Introduction
The documentary Finding Your Roots addresses a problematic matter of the American past – its slavery times. The film does not violate the ethics of the research done with people’s engagement outside the social sciences. Finding Your Roots brings to the surface the truth about black American ancestry without concealment of its controversy. The video shows another side of American history, the white one, and demonstrates how the lineage is not as distinct in everyone as people may think. Furthermore, it speaks on how the Black past is, in most cases, laced with pain and sorrow and how modernity absorbs it and makes the past tragedy a part of daily life. However, when an observer pays closer attention, it becomes clear that even this video research has its flaws. For example, using inappropriate language by a white man even when Finding Your Roots’ production took place was controversial. The strong side of the video lies in an excellent approach to the subject of colonialism, a clear stance on the topic of American colonial legacy, and the diversity of participants. Whether a white man should use such a language, however, stands under the question.
Strong and Weak Points of the Documentary
Clear Stance on American Falsehood
Although diverse also rich with history and tradition, the heritage of Black Americans is tragic and sometimes hard to trace. For the most part, Black Americans’ ancestors originated from Africa and worked as slaves before the Civil War. According to the documentary itself, less than 10% of Black Americans can confidently state that their predecessors were not slaves (Gates, Maggio, et al., 2012, 32:40-33:25). The enormous number of people transferred from Africa to America, and it explains the existing cultural variety among modern Black people. The video demonstrates that in the beginning, depicting musical performances and elements of traditional clothing on Black people (Gates, Maggio, et al., 2:25-3:11).
At the same time, it is a fractured legacy, based mainly on the stories passed through generations of people of color. The documentary shows that those who have no money or opportunities to trace their roots per DNA tests think they descend from Native Americans (Gates, Maggio, et al., 17:00-17:18). It is a common misconception, however, because the majority of them have white ancestors. It is unavoidable with the American colonial past. However, they view that fact more as an inevitability than a misfortune (Gates, Maggio, et al., 46:55-49:50). Finding Your Roots carries out a brilliant job of stating the issue without the propensity for neither exaggeration of the committed crimes nor their omission.
Participants’ Diversity
In the documentary, the main point is Black American history. Nevertheless, the creators aim to portray this society as not a homogeneous entity. A white man in Finding Your Roots presents a unique group of people with a black ancestor down the lineage or the complex upbringing with the integrity to the Black culture (Gates, Maggio, et al., 7:35-9:12). That moment underlines two facts: in the modern USA, almost everyone is intermixed, and it is impossible to avoid a particular ethnic group’s cultural influence when they leave a significant impact on society. If a culture is introduced to such a diverse and perceptive society as the United States, it is prior engrossed in the said society and integrated into the popular culture. Finding Your Roots entails the fragility of identity if its basis builds on skin color and rejects other ethnicities as a possible part of a person’s lineage.
Hate Speech
Nevertheless, the issue of inappropriate language usage by a representative of the privileged ethnic majority remains (Gates, Maggio, et al., 8:46-8:56). It does not nullify the impact this documentary can have on uninformed groups of people, but the overall effect is weakened. The Black people commonly speak the N-word used in the film. Although its ill nature is not as apparent as another general derogative term, its usage is controversial and debatable. The word “Negro” is often laced with contempt and fear. Or, in other cases, white colonists used it to classify the Black people as a subclass. Although this N-word’s nature is not unequivocally malevolent, it stands for the colonial past. In this case, it is better to avoid its usage if a person is white and allow Black Americans to reclaim it.
Conclusion
The documentary presents emotional and educative material about American history. It introduces the topic from a scientific view, pointing out the most important milestones of American history. The film demonstrates the past integrated with the American routine by showcasing some cultural peculiarities and fragments of saved Black heritage. Finding Your Roots chooses a complex approach to the subject by giving voice to different Black people and a white man who interacted with the culture. The documentary underlined that people’s roots are almost always intertwined, creating a complex system where a Black man does not have an exceptionally Black lineage. However, the possible impact is lessened because of the usage of the N-word by a white man. Some people may find it offensive and inappropriate due to its historical significance and prior use. Thereby, it should be mentioned that the colonial past still has a massive influence on the present. It is ingrained in the routine, but people can reduce its effect on the population mindset through educational materials such as this documentary.
Reference
Gates, H. L. (Writer), & Maggio, J., et al. (Directors). (2012). Ranford Marsalis and Harry Connick, Jr (Season 1, episode 1) [TV series episode]. In Finding Your Roots (Executive Producers), Kunhardt McGee Productions Inkwell Films Ark Media.