The late author Alex Haley’s book, “Roots: The Saga of an American Family,” is turning 50. Roots,” published on August 17, 1976, highlighted the story ofKunta Kinte, a young man who was kidnapped in the Gambia, enslaved, and brought to America. Kunta Kinte Celebrations Inc., an Annapolis-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to honoring the perseverance and cultural heritage of the Black diaspora, recently announced “Exploring Kunta: Roots 50 Commemorative Experience,” a three-day cultural heritage journey.
The forthcoming expedition, in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary, will trace the path of Kunta Kinte from the Annapolis, Maryland City Docks through Fredericksburg to Spotsylvania, Virginia, where he was enslaved by the Waller family. Additionally, the commemorative journey that will occur from August 7-9, 2026, coincides with the 250th anniversary of the United States. The immersive experience will allow participants to connect to Kunta Kinte’s legacy, and his inspiring story’s role in reshaping America’s understanding of ancestry.
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Bill Haley, Jr., Alex Haley’s grandson is a ninth generation descendent of Kunta Kinte, and co-founder of The Inherited Roots Project (“InRP”) with Malick Manga, son of Ebou Manga. Alex Haley credited the elder Manga, the Hamilton College student from the Gambia, with unlocking the Mandinka words of his family’s oral history that was a key research finding for “Roots.”
@media ( min-width: 300px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-1{min-height: 100px;}}@media ( min-width: 728px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-1{min-height: 90px;}}Graphic credit: Platinum Image Entertainment Group“It was with his help that we discovered where our Haley ancestor Kunta Kinte came from Juffure (in the Gambia). It tied everything together, from the oral history of the family, from the porch in Henning, Tennessee, to the landing at Annapolis, and knowing exactly the name of our ancestor and exactly where he came from,” said Bill Jr.
He added that the Roots 50 Commemorative Experience provides an incredible and unique opportunity to stand in the footsteps of the journey that his grandfather took— from embarking upon his first trip to the Gambia in 1967, upon finding the name of his ancestor, to reflecting on the journey that Kunta Kinte took during the Middle Passage to Annapolis.
“The very thing he said was he couldn’t think of anywhere else he would want to be, particularly on September 29th, being on the dock of Annapolis where his ancestor landed, but then also knowing that he was able to then find the ship where Kunta had taken to get across the ocean,” he added.
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Friday, August 7, 2026
The upcoming three-day commemorative journey is scheduled to begin at the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial at the historic Annapolis City Dock— the documented arrival point of the slave ship Lord Ligonier in 1767– with a libation ceremony. A symposium on oral history and storytelling, and an evening commemorative celebration. will also be held.
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Saturday, August 8, 2026
Programming continues in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The guided cultural exploration will include viewing exhibitions at the Fredericksburg Area Museum; a Civil Rights Trail Driving Tour tracing the stories of 13 Freedom Riders and the historic Shiloh Baptist Church; a historic trolley tour; and a genealogy seminar.
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Sunday, August 9, 2026
Joy Fest, a celebratory gathering featuring live music, food, fellowship and a headline gospel performance by Grammy-Nominated artist Luther Barnes, will be held at the John J. Wright Educational & Cultural Center, located in Spotsylvania, Virginia.
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The Journey Continues
Bill Jr. described the Roots 50 Commemorative Experience as almost a full circle moment. It puts some breath into what “Roots’” readers may have read in the book, and perhaps what viewers saw when they watched the televised version.
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More events will be held from Los Angeles, California to the local Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival later this year, continuing into 2027, marking the anniversary of television miniseries.
Take the Journey
Round-trip charter bus transportation from Annapolis to Fredericksburg;
two nights of hotel accommodations in Annapolis and Fredericksburg; and meals are provided during the immersive Roots 50 Commemorative Experience. Visithttps://roots50.org, or contactExploringKunta50th@gmail.comto obtain more information. Learn more about InRP and related endeavors viahttps://www.inheritedroots.org.
