His name was Kunta Kinte, son of Omoro and Binta Kinte from Juffure in the Kingdom of Niumi on the Kamby Bolongo. Flying home from The Gambia, I knew I had to write a book about him. My ancestors would be a symbol for millions of slaves, all of them seeds of American families living today, captured, chained, sailed across the same ocean in ships where untold numbers died. Sold to thousands of plantations, millions of men and women who struggled to survive and fought to be free every day. The truth can never be known. It can only be told in a story. There once was a boy who was taken from his family and carried halfway around the world. He lived to start a new family. And in his journey, he became a hero for a new nation. I hope my story honors him, brings peace and pride to us all.