content: Unfortunately, most people don't know that a lot of this book was lifted word for word from a book called "The African" by Harold Courlander. None of Haley's family history is correct prior to Reconstruction. Roots is non fiction taken from a book of fiction. Courlander sued Haley who settled with Courlander out of court (because he knew he would lose), but asked Courlander to stay quiet about the plagiarism. But once Courlander died, the word was put out how Roots and Alex Haley were a fake, but since now it's taught in schools as the truth no one wanted to rock the boat. Even the very liberal Village Voice acknowledged that Roots was fake but no one paid attention.