Exploring Your “Roots”
Forty-nine years ago this week Alex Haley published Roots: The Saga of an American Family. It is the story of Kunta Kinte—a young man taken from Gambia at 17 and sold into slavery, and follows seven generations of his descendants in the United States. This book, and its subsequent adaptation to a TV mini series in 1977 was groundbreaking. With its portrayal of the institution of slavery from the perspective of the enslaved, the book shifted how we as Americans discussed race and its impact on our culture. The TV mini-series broadcast reached three out of four American TV households.
Haley’s fina
l chapter details his research in archives and libraries, where he gathered written records to supplement his family’s oral history. This helped spark a new interest in genealogy, African American history, and oral history as a method for discovering unwritten stories.
A visit to Annapolis is not complete without a stop at the waterfront to visit the Alex Haley Memorial. The Memorial stands here due to the work of the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation, which was formed in 1992 to help spread Haley’s vision of a world that celebrates ethnic
diversity while honoring humankind’s common, universal experiences. Heritage, diversity, and perseverance are central themes in both Alex Haley’s book and his life, and the Foundation strives to integrate these core values into all its programs. Through educational and cultural programs, public forums, and research, the Foundation is dedicated to stimulating greater interest in African American culture, history, art, archaeology, anthropology, and genealogy, and to encourage people of all ethnic backgrounds to search for their own “roots.”
A lesser-known addition to the Haley Statue (located at City Dock across from the Market House) is a 14-foot diameter Compass Rose, set in multi-colored granite with a bronze centerpiece. This world map is oriented to True North with Annapolis at its center. Standing on the map’s center point allows visitors to identify and face the homeland of their ancestors. Mirroring the navigational tools used by seafarers over centuries, it inspires us to connect to our genealogical roots as Alex Haley did.
Delve into Other Events and Sites of Remembrance across the Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area by visiting:
- Kunta Kinte Celebrations– Kunta Kinte Celebrations will host the 35th Annual Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at the Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Blue Lot) in Annapolis. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., rain or shine, with free admission and family-friendly activities for all ages. This free, family-oriented cultural celebration featuring live music and dance performances, world foods, and artisan vendors, as well as the heritage and history of the African Diaspora. There are three performance areas featuring live music and dance, as well as a children’s activity area with lively educational experiences. The festival commemorates Kunta Kinte’s arrival in Annapolis in 1767 and observes his struggle to preserve his cultural heritage. Learn more at /www.kuntakinte.org .
- Historic London Town and Gardens- UNESCO Site of Remembrance-We remember the hundreds or perhaps thousands of survivors of the Middle Passa
ge that were sold here between 1708 and 1760. The enslaved survivors were taken from the rich and varied cultures of Sierra Leone through Angola along the West African coast. They brought with them their diverse languages, religions, foods, and cultures, all of which became woven into this new American culture. Historic London Town and Gardens joins thirty other sites in the United States as a “Site of Memory” associated with the UNESCO Slave Route Project. We are proud to stand with the global community in remembering the unwilling sacrifice and suffering of millions throughout the Atlantic world.
- Banneker Tubman- Douglass Museum– As the State of Maryland’s official museum of African American heritage, the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum serves to document, to interpret, and to promote African American history and culture (particularly in Maryland) through exhibitions, programs, and projects to improve the understanding and appreciation of America’s rich cultural diversity for all. The museum includes the beautifully restored Mount Moriah A.M.E. Church. Experience a variety of changing exhibits, lectures, films, tours, performances, and educational programs.
- The Wiley H Bayes Legacy Center – This non-profit operates out of the only high school available to African American students in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County during segregation. It is an historical, cultural and educational center that collects, preserves, interprets and makes available for research its holdings in order to provide insight and perspective on the roles of education, economic opportunity and service for citizens of our area.
- Maryland State Archives– The State Archives serves as the central depository for government records of permanent value. Its holdings date from Maryland’s founding in 1634, and include colonial and state executive, legislative, and judicial records; county probate, land, and court records; church records; business records; state publications and reports; and special collections of private papers, maps, photographs, and newspapers. Research more about the Legacy of Slavery in Maryland through their online resources.
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The Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area is a Maryland Certified Heritage Area that celebrates the history, culture, and natural beauty of Annapolis and across Anne Arundel County. A 20-plus year collaboration between Anne Arundel County, the City of Annapolis, and the Maryland Heritage Area Authority, we connect visitors and residents to over 60 incredible destinations, from world-class museums and historic homes to scenic parks, trails, nature preserves, and vibrant arts centers.
Looking for a fun way to get the family out and exploring this summer? We invite you to take part in our 2025 Historic Summer Bucket List Challenge, a fresh take on summer fun that combines learning, adventure, and memory-making. Visit our website ChesapeakeCrossroads.org, to explore a full list of attractions. Get started checking items from the Historic Summer Bucket List!