jr., W.E.B. Dubois Professor of Humanities at Harvard University, writes in the forward to African Americans: Voices of Triumph.

"Teaching our children about the various American cultures and their histories can only help to make us all more sensitive to, and familiar with, that which we bear in common, the shared experiences that unite us, as citizens of this country. For it is only through the sharing of knowledge that we can begin to repair the racial, ethnic, gender, class, and religious divisions that continue to plague our society"

From the very beginning the founders of "Roots Cultural Festival, Inc" sought to educate the children in the courageous history and magnificent culture of the African Diaspora in America and South Florida.  We all share a common experience based in the on-going struggle to move as one people in the quest for equality and unity.  

The story of this community, like the story of other villages in Africa, has been chronicled over the first 25 years of years the Roots Cultural Festival by two men, Dr. B. Carleton Bryant and Mr. C. Spencer Pompey. They were both giants in this community and each was bestowed the title The Griot. In Africa a Griot was an elder charged with the responsibility of learning, maintaining and reciting the history of the village. The Griot would sit for hours explaining the origin of the village and the families within. This was a remarkable skill, to remember the intricate details and family lineage of the village. The purpose was not only to tell the history but also to remind the people of their origin and inspire them to continue their legacy. But this task is not left only the The Griot. In every family there should be those that take on the role of The Griot.


EVERYBODY’S GOT ROOTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

It is the responsibility of many of us with stories to tell, to tell them. Our children, and maybe some young adults, need to know their own roots. Don’t tell them about the roots that did not bear fruit, but inspire them with the stories about those that did. In every family there are those that persevered against tremendous odds. There are stories about relatives that went beyond the call, showed courage and creativity, carried heavy burdens and were blessed by GOD for carrying them. Tell the stories about the one’s that had little but made it go far. Those that would not let limitations limit their dreams. Show the children pictures and laugh with them about how funny they looked "back in the day". This is their legacy, and these are their roots.

Alex Haley, started his odyssey to find out about his family because his grandmother kept referring to someone called "The African". What would have happened had she not told him the story. America would be a different place. Many famous Blacks were first inspired by hearing the stories of their roots, good and bad. My father-in-law was inspired to go to college at the age of 29 and was also a Tuskegee Airman because he was told stories of the struggles and blessings of his family by his sisters.

There is power in the word. Everyone has a story to tell. And the best thing about it is: EVERYBODY’S GOT ROOTS.

TELL OUR CHILDREN AND LET THEM GROW!!!!!!

HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY
ROOTS CULTURAL FESTIVAL, INC