The Slave Trade

Around twelve million Africans were transported across the Atlantic Ocean from Africa to the Western Hemisphere from 1450 to 1850...around 400 years. This was known as the Atlantic Slave Trade.

Alex Hayley's research identified one ship in particular Lord Ligionier  which sailed from the Gambia River with 140 Gambians. When the boat arrived in North America there were only 98 survivors left. Hayley believed one of these survivors to be 17-year old Kunta Kinte. Kinte along with the other 97 survivors were sold into slavery on October 7 according to the Maryland Gazette newspaper:

Sources:http://www.kintehaley.org/rootskintebio.html