Kunta's Manhood Rituals In Africa

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As the ship arrives on the west coast of Africa, slaves are captured. Kunta is soon frightened by the way other Africans were treated, and is exposed to guns and the cruelty of the Europeans. These men made me feel disgusted by the way the Africans were being pushed, shoved, beaten, and tied up. They were treated worse than animals and experienced a type of abuse that does not even have a definition because it is so horrific. It is almost unbelievable how awful these Europeans made the slaves feel, but I could tell that was only the beginning of what the Africans had to bear. The manhood ritual then continues, and the boys are circumcised. Even though Kunta was nervous, I could tell he was excited to finally show he was a man, and come back home with a better understanding of maturity. Moreover, this tradition is still essential to many cultures in Africa because it demonstrates their pain tolerance, and signifies them changing into men.
Males are celebrated more often than females because of their higher ranking in the Mandinka tribe. The
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I believe it was meant to be dramatic to show how Kunta felt. The scene is only an imaginative scenario, but knowing what slaves had to go through, this was more than just a dramatic scene. It exemplifies the Africans turning on each other out of fear and greed, but also serves as an example as to know that it was not an attractive process. Kunta is even in shock himself and although he wants to fight back, he is forced to stay quiet. When Kunta’s family realizes he is gone, they express deep agony. This loss shows me how much Kunta was loved and cared for, especially by Binta. I know that my mother would act the same way if she lost me and vise versa. The separation of families during the slave trade display the emotional pain Africans had to face. For me, losing someone I love would feel like a stab in the heart, which is why I can tell their experience was inexplicably