Synopsis
August 20th, 2008 | Uncategorized |
In this episode of Roots, Toby (Kunta Kinte) goes through a lot:
He runs away from his owner in order to try to find Fanta, the girl he knew from Africa. He finds her, but learns that she does not share his dream of running away together. Although she wants to be free, she wants to stay safe even more and refuses to run away with him. While they are arguing, Toby is discovered by slave-catchers who chase him down and capture him. The slave-catchers tie Toby up and cut off part of one of his feet to keep him from running away again.
Toby’s wound gets infected and he spends most of a month unconscious. He is nursed back to health by a slave named Belle. When he wakes up, he finds that he, Fiddler and a couple of other slaves from his master’s plantation have been sold. He now belongs to Dr. Reynolds, the brother of his first master.
He feels very sorry for himself and wants to give up, but Belle taunts him until he gets angry enough to get out of bed and start living again.
Several years pass. Toby eventually becomes Dr. Reynolds’ driver and marries Belle. His life gets better, but he never gives up on his dream of freedom. On one of his trips with the Doctor, Toby meets another African slave who has a plan to run away. He gives Toby a signal to listen for – a particular rhythm on a drum. When he hears the drum, Toby is supposed to run away with the Drummer.
Belle and Toby have a baby girl named Kizzy. At about the same time, Fiddler dies. It is a very emotional time for Toby.
A few weeks after Kizzy is born, Toby takes her out into the night to officially give her her name, just like his father did for him back in Africa. While he is holding her up to the stars, he hears the Drummer calling him to run away.
He returns to Belle and tells her that the plantation where they live will never be a home to him, but that he loves her and Kizzy too much to run away from them. He decides to stay and pass on his dream of freedom to his daughter.
42 Responses to “Synopsis”
Cal Mackenzie
8-2
Fiddler, as Toby runs away
How the hell am I supposed to play a song on this old voline with out thinkin bout Kunta and keepin my eyes off him. Aint nobody can know I knew he was runnin. Or I’ll end up being the one that wants to get out runnin from this place.
Run boy run, Free yourself from this miserable hellhole. Do what you were made to do. Make your village back home in Africa proud. You will leave this horrible village a beaten up cruelled, unwanted filthy slave. Wanted for your hard work and sweat that is, and that only. Then, hmmmmm, then you will return a true warrior. He is Kunta Kinte, he will always be Kunta kinte. You don’t get caught now. Momma back home is gunna be proud to see you, Your baby brother, Dad and gees all the rest of your family, Christ your whole village. I remember back home. My whole village was one big family. We Sang songs by the camp fire, played games. It was extraordinary. It was a blast. Then these god damn white men through a net on me, tied me up, through some shackels cross my wrist and feet. I was an innocent boy, just tryna help my family. I was a workin man now. Now, and forever. I guess i’ll be here workin hard to the day I die. I aint never gunna make it back to my homeland. That man should be lucky if he gets way. Imma die in this ground, I’ll be burried in these filthy white men’s backyard. On there soil and there land. Not where I’m from, that sets me off like a pissed off work horse pulling a wagon. I remember when that Man came in here as a young boy. Terrorized and miserable in that pen, like most slaves would. Confused as hell just sittin there with them otha niggas. I hope the best for Kunta. Just like I do for all the slaves. This work is hard and I hope he gets his freedom back. He’s as fast as the wind and hides like a true predator, hes go do it. He’s go make it back home. It was a pleasure doin my time with him. He’s a great warrior and ill always remember him. To the day I die that is.
Like I said boy, Rub boy Run, aint nobody gunna catch you. Your to fast. Go home somehow and make your village proud.
[I wonder how Fiddler felt about pride. What was he proud of? Who? Was that an emotion he couldn't afford? Interesting. - Mr. Fladd]
Jamie N.
8-2
Fiddler- When Tobey wakes up and wants to die
Hi my name is Fiddler. Tobey ran away a while ago for his second time. Unfortunately this time when the slave catchers caught him they cut off his foot. I’m sad that he couldn’t get away but I’m stunned that a man would do that to another person. Today I heard him yelling and I was full of joy when I opened the door to his shack and saw that he had waken up and was alive.
After I started to talk to Tobey I quickly realized he was in a completely different mood when he told me he wanted to die. I was completely stunned when I heard him say that because I know how much potential he has in life and it made me sad because I raised Tobey and taught him since he had got to America. Tobey ha a hard life growing up, I remember what it is like to grow up knowing I was going to be a slave for the rest of my life. When you add up all of his troubles to having his foot being cut off and all the pane with that I can understand why he is no happy with what happened. Tobey has not had anything as bad as getting his foot chopped off happen to him before so this is all new. He also thinks that he will never be able to walk again so it is going to be a lot of work for me and the other people that care for him to get his spirit up and get him over his troubles so he can start walking.
I have a lot of faith for Tobey and I think he will survive and learn to cope with what he has as long as he changes his attitude and realizes he has plenty of changes to change I think he will continue to live strong and make the best of the worst.
[Friendship does call for a lot of faith, doesn't it? You make a good point. - Mr. Fladd]
Chance S.
8-2
Botang Boderiakko (the drummer)
I was sitting in the woods playing a song I learned from my people in Africa on the drums, planning my escape, when this other man finds me and recognized the song. He told me he was from Africa too, which I was relieved to find another one that had been brought over to this horrible place. I told him my plan and asked if he wanted in, of course he said yes, because who wants to be a slave for the rest of their life? I was grateful I wouldn’t be doing it on my own. I told him that I would go to his plantation and drum to signal him, so we could run away from the white men.
————————————
I went to his plantation close to midnight and started playing my drums. I played for a while, and shortly heard some walking out in a field. I thought he was just sneaking out so I kept playing. But then I heard some commotion and talking. When everything settled down I assumed he’d been captured and left, I was really disappointed that I would have to go on my own.
[my version of word doesn't count words, can you check the number of words please?] [[192 - jf]]
[This is a good piece, though a little short. I agree that he would probably assume that Toby had been captured. - Mr. Fladd]
Shadelle
8-1
Kunta Kinte on his Wedding Day
I love that I am getting married but there is one thing. I want to get home to my family. I am happy that I now have a wife but sad that we can’t be with my family like we are with her family and friends. I want to run away and go home. I really go to the tree to think of what is would be like if I get back home. To see my family and friends and tell Fanta’s village that she is still alive but she would not come with me. I wish that I knew that my family was alright and that they would come save us. I love belle and I will always be with her. I wish my toes were not cut off so that I could run far away with belle. I love to watch them dancing it makes me remember when I was a boy in my village watching all of the girls dancing. I sit at the tree remembering my mama, my little brother, my father, and my crazy old grandmother but they are fading in my memory. I wonder what it would be like if I did not go I the woods with the tall grass and the big trees. I had forgotten all the things that we were told not to do. Whats worst of all is that I did not go with a partner. But now that I think of this more it makes me sad but I do not show this. Also I think why the whites do not just call us are real name not Toby. Belle then comes and sits next to me asking why I am not over there participating in my own wedding.
[I don't know if I'd be able to answer that question. You've done a good job of showing Kunta Kinte's ambiguity. - Mr. Fladd]
Izzy k.
8-3
Belle- when Toby proposes
I know that he is an African and that is all that he talks about. But it’s just something about him. Maybe it’s the fight in him, how he won’t give up. Although after he got his foot cut off he didn’t want to go on any longer. I know how to make him fight for it, how to make him care so much. I did it and just look at him now. I know he’s not perfect, but at least he’s something. Not much happens on this here plantation, nothing more than work at least.
The most exciting thing is when me and Toby jumped over the broom! I know he’s the one because we understand each other. I know he’s not easy to be with, but who ever said it was easy? I got him a nice new job being the driver for Dr. Reynolds. Toby seems to like it and so does Dr. Reynolds. I think he might be planning to run away again, but I just can’t let that happen. After all even Dr. Reynolds knows how much power I have. It was me of course who saved Toby from his fever.
It’s almost here, my baby! I just can’t lose another one. Toby better not be planning anything crazy again. I need him here now more than ever and so does the baby. Every night when I sleep I hold my belly and I can feel it moving around inside me. Oh I just can’t wait until my baby comes. We’ll be a real family soon, even if someone does own us.
[That must be weird - to feel another person, moving around inside of you. I wonder how Belle felt about that. She's so in-control all the time; being a mother must have been a little frightening for her, especially after losing her first children. - Mr. Fladd]
Katie L.
8-3 S.S.
Fiddler when he knows hes going to die.
I love then people around me. I know its not freedom, but its become my home. I’ve just became so weak from it, I don’t if its worth fighting anymore. I don’t want to leave Kunta or as Mr.Reynolds calls him “Toby”. Ive raised him like a son to me. I don’t want to leave the only family I have. He needs me, but I know Belle will keep him in place once I’m gone. He will stay put now that Kizzy’s here.
What a beautiful child that Kizzy. I still remember how excited Kunta was waiting to see her. That was the happiest I had ever seen him since her had been on the plantation. All I can hear now is Kunta going on about her name. Deciding if he should lie or not. I want to tell him so badly its the perfect name, but I just cant. How I wish he knew how I felt, how I felt he would have a good life after I was gone. Not a perfect one, but as close to one as any slave can get. Hes in good hands with Belle and take care Kizzy.
I look up at those beautiful stars and I can just see all their faces. Their smiling at me, so I smile back. Even thought I cant talk out loud to ask I know Kunta would want me to go. I’m so tired and there’s just no fight left in me. I look at each of their faces. Kunta, Belle and most of all Kizzy. They’re telling me to go. They’re tell me to be happy. I try to say goodbye, but I can’t. It’s to hard. I just have to leave. It’s my last breath I will ever take…
[Did you cry a little when you wrote this? It's good stuff. Well done. - Mr. Fladd]
Garrison B.
8-1
Kunta Kinte after Fiddlers Death
I have no idea what to do the only man I really understand has now past. Why my wife is he going now why now, he has so much more to tell me. Fiddler is the greatest man besides my farther that I know, he’s never coming back.
I have my beautiful daughter and my wonder wife. I want to go I want to run I am Kunta Kinte and I need to be who I am. When I heard those drums oh I wanted to run but I knew I had a wonderful life her as a slave with doctor Reynolds my daughter and wife, I will teach my daughter my tribe and storys about my farther and how great of a man he was and is and on how beautiful my mother was and all the people and the tips of animals and I will tell her never forget who you are.
I just can’t seem to tell myself, why is Fiddler is now dead? Why am I so lucky to live here in America and have so many people who like me why am I so lucky? Bell tells me I’m this way because of who I am but I know I’m this way because of the great man Fiddler.
[I don't know if you did it on purpose, but I like the way you've written this all confused and hard to follow. I imagine that was Kunta Kinte's state of mind, when Fiddler died. - Mr. Fladd]
8-3
Kunta Kinte before running away
Today I figured out how to play the master. Making him think that I would be a good slave, “Toby be good for master, good slave.” I laugh at how stupid they are sometimes, them white folks. They only care about how heavy their pockets are, not how blue the sky is. I have made my decision to run, and to keep on running, till I can’t feel the whip lashes anymore, till I can’t hear the white men’s harsh words. Fiddler doesn’t agree with my choice, he would, if he had lived the Mandinka way. It isn’t just the freedom that I need though, Fanta lives beyond these plantations, up north I believe. Finding her will not be hard, but taking her with me will. We could make our way back to our home! Oh Fanta… I need her.
When Fiddler is fiddling that is my chance to sneak out. All the slaves and white men will be so taken with his playing that they won’t even notice me slip into the back of the passing carriages, they’ll take me where I need to go, I hope. Fiddler says there is no way to escape the white men’s grasps but I have to believe that there is such thing as freedom out there, at least that’s what Allah would want me to believe. I must be stupid trying to run away again but this is what my father would have done, kept fighting, just like a Mandinka warrior should. If Master Reynolds catches me… I will surly die, but living without freedom isn’t truly living now is it? So dead I shall be, but at least I will die Kunta Kinte, not Toby.
I can hear the fiddle now, Allah can you tell Fiddler thank you for me? It’s time for me to go.
*Fiddle, Fiddle, Fiddle, Fiddle*
[You've really climbed into his head. Well done. - Mr. Fladd]
Kate P 8-3
rock to the face guy( Mr. tumbler a slave catcher who gets a rock thrown at this eye)
D@mn N@*ger i curse under my breath my eye throbs painfully as the blood trickles down the side of my face. That N@*ger won’t get away with i swear. Riding over to the other man the other man i am to work with. i glare at him he understands. My face still throbs i am ready to do bad to the animal. 8spiting on the ground i wipe my face which only makes it throb more. The blood from where the N@*ger hit me with his rock runs in to my eye so i am half blind. The rage and hatred towards him builds we capturer him and smirk evilly finally pay back for the god forsaken N@*ger B@$tard. The blood on my face has dried and itches uncomfortably. The animal has had a foot now and has passed out. Severs him right, D@mned N@*ger running away from his master, like he did. He must be stupider than a rock. I am happily smirking at him the way the twitches and quivers in pain. As we bring him back to his master’s plantation. My head itches and throbs but I push it to the back of my head as I think about the reward money payment for finding the runaway b@$tard. We receive the money I and ride away happily with ideas filling my head of how else the N@*gger will be punished for running away.
[I like how your use of the different symbols in some of these words makes him seem inarticulate with rage. Well done. - Mr. Fladd]
Dr. Reynolds (when Belle asks him to make Toby the new driver.)
I stood in the kitchen with Belle, she was one fine cook. Then right out of the blue she sprung the strangest question upon me.
“Dr. Reynolds, sir,” she said. “I was thinking that you should make Toby your new driver. Now that your other one has gone running away.”
What was Belle thinking? I could not make Toby my new driver, what a ridiculous idea. He was a runaway, one trip off the plantation and he would be running off with my cargo and horses. Why would Belle suggest that? Belle is usually so rational and sensible. What has gotten into her? Well, if she is still sane it might help to let her down with the facts. Remember, William, let her down easy, she is the best cook you have ever had.
“Belle, I don’t think a man like Toby is right to be a driver.” I said.
“And why is that?” she countered.
“It’s just, well you’ve seen his foot. He is a runaway, Belle, I can’t give a runaway means of transportation and valuable merchandise. It’s just not logical.”
“Do you know what’s not logical?” she purred, “distrusting Toby. It just doesn’t make much sense, Master. I mean your last driver ran away, and you trusted him. But Toby he’s already run before, he knows the consequences, he won’t run again. And besides if he is your driver, maybe he’ll see enough to not be curious, he’ll know what’s there and won’t have a reason to run.”
Her logic was equitable. She knew just what to say to get what she wanted. It is infuriating, and terribly frustrating. She knows my weakness, and she won the game again.
“I suppose, Belle.” A broad smile cracked open her face. “But you are sure about this?”
“Oh, why yes, Master, I’m positive! I-”She stopped short; she knew she had already won. “Thank you, Master.”
“You better be sure about this, Belle. If he runs I am holding you accountable.”
“I’m sure Dr. Reynolds.”
I turned and left, as I opened the door to leave I stopped.
“I’m on to your game, Belle.” And as I said that, a look of defense and almost satisfaction crossed her face. I looked into her eyes and read her thoughts. Why would I care? You’re just a pawn.
Belle was one of my best slaves, but I would not settle for being a pawn. Soon, it would be my game.
[You have fun writing these character studies, don't you? - Mr. Fladd]
Tanner
8-3
Fiddler(when Toby and Belle get married)
Ah Toby hes one fine Ni***r, I’m so proud of him for turning is life around after all that he has been through. I feel that Belle and Toby will turn out being a great married couple. As it seems as if they were born for each other. Although I would of never thought that this would happen, I sure thought that Toby had is mind set on one girl and one girl only. Fanta of course but you never know when a young man like him will change his mind. But I do think that Belles better for him. Shes such a fine young women. Shes everything Toby looks for in a girl. Beautiful, nice shes everything. Well their wedding day came quickly and I had to make sure my fiddle was all ready for the big day.
We all gather round to watch the couple jump the broom. I even was surprised to see that Dr. Reynolds come out to the event. It put quite the smile on his face to watch them jump that broom as it did mine too. I felt gifted here on this day playin tunes for Toby and Belles wedding making watching everyone dance with joy its such a pleasure for me. I sure wish them luck with there life together and I hope they make some fine youngins as themselves.
Watching them get married sure put a big smile on my face and also brought tears of happiness to my eyes. I watched Toby grow up from a young age, he was like that son that I never had. If anything ever happens to that young man I will always be their for him.
[He complained a lot about it, but Fiddler WAS always there for Toby, wasn't he? - Mr. Fladd]
Samara R.
8-1
Slave on the plantation watching what happens to Toby sometime in the episode….
This Toby boy don’t know how to act right. Why can’t he just be like the rest of us, get up,work,don’t talk back, eat, sleep. But no he always gotta be running away making our lives harder with all this extra labor cause he aint here or he sick. Stupid man.
Why the Lord gave us this African boy aint making no sense to me. All he be doing is runnin’ and causing trouble. Like the little shenanigan he pulled off yesterday was bout enough to make anyone scared of them slave catchers. He bout just ran off to his African girl hoping she be runnin’ with him too. But I heard she don’t be going with him. Then them slave catchers caught him and cut off his foot. I say it serves him right to get punished, although the foot cutting must have been a little cruel but that’s what we get if we misbehave. I honestly think he should stop all of that African stories and history cause here on the Reynold’s land, we be getting good food, a home, pants, and a job. I don’t understand who wouldn’t want to stay here instead of running for the rest of a man’s miserable life. If only Toby could understand that.
After all these years of being one of Mr. Reynold’s slave I aint ever gonna leave this land. I was born here, raised here. I only have to follow the rules and not get beatin’. But Toby, he always be getting his hopes to high, thinking he can be running out on what can’t be changed. But this here is our life. We aint like them white folk who can do whatever they please whenever they feel t he need. We gotta scrape and cry for our food, sleep in the cold with nothing’ but a cotton layer, act like animals for their entertainment. If I had the heart of an African and the mind of a dreaming boy, I might just understand what that Toby boy might be seeing in his running schemes. But I don’t have the heart or the dreams all I have is the hands of a working man and the heart of a slave hoping freedom will reign. One day it will..
[I imagine Toby wasn't too popular with the other slaves. I think they must have respected him, but they probably weren't very comfortable around him - a feeling you've conveyed well here. Good work. - Mr. Fladd]
Isabel Toscano
8-2
Mr. Aimes when Toby runs away
Where was he? He should be with the festival. I went to his cabin,looked around and he was no where in sight. I knew he was a no good black boy, I knew he was going to run off again. I just knew it. I called the slave catchers to come help me look for him. We went to John Reynolds to see what he wanted us to do to him. I wanted to kill him or cut off his leg that way he would never run off again. John Reynolds wanted to make sure he wasn’t going to run off again but not to do something so drastic that could hurt his property value. By this time me and the slave catchers knew what we were going to do. John Reynolds asked me to go with them also,but then he told me to get off the property because of that no good African I wanted to find him and show him how angry a white man can become. I don’t know how that African got away nor did I know what he was thinking. All that madder now was finding that slave and making sure he gets what he dissevers. When the slave catchers caught him looking for that other African women, I wanted to gave a little talk with him. I’m not sure if I was happy or mad that they found him. I was happy because he hadn’t went far and he didn’t escape but even more mad at the fact that he got me kicked off the farm because of his no good African thinking. I had heard what the slave catchers did to him and that was perfect. That way he couldn’t run off again but also not to drastic that wont hurt his property value. Now I have to think of where to work and acknowledge the fact that not all African men can be broken.
[I really like your last sentence. I hope Aimes really did learn that lesson. - Mr. Fladd]
Student (TC) writing as: “Belle- when Toby wakes up and wants die.”
What the hell, I mean really chopping off half of a man’s foot. At that point you are better off slashing the whole foot. Leaving a useless stump kind of like that damn creaky door hanging from rust hinges on the side of the kitchen. Is that all of what they can do to tell us not to stop. Why not treat, feed, and care for us better than they can explain that it’s not good to run away. The flaw on that is it would take time and we all know white-man want everything done in a speedy pace, because they hate aging before finishing tasks. So know they drag us under their unfaithful arms to do their work and enslave us. Don’t they reencounter the facts that were also people in the shriveled mind?
But, now all I can do is sit here in this musty old shack thing watching a man coming in and out of the what he wants life to be and what is really life. Funny to think that at this point in his life he would get over what use to be home. Forget about his past, family, and what else made him happy. Outside he seems stupid, a ox trying to swim. However, I know behind the bold head he carries on his shoulders there is mind mining its way through Appalachian Mountains. Finding light of freedom on the other side of the sky terrain. A place describe as heaven a place where us colors get paid for the shit load of jobs the white-man gives us. Where we can own a home flourished with curtains of pattern so elegant makes a beautiful white dress look bad.
The fire is beginning to grow cold maybe the colder air shake up Toby out of his endless sleep. Toby, so strong and scared of everything out of place, well at least for him. Almost like a lonely kitten without a ball of yarn, searching for something he left a long time ago. The light dims in the shack to a lovely orange glow from the raging flames every time the clouds huddle over the sun. Mmm… the smell of that the oat bread fills the air with its savory aroma. Oh! I need to take it out before it burns! I do not have any more time to make another loaf before dinner. Stay put you sleeping bear I’ll be back in a minute or two. I swiftly hurry out the door and across the lot to the kitchen. The door swings open with an ear popping creek and giant cloud of freshly baked bread scent hitting my face. I gaze into the room where Fiddler sits with a face wide smirk with bread crumbs showered over his shirt; and next to him half eaten Loaf bread with steam rising from the inside out.
“Why did you eat it, by now you should know not to eat something that has not been handed to you?” I yell at him softly.
“It smelled good and you have half of a loaf still,” Fiddler replies to me as he grows goose bumps.
“Now I have to bake another one and you have to help,” I continue ranting.
“I’m going to check on Toby,” Fiddler changes the conversation as he waddles out the door.
As I begin kneading another large piece of dough I hear a scream from the shack which I have just left and I run back over to it. When I enter the shack Fiddler again sits there with a smirk on his face as Toby’s brown eyes stares at thumping stub which used to be a foot. With a look of relief I laugh in my mind he’s still alive. At that moment I know Toby will always stay strong and will always be here in this world. Toby might be the guy in this small plantation that will keep staying true to where is from. Just maybe he will be the one who will not leave.
["What the hell" sums up my feelings about a lot of the time in this movie. It is easy to get frustrated with the things that the characters do and the things that happen to them. That's mostly because we have an emotional investment in them. This is very well written. Keep up the good work. - Mr. Fladd]
Jack R.
8-3
Kunta Kinte/Tobey when he decides that he wants to live after all
Lying in bed, pain, sleep, lying in bed, pain, sleep; over and over again, with no end to the listless pattern. I have been growing weaker by the day, every once in a while I will get a visitor, but I never speak to them, or even look at them. Fiddler, always trying t ocher me up, giving me his little pep talks; Belle, trying to give me food. It goes like this every day, I am tired of it, and I just want this all to end. Finally, one day, Belle came to see me; but instead of bringing food, she brought her attitude. She talked and she talked, insulting me and making me angrier and angrier. She kept the insults rolling until I couldn’t stand it anymore. I stood up as fast as I could with my foot being like it is and my weakness for not eating for a long time. As soon as my foot hit the floor, an explosion of pain came through my foot and forced me to the ground, dry heaving from the pain. That was my entire world, pain, nothing but the pain; it felt like a herd of rhinos was stampeding over my entire body. But I knew that to stay on the ground was a sign of weakness, so I gritted my teeth, emptied my brain, grabbed my crutches, and stood up. I snarled at Belle to show her that I wasn’t going to let her beat me, and got in her face as a mark of superiority. She backed up, smiling, making me confused, but I advanced and got in her face again, she backed up again a couple more times. When she was done, she grinned from ear to ear and said;
“Your gonna do it. Your gonna do it. Your gonna walk again.”
As I realized she was right, my heart soared, and I saw just how pathetic I had become, after my injury.
“Belle”, I replied to her. “I gonna learn to walk, but I will do better than that, I will learn to run!”
[You've got a good handle on the emotions of this situation. Make sure you do your best with spelling and grammar. That will make it easier for your readers to get your point and take your writing seriously. - Mr. Fladd]
Christopher S.
8-3 S.S
I’m the slave catcher that chopped off the front of Toby’s foot. When Mr. Reynolds told me and my partner to go get back him, we told him that no runaway slave has ever gotten away from us.
As we were looking for Toby we stopped at another plantation to get us and our horses a drink of water out of the troth. We asked the two men if they had seen any African slave that wasn’t theirs. Then as we were talking we heard to people arguing in the barn across the way. One of them walked out, and it was one of theirs. But the other wasn’t. TOBY!! He ran out of the barn through a little patch of woods into a field. We had him trapped between us. He picked up a rock at my partner. Then he ran through another field, we had grabbed out net and captured him.
We tied his hands, and tied him to a tree. Then before I chopped of the front of his foot I told him that “now Toby we are going to make it so you don’t runaway ever again.” “And now you are a very good boy for Master Reynolds so we don’t have to do this again.” I took the very sharp hatchet raised it up and then brought it down hard with precision accuracy. His terrifying scream made me feel really great about our accomplishments. Now all we have to do is bring him back to John Reynolds and get our money and get out.
[Tell me more about what's going on in this guy's head. Does he have a reason to think he's doing the right thing, or is he just mean? Why does he do this? - Mr. Fladd]
Ally M.
S.S. 8-3
Roots Blog #3
(Wildcard/ I chose Toby when Kizzie was born.)
When I was in Africa and the white men caught me I never thought I was ever get married, none of the less have a baby girl of my own. I know that I have learned that ways to live as a Christian man, but my little Kizzie was going to be raised the way I was. She is going to become a great leader. Ain’t nobody goin’ to tell her that she’s a worthless slave. She comes from great leaders, back in Africa.
That’s why I chose to give her, her name and christen her in the bright light of the full moon just the way I was. But as soon as I held her up I heard the drummer. I knew now that I had my own child I could never run away. As I started to run back to the house I ran into Belle. She was worried that I was gonna leave her. I said to her: “Now we have our own family, I’m not gonna go run away.”
I know that I have chosen to stay, but the one wish I have for Kizzie is that she will have freedom. She will not be owned, she will not be told what to do, and she will be her own person. And if I have other children they will be free too. I want to die, knowing that slaves will be equal with the white men.
[This is good. It certainly has a feel for one of the most dramatic moments in this episode. I'd like a longer piece, next time - that will allow your readers to really get inside your character's head. - Mr. Fladd]
Jaden D.
8-1
Dr. Reynolds (Toby’s 2nd Owner)
Hi my name is master. renalds (second owner)when Toby ran away i was there for his recovery. I did not like the fact that the slave catchers took off half his foot but if it will keep him from running away I guess that’s all you can do. after Toby recovered he went to work and he learned his lesson not to run away again. not long after Toby and Bell got married and had a baby and named it Kizzy.after they had Kizzy Toby went to hill to do what his father did to him when he was born. While he was doing that he heard drumming which made him run ti the sound. when he realized that the drums were trying to make him run away he turned around and went back to his wife and promised he would never leave his new family.
[This is a good start. Please be more careful of your spelling and grammar; that will make it easier for you readers to follow what you are trying to say. - Mr. Fladd]
Krystal D
8-2
Kunta Kinte on His Wedding Day
Today is the day that Bell and I get married. I remember i was so excited when she had said yes. I still can’t believe that we are getting married.
Bell and I just got married I am so happy i can’t find any words to show how glad I am to call Bell my wife.
[Krystal, I'm glad you got SOMETHING in, but this is way, WAY too short for your readers to get any kind of feel for your character. - Mr. Fladd]
Mandus B.
Toby when he meets the drummer
I met this guy names Botang Boderiakko when I was driving my master somewhere. I drive my master around town with a horse and wagon. I heard a man drumming in the woods. When my master was at his friends house I was waiting for him outside like always. I heard the drumming again so I went to find where the drumming was coming from. It sounded like it was coming from the woods. I was happy and excited because I haven’t heard drumming like that since I lived in Africa before I was captured. I talked to him and he said he was from the same tribe. That made me even more happy. He was an old man and he said to run toward the drumming when I hear it again and we will run away together. My wife told me not to go when I heard the drums again so I didn’t because I want to stay with my family. This was a hard choice to make because I want to be free but I love my wife and we are family.
[I think you summed up his feelings very well. - Mr. Fladd]
Bryce C.
8-3 S.S.
Kunta Kinte/ Toby before running away
Life is getting even more difficult on the farm. I have to haul bales of hay across barren fields all day with hardly any breaks. It sucks all the energy out of your body in a short period of time. I feel the heat striking down on my skin like it’s burning a hole through it. I feel like I can’t put up with this back-breaking work much longer because I’m being treated as if I’m livestock. If I don’t get my work done, I get punished. How unfair is that? I hate how these white men make us do everything around here while they get to sit around all day and make fun of us for being black.
As I work around here, I think to myself every once in a while,
“Will I ever get out of this place? Will I ever see my family again?”
This makes me want to drop my utilities and make a dash into the woods. But if I do that, I get the leather whip. I made a promise to myself when I first got here to keep my loved ones out of my head, but my dear Fanta just keeps popping into my head at the most unexpected times.
“Is this a sign?” I think to myself in my head.
As work is done for the day, I go into my cabin and consider running away from this farm to see Fanta. Today is the day. I know it is.I just can’t keep busting my back for these white men and maybe life would be better with Fanta around to accompany me.
When my decision is final, I grab my belongings and make my way out the door. I see fiddler playing the fiddle for all the black men and women around. Ladies are dancing with each other and it appears that everybody is having a good time. I wish I had friends around here that I could talk to and hangout with. Fiddler is the only friend I have around the farm though. He actually cares about me and tries his hardest just to teach me everything I need to know for the future. Oh fiddler, how I will miss you.
When the time is right, I make a mad dash across the wheat field, towards the road. I want to leave this terrible place, but for some reason, the rest of my body doesn’t. I don’t know why, but I force myself to keep moving.
“What am I doing?! I could get caught and get brutally beaten!” A little voice says in my head.
As I reach the road, I suddenly come to a halt and dive into the bushes. I see Dr. Reynolds and a wagon driver exchanging words.
“There’s no turning back now,” I say to myself.
I don’t want to be seen, so I lay prone and hide my face deeper in the bushes. As the wagon-driver sets off to take a long journey back home, I hop into the back of his wagon and hope that I didn’t get seen. As I surrounded by complete blackness, a bright smiles appears on my face because I know I will see my Fanta in just a couple days.
“Fanta. Oh sweet Fanta. I will be seeing you in no time my dear!”
[You are a very strong writer. This is a good piece. You use emotion well, without getting melodramatic about it. Well done. - Mr. Fladd]
Alec G
8-2
Wild card-Chose Drummer
They went off to my homeland and took me. They chained me and put me on a ship. I was on that ship for a long time, and the hard wooden bench I was chained to was chafing. I thought I would die right there, but I didn’t. I couldn’t. Not now, not ever. They brought me to their land and sold me as a slave. They beat me until I would obey them. But I could never give up on freedom, so now I will run, run away to a safer place to live out the rest of my life. A man asked to join me, so I told him that he could. He was African too. I gave him the signal and told him to wait. I went back into hiding and then, one night, I went out to where the man told me he was. I waited until after dark when I saw the man go out with a baby, doing his village’s ritual for the baby. I wonder how he got his master’s permission. Then again, he probably didn’t. He didn’t seem to be too incredibly attached to his master, what with him running away. I waited for him to finish his ritual. There was no real rush, minute by minute. Once he finished, from my hiding place, I started playing. He looked over at me and started running towards me. Then he stopped, and began running back towards his plantation. Why would he choose to go back to a life of slavery then he could be free? Then I saw why. He ran to a woman and hugged her. So that’s why he went back. I had attracted too much attention as it was, playing the drum loud enough that he could hear. He had made his choice. Now I had to finish making mine. I finished playing so it would seem more like a song played by some travelers or something rather than a signal, then gathered my things and left. Freedom wouldn’t come to me, after all.
[I like your content very much. You need to be more creative in how you break it up into sentences and paragraphs. That will allow you to make more of a dramatic impact on your readers. This is good stuff. - Mr. Fladd]
Justin M.
8-1
I guess this is the final straw, if Toby wants to be a run away then I will have to hunt him down and drag him back here like a run away. Only I wish that he could be more like fiddler, at least he never runs away, and he plays such merry music.-(he must be so happy) OH GOD why did they have to cut off his foot, dear lord have mercy. What savages, i hope the pore lad will be alright, i don’t want to lose a good work horse. Well Toby was in to bad a condition and i owed a debt to a pal so i had to sell him and a few other slaves to him, i hope he can help Toby.
[This is a pretty good start, but I need a longer piece of writing to really get a feel for what's going on in this guy's head. - Mr. Fladd]
Kelli P.
8-3
January 23, 2012
Belle (out in the woods losing her mind)
Drums. Oh, please lord, don’t let them be the drums. I can’t lose Toby. He is my everything. I love him with all of my soul. How would a slave women like me find the time to raise our dear baby girl, Kizzy without him? Speaking of which, where is Kizzy?
Why can’t I find Kizzy or Toby? What is happening? Oh no. The Drums.
I swear to the great lord himself, if Toby tries to escape, especially with my dear baby girl, I’ll have the rest of his foot chopped off. And so will Mr. Reynolds. I’m going to find them.
“Toby! Toby!” Oh, Toby. Why did you have to go and make a deal with that strange Mandinka man out in the woods? Why would he want to leave me, Kizzy and Fiddler?
The drums still haven’t faded. They’re still out there. Somewhere. “Toby! Toby! Where are you?!”
Ugh! No! Where could they possibly be!? I feel so weak without him near me. And my baby, oh my sweet little Kizzy! “Toby!”
And all of a sudden I hear bushes rustling. I turn to my left and there they finally are.
“Oh Toby!” I think that was the longest embrace I’ve ever experienced. “I’ve finally found you and Kizzy! I thought you were going to run from me. With the Mandinka man who played the drums.”
“Well I was going to, then I thought of your sweet face, and how happy we are together and well, Kizzy. If it were just me, being a slave on my own, I probably would have. You’re the one who keeps me sane.”
I could no longer speak. He took my breath away. I was too happy for words. But, I didn’t need them. He knew exactly how I felt.
[I like how you convey her sense of panic. I really like your last sentence. - Mr. Fladd]
Jack H
Fiddler
8-3 Social Studies
Today I was out in the carrot patch turning the soil to get ready for the seeds to be planted. I’m glad we now belong to Dr. Reynolds. If we still belonged to Mr. Reynolds I would be out in the field working long hours but the Doctor understands I’m getting old. If I don’t take care of myself then old fiddler wouldn’t be able to do no fiddling, no more. All of sudden I heard a yell and I smiled. Toby had broken out of the fever, good lord he had been sweating and mumbling his old African talk. I hobbled over to the cabin with his bed. “You alive!” I yelled. I started to stutter out of excitement because I had thought for sure Toby was a goner. He started to whine about getting free and going to see his family. I was stunned how he could be so careless, he should be thankful that the slave catchers had spared his life but instead he wishes they killed him. He said he wanted to be free and that if he had to die to get it, he would. I tried to convince him that he is alive not dead. I don’t know who he thinks he is but he ain’t acting like the Mandinka Warrior he says he is. I had to give up temporarily when he refused to get up and he said he would lay there and die so I went outside. I talked to Dr. Reynolds for a brief moment and he told me that he did not agree with what the slave catchers had done. He was upset and he said they ruined a valuable piece of “property.”
[I think you're right. Slaves definitely had opinions on which masters were good ones and what made one worthy of respect. - Mr. Fladd]
Samantha l
8-3
Dr. Reynolds after Toby and Belle get married
Nice to see that that Toby is finally settled down. Now he has no reason to runaway. They are some good slaves. They have always done their job well. Hopefully I’ll get some little ones from them that will take after Toby’s strong muscles, and Belle’s good wit. I need more good working slaves working in the fields, but what about that runaway blood? Well, one look at Toby’s foot will change any thought of running away. I have a good bunch here. My plantation is making good profit and my wife seems happy. My wedding day, too, was fine. Her dress was perfect, and I well looked fair enough. I could have bought a nicer coat. Well, I need some more work hands around. This marriage was great they were meant to be. Just like me and my beautiful woman. I love her a lot and if she can’t see it, then she’s blind. Hopefully their marriage will be the same. I am surprised that Belle can see past that half foot. Maybe she feels the need to take care of him, keep him from running off and care for his foot. Well I need to get my mind off of this. Maybe I will go see what my wife is doing. Or better yet, go out to town, to the store, maybe she will want some new clothes. I will leave one of the men in charge. Toby will be good and Belle will be too. Well, I’m off!
[I like how you have Dr. Reynolds thinking about the psychology of the situation. I agree with you that Dr. Reynolds is a deeper thinker than most of the other characters in Roots. If anyone had this kind of thought, it would be him. - Mr. Fladd]
Elizabeth R.
8-3
Kunte kinte’s owner when he ran away (again)
Awwww crap. He ran away again. He just wont quit. What are we going to do with him?
Now they’re going to chop off part of his foot. Poor slave if only he’ll just listen and not run away then he’ll be perfectly fine.
Oh well not my fault anymore. Just hope his foot doesn’t get infected or else he’s in big trouble.
[This is too short to give me a real feel for the character. Please write a longer piece, next time. - Mr. Fladd]
Frazer .R
8-1
Mr. Aimes when Toby runs away.
I went to Tobys hut today, To find out he was gone I looked around outside yelled Toby and nothing happened, none of the other slaves know were he went but I can’t trust them. I look around a hour more until I declare a runaway. I go to Mr. Reynolds with two slave catchers. Mr. Reynolds is telling me that just let him run. What is he stupid that’s a good field hand gone just gone. I tell him you can’t let him get away what are you doing. I connivence him to get Toby back. Then Mr. Reynolds gets close to me and tells me that Toby was my responsibility I agree, but then he pins Toby running away on me. What a jerk if he can’t keep care of his possessions he shouldn’t have them.
He tells me that I need to leave and not come back.
Toby has been nothing but trouble to me since day one now he costs me my job now I want him dead he has ruined my life. That day when I went out with the slave catchers to catch him I rode off I was so mad never saw any of Mr. Reynolds or his farm ever again. I was told by some guys in town they caught a runaway and cut his toes off, I pray it was Toby. I also heard that drunk Mr. Reynolds lost the farm to his brother serves him right.
[Sometimes, I almost feel a little sorry for Aimes. It's not really his fault that Toby ran away. Then again, maybe it is. Then I remember what he does for a living and I stop pitying him. - Mr. Fladd]
Fiddler-when Toby is sick after getting his foot chopped.
Peyton Osgood
8-3
I am disappointed in him. Running away again. Now he faces the consequence. He can’t get up for three weeks. Now all he has to do is wait to heal, yet who knows if he’ll ever walk again.
Dr . Reynolds is mad at the slave catchers. Chopping off his foot. I am mad about it too. I can’t bring him out anymore, now that he’s not working I have to pick up the slack.
He’s still alive but now he can’t run anymore. He can hardly even walk! He won’t be running away anymore. I gave him his crutches though because I want him to get better. It’d be hard to see him die before myself.
Now I don’t have to worry about picking up his slack as he runs because he won’t be running anywhere anymore.
When he was gone I knew he’d come back, like the other times. I wasn’t sure though what to think this time. I was worried hoping he was okay, he is like a little brother to me. I couldn’t believe when he was laying down he was still okay after all the times he’s ran.
I could tell that he was in so much pain, didn’t want to be here anymore. I raised this boy into a man though I am proud of it. He will soon use those crutches to guide him and train him how to walk with one and a half feet I know he will. That is why I gave them to him. He will learn. He has learned a lot.
I still am not sure how he will deal with this but that’s also not my problem. He will walk on his own soon enough without my help.
[I'll bet that Fiddler was REALLY cheesed-off with Toby for getting himself into this situation. - Mr. Fladd]
Yesterday Toby asked me to marry him after we spent that magical night together. I couldn’t believe me and Toby will finally be together. Today is my wedding day, time to jump over that broom and live together for the rest of our lives. I am so happy to finally marry Toby we can be together, live with each other, care for each other, and love each other to the day we die. I love Toby, I can say it now. I love him so very much even if he isn’t he smartest. I don’t care about his faults or his African ways. Twenty four Minutes until the wedding and I will be a married women, married to the man I love.
[This is a good start, but I'd like more. Why does she feel the way she does? Why are they a good match? What are her thoughts for the future? - Mr. Fladd]
Ashley P
8-2
Kunta Kinte while he is on the run trying to find Fanta.
I spent many nights up wondering about how my African family was doing. I spent even more nights up wondering about Fanta. Some nights I would have nightmares that she was sold to a terrible person, someone who barley fed her. My first try at finding her didn’t work but I wasn’t about to give up. I needed to find her; I actually knew where she was, unlike any others from my tribe. I kept hearing her words replay in my head. “I’ve learned how to stay alive.”
What did I do wrong? I wondered. I slept; if I hadn’t stopped I would have made it farther. What else? I wasn’t fast enough, I had run but horses are much faster than men. I knew that if I really wanted to make it this time I would have to sneak away unnoticed and maybe even find a ride.
The next morning I got straight to work.
“You, you’re strong as an ox. Load this onto the wagon.”
“Yes sir.” I lifted various heavy items onto the wagon and listened in to a conversation. Wagons. Wagons would be leaving the plantation. That was my key out of here. I ran into the forest nearby and squatted down. Now here was the hardest part, getting away unseen. So many things could go wrong, I could go too early, or too late. I could also get on a wagon in front of another and have no way of getting off of it.
That’s it. I see my only chance and I run. I am confident but my heart beats fast and hard, I picture myself running through the thick woods in Africa. I am strong. I am brave. Here I am known as Toby but in my heart I will always be Kunta Kinte.
One foot, then the other. Each step is carrying me farther away from the plantation. I take a left and step out of the woods and onto the dirt road as soon as I near the wagon. It grows closer and closer. I lift the green blanket covering the cargo and jump on. I lay down between boxes and barrels and cover my head with the blanket. There is no going back now.
I can tell that we are nearing the plantation where Fanta is. I lift up the blanket and look around. I move as quickly and quietly as possible. Soon I will see Fanta again. Soon I will know that she is safe, soon I can run away with her. There will be consequences for my actions, I’m sure. What I don’t know is when they will stop searching for me, how long I must wait to be a free African.
[You've got a good ear for dialog. You do a good job of combining it with the thoughts and feelings of your character. Well done. - Mr. Fladd]
Chris C
8-3
Dr.Reynolds when Toby wakes up
Finally my new slave has woken up. He will have some trouble walking and doing work around my farm but he will do. He will have to learn how to use crutches and move around know that he has half a foot. Damn slave catchers have no idea what they are doing. Why would they cut off a good bucks foot don’t they now anything. Without my expertise and the help of my slave Belle that young buck would have died right there. Thank god he didn’t though I bet I can use his strength to my benefit. My drunk of a brother does not know how to treat a slave or how to make him feel at home so he does not try to runoff. I still do not think that these slaves pay off his debt. Some of them are young and can be good field hands but some are old that can barely work anymore. No need to worry though I am a successful doctor that will make that money fast and easy.
Now that Toby is awake though I hope he is smart enough to not try to runoff again because if he does I will not be able to save him. Also if he runs off again I think he deserves whatever comes to him which will probably be the noose. I am still happy though that my slave is alive and not ill anymore. That means he can work. I hope to god that this slave will not be disobedient like when he was with my brother, I do not want to have to whip him again. This time though the whip might hit a vital organ and kill this slave dead.
[I like your use of language - "the noose" is very effective here. I'd like something a little longer, next time. - Mr. Fladd]
Will C.
8-2
John Reynolds (1st owner) when Toby runs away
I can’t believe it. I go and buy a slave and right when he is ripe and strong, he goes and runs away!! I’ve sent some slave catchers to go and get him. I don’t know if I should trust them, though. They are pretty shady characters, and I feel like they aren’t very thoughtful. Ah, I shouldn’t worry. Anything that they do to him he deserved, for fleeing the plantation. I’m also thinking about Ames. I think he deserved to be fired, but I have a bad feeling in my gut. He is not one to bury the hatchet. Oh, and I owed my brother William some stuff, so he will be taking some of my slaves, to repay the debts. The slave will probably be better there then here. I’ve heard the blacks there are very nice and hospitable. I’m sure he will have some fun with that Toby. I still don’t know how that slave is going. I hope the slave catchers are decent to him. He is a great farmhand, and he is very stocky. He also has extreme will and endurance when he works, or when he does various jobs. He is one of the best slaves I have ever had, except the fact he runs away. I always wonder what it is like to be an African. Everyone bossing you around and all you want is to be free. Wait, no. I shall not have sympathy for those animals. If I go soft, I shall lose my farmhands, and eventually my job and money. I have to stay resilient to them.
[I like how you describe Toby as "ripe" - it captures a slave-owner's attitude perfectly. - Mr. Fladd]
Lacey I.
8-3
Dr. Reynolds
I just recently found out that Toby and Belle are now married. I suppose this is ok so long as they can still follow the rules I have set. Toby is very strong and can do a lot of work. Belle works hard as well. They both put in long hours which are required here. It may be a good thing for them. I can see that they will most likely have a bright future with each other.
Belle is due of a child in a few days. I think that things may go downhill after they bring a new life out into this world. Honestly, I think that slaves working together may be up to no good, but they are humans just as well as I am. They deserve some respect. They have showed me that they deserve it by working real hard for me. Especially since Toby got his foot chopped off, it has shown strength in him to put forth his best in all of his work that he does. I know that things were a struggle for him at the time.
I figure that if everyone gives their best wishes to Toby and Belle and their new life together, that I can too. It won’t hurt me. Although, if I start to notice any slacking in any of their work around here, I will make sure they will regret it. They both are still slaves, and their child will be too. There is work that needs to be done around here one way or another. An extra life means another worker that will be around for the help on this land.
[I like the tone you've set here. I think Dr. Reynolds would have thought about his slaves in terms of how it would affect the work on the plantation. Well done. - Mr. Fladd]
Jason E.
8-1
Fiddler
toby shut up so i can play my type of music and not the white kind of music. I know im gonna die soon but i cant tell toby it will break his heart i love that boy like a son but i cant tell him. Ill let him just figure it out i dont want to die but god wants me to go to heaven. im gonna miss toby but im to old to do anything. its just about my time. ive cleaned my fiddler and now im playin it now i know toby is talking to me but i cant under the noise of my fiddler.
the end
[This was short, but sweet. I'd like your next one to be as well written, but a little longer. - Mr. Fladd]
Sean F.
8-3
Fiddler (When he finds out that Toby will live after he lost his foot)
I knew that it was a bad idea for Toby to run away again. He got caught just like the last time. The white folk punished him even worse than before. They chopped off the front of his right foot! He didn’t look good when he got back to the plantation. I thought that he wasn’t going to make it. When Doc Reynolds said that he will be ok I leapt with joy. Toby was going to live!
A few days later Toby was starting to regain conciseness. I was the first one that he saw when he awoke. He couldn’t believe what the white men had done to him. He kept saying ‘I’m not a real man anymore’ I tried to explain that it doesn’t take both feet to be a man. He doubted. Somehow Bell got him up on his crutches and walking. Toby was going to be okay. He made more progress every day. I think he will be walking without the crutch very soon. He has much to learn before he can hold his own around the plantation but I think he will be able to do it.
[I think Fiddler probably spent a lot of time shaking his head and saying "Told you so", about Kunta Kinte. - Mr. Fladd]
Claire Neily
Kunta Kinte (When he decides to live after all)
8-2
There I lay, foot throbbing and the will to live, gone. I suppose, after everything I have seen the white men do, I shouldn’t have thought they would spare me this pain. No, pain is the wrong word, agony fits better. Not only that, but the emotional pain is almost as bad! The memory of seeing the ax swing with no hesitation. The gruesome moment when, when, no. I can’t finish that thought. It hurts too much to think about it. But, I still have the stump of a foot as evidence, as if it wants to focus my attention on the throbbing.
I try to remember the sensation of running. How the ground would vanish under my feet, how my lungs would nearly collapse, but I was still happy. Happy because I knew freedom was on the other end. That the more I ran, the better off I would be. How am I to run now? I can’t even walk. I am truly trapped now.
I think about the boat ride, of being chained to wood, with no hope of getting free. I think of the cement room, with metal pinning me to the wall. I think of the ropes forming a snare around me when I tried to escape. All of those times, I felt trapped, but now, even without chains bearing down on me, I am more of a prisoner than before.
The white men stole it all. My foot, my will to live and even my manhood. I was once a strong man, a whole man. Now what am I? Half of a man? I want to deny it, but as I look at the wrapped up mass of skin and bone, I cannot argue that I am a full man. I am not who I used to be.
As I try to talk myself out of the truth I don’t want to believe, the door opens.
Belle? What is she doing here? I suppose she is seeing if I am still alive.
“I see you found the crutches.” She states. I can’t think of what to say, so, I don’t say anything.
“I asked master for a pair of his old boots, and he gave these to me, Here!”
I just shake my head, I thought it was obvious that these would be of no use to me. “I ain’t gonna need no boots again, never.”
Belles ignores me and continues. “I stuffed them so they would be nice and snug, here try em on!” She pushed the blanket aside and begins to help me with my shoe.
“No!” What is she thinking? I aint gonna be able to leave this bed. What use are shoes?
“Now Toby,” She says to me in the voice my mama used when I got a talken to. “I’ve seen that ugly stump plenty of times, don’t be foolish!”
“NO!” I shout, “Don’t you know nothing? Don’t you understand?
I aint never gonna need no boots cuz I aint never gonna walk again!” I wait silently (still angry) for Belle’s answer.
“Well than why don’t you throw them out, cuz I aint gonna.” She says quietly. Then she continues on, in a mocking voice, “Fiddler told me you’s an African.” She says this like it’s a bad thing! “He says you always braggin about it, by I don’t see why?” She says matter of factly. “What kind of a strong African gives up because of a silly old foot?”
I don’t think I can answer her without screaming, but somehow I manage. “Shut your mouth woman!”
“I don’t gotta,” She says with a smirk. “And you can’t stop me!” She walks away, but then turns to face me, saying no more.
I’ll show her! I manage to get myself out of bed, but as I go to step on my wounded foot, I collapse. Belle looks as though she’s gonna help me up, but I don’t give her the chance. I grab the crutches and force my way up, facing Belle. I was hoping she would look sorry, or stunned, but she just smiles and steps away.
With another slow step, I face Belle again, and her smile grows wider. Then, after she has lead me to the door, her smile grows even larger, “Praise the lord Toby, you’re gonna make it!”
I slowly make my way to the bed, but then I turn to face her. She needs to get something straight. “Woman, I told you my name aint Toby, I am Kunta Kinte! I am a frighten man!” As I say the words, I suddenly believe them. A foot doesn’t make a man! Suddenly all the sorrow vanishes.
“I gonna do better than learn to walk,” I say to both Belle and me. “I gonna learn to run!”
[This is a nice compromise of recapping the events and dialog and describing Kunta Kinte's emotions. Well done. - Mr. Fladd]
Alex U.
8-3
Man who wants to borrow toby to unload tobacco
I just arrived at Mr. Reynolds farm the other day. He wants me to deliver some tobacco a few towns away. I just might have to borrow a slave or two to help me out. The one who’s loading my cart looks like a fine, strong buck. “Hey you, nigger. I’m talking to you.” These Africans are just so darn dumb. He probably couldn’t figure out two words of English. “Find someone… and put the crate in the cart.” Huh? Wow. He’s lifting the whole thing by himself! “Well, you may be dumb as hogfat but you’re as strong as an ox. Keep loading.” Crazy business, transporting tobacco. Wouldn’t get a bit of rest without them slaves. I think I’ll see if I can borrow that strong one for unloading. There’s still two carts left and they need to be loaded by nightfall …
“Now I’ll only need him for two days. And I can promise you I’ll bring him back fit and fed.”
“Can’t be done. No one can promise he’ll be coming back.” Who does Mr. Ames think he is? Does he think I can’t control one slave? He is pretty dang strong though… Hmm… “ Well I don’t want no trouble.” Now the slave himself is pleading not to go! It’s a conspiracy. But I guess I better not complain. Mr. Reynolds pays good money and I wouldn’t want to find myself suddenly doing this job for free. I’d hate to spend so much time unloading. No one appreciates my work. Huh.
[Again, I'd like to know more of what this guy is thinking and feeling, not just a recap of the events and dialog. - Mr. Fladd]
Fallyn B 8-1
Toby after Fiddler dies
The air was so heavy it felt like I couldn’t breathe. My face so sweaty from the nerves and eyes so wet from crying. The only think I could say it why Alha why did you take him now. He was always there for me and knew that I didn’t care what the white man said; he knew that I was Kunta Kintia. He shouldn’t of died a slave he should have been free, poor Fiddler he didn’t know what it was like to be free. The freedom of doing what you want when you want to do it, know he will never know.
He was so cold when I held him up from the ground, his eye wide open staring at me; that’s the only thing I close my eyes are his staring back at me. I couldn’t believe that this just happened to me after everything, I don’t know how to handle this I couldn’t talk, I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t bare to see him lying there in the dirt, the way his body still stuck up from under the earth. He’s free now that’s all I thought about he’s free. He will rest peacefully in the hands of Alha. It’s so strange not hearing is laugh or him fiddling around the plantation. Yet so peaceful because I knew he was at rest and not owned by anyone.
Yes, he is gone, but now he will know what it feels like to be free.
[Well done. "My face so sweaty from the nerves and eyes so wet from crying." - that is very poetic. - Mr. Fladd]
Megan M
8-1
The Drummer
I have been here for a long time. I have always dreamed about running away. But I never had any one to run away with. Finally, I saw Toby. A man that also has the same dream as me. To run away. I play the drums. I decided to tell Toby that when he hears me play a certain rhythm, then to run away with me. Far away. Where no one will ever find us. I knew this day would finally come but I just didn’t know when. Being a slave for such a long time makes you want to run away. The day to run away finally came. Toby and belle had their baby. I made the signal. I knew I could finally be free with someone I knew wanted to be free too. But he never came. I should have known not to trust him. Just like everyone else he is afraid. But me, I’m not afraid. I want to leave. No person is meant for this! I guess I should have known. Since he has a baby and a wife. But I have no one. I should have just run away a long long time ago. When I was younger and stronger. But I too was afraid. Of what could happen if I did run away. If I would get caught and beaten down like every slave that tries something suspicious. I still have more time in my life. I will attempt again. But this time, I think I will do it alone since he stood me up on this perfect chance to get away.
[I think you've totally NAILED this guy. I think his thoughts would be EXACTLY like this. He would be disappointed and feel a little betrayed. Well done. - Mr. Fladd]
justin d.
8-3
(John Reynalds when Toby runs away)
Dang, that slave Toby has gone running off again. He is the only slave I know that can be very patient in this creative way, I realized that he waits untill I gain up enough trust toward him then right when I think I can trust him enough I give him a harder, more important assignment, he disobeys my command and goes missing most likely trying to escape for freedom. I dont know if he will ever just accept the fact that there is no way out of slavery and he belongs to me. When I catch Toby I might consider giving him, Fiddler and my other slaves to my brother Dr. Reynolds because I owe him. And if Toby keeps up this behavoir I dont Know how much more beating he will be able to take before he just drops dead, and Fiddler, well he isn’t getting any younger he seems to have changed ever since Toby came along, so I have yet to come up with my decision.
[This is good. You've put some good thought into it. I'd like to read more; it's a little short. - Mr. Fladd]
Megan Mc.
8-3
Dr. Reynolds (2nd owner) – when Kizzy is born
I don’t know what to feel about that Toby. But I like Belle, she’s the good slave. How did she end up with Toby? But I’m onto her little game; I know what she’s playing.
When I first found out about Belle being impregnated by that Toby, I first felt relieved, because the best slave, Belle, was about to give birth to another just like her. Another slave, another good slave. But Toby… who knows what he might to? I don’t trust any Africans who always ramble about their home, but now it might be even worse. Now, he might have a reason for leaving, keeping his child away from us. No. That is not going to happen. That baby will be born here and that’s where it will stay. It will always be a slave here. I wonder how long it will take that stupid Toby to figure that out.
As I was helping Belle give birth, I didn’t know whether it was a blessing or a curse, being the child of that Toby. But, in the long run, where would they go? His attempts failed at trying to run away. That will happen again, too, if he runs. But no. This baby is staying; this blessing WILL be our blessing, no madder who the father might be. I should be thankful, because I have to waste any money on a stupid slave at an auction, this baby will learn fast and young, and this will be a fine baby.
I look into her eyes, Kizzy, I think they named her, and I get a little soft. But I shrug that thought off; I have to just keep thinking that this baby just saved us money bags.
[Megan - I like this. I think you're right that Dr. Reynolds would have thought about Belle as a "good" slave. I think he would eventually trust Toby, because his ego was big enough that he wouldn't think Toby would run away from HIM. Well thought out. - Mr. Fladd]