1. Using film to learn about the Transatlantic Slave Trade

2. You can’t always…

3. …trust what you are shown

4. History films are made all the time, but can we trust them… Why are the films being made? Why are the films being made? Who are they being made for? Who are they being made for? What might a film maker do to add to the affect of their film? What might a film maker do to add to the affect of their film?

5. Roots Background In 1977 Roots was broadcast on US TV and became the most watched mini series of all time. It was written by Alex Haley, and based upon his African ancestors. It gave the American people a taste of what slavery was all about. We join the clip when the Africans are in West Africa, before capture. The main character, Kunta Kinte has just passed through ‘manhood training’.

6. Roots Questions 1. What was Africa like before slavery? 2. How is music used in the capture scene and why? 3. From whose viewpoint do we witness the capture of Kunta Kinte? Why is this? 4. What are you made to think about the white men? 5. Who are the bad people and the good people in Roots? 6. Why did Alex Haley write this and who did he hope might watch the TV series?

7. Amistad Background In 1998, Steven Spielberg made ‘Amistad’. This was based on the true story in 1839 of Africans who took over the slave ship and tried to sail it back to Africa. The ship was seized and taken to America and the captive Africans charged with murder. This led to an historic trial.

8. Amistad Questions 1. Why does Amistad start like this? 2. How are the captured Africans different to those in Roots? 3. How are the main captors shown? 4. In Roots the slaves speak English. In Amistad there are subtitles. Why has this been done? 5. Why were the events of the Amistad made into a film? 6. Who is the intended audience?

9. Activity Write a paragraph on Roots and Amistad. Discuss the following… The reason why both films were made. The reason why both films were made. The audience that both were made for. The audience that both were made for. How each of them has challenged the traditional image of slavery in history. How each of them has challenged the traditional image of slavery in history. If we trust this as a source telling us what it was like to be a captured slave. If we trust this as a source telling us what it was like to be a captured slave.