http://wjel.sciedupress.com World Journal of English Language Vol. 12, No. 1; 2022 Published by Sciedu Press 154 ISSN 1925-0703 E-ISSN 1925-0711 Search for Ancestral Roots in Morgan Jerkins‟s Wandering in Strange Lands Rashad Mohammed Moqbel Al Areqi 1 1 Al Baha University, Fcaulty of Sciences and Arts, Al Mandaq, KSA Correspondence: Rashad Mohammed Moqbel Al Areqi, Al Baha University, Fcaulty of Sciences and Arts, Al Mandaq, KSA. Received: December 20, 2021 Accepted: January 20, 2022 Online Published: January 28, 2022 doi:10.5430/wjel.v12n1p154 URL: https://doi.org/10.5430/wjel.v12n1p154 Abstract Many African Americans seek to unravel their history and ancestral roots, much of which was lost during the Great Migration that took place between 1916 and 1970. Morgan Jerkins‟s Wandering in Strange Lands (2020) explores the history and the ancestral roots of the Jerkins family, along both the paternal and maternal lineages. Written as a memoir, rather than a historical or genealogical report, the narrative is supported by documents, records, transcripts, photos and interviews conducted by Jerkins herself. Her research uncovers the stories of other African-Americans and their native identity that sheds more light on Jerkins‟s own roots, as well as the traditions of Blacks in general. Using a postcolonial lens, themes of migration, dislocation, ethnicity, marginality, Creole identity and diaspora are examined not only from the historical and genealogical viewpoint of the Jerkins family, but also from the perspective of the major groups of the Great Migration, who left the American South for other cities. Eventually, Jerkins‟s arduous journey uncovers her family‟s hidden past, a heritage that has been influenced by the Great Migration and the displacement of African-Americans leaving hard life conditions in search of better job opportunities in the Northeast, the Midwest, and the West Coast, in particular. The Great Migration was an attempt by Blacks to release themselves from the shackles of the oppression of White supremacy. Jerkins manages to find her heritage—language, rituals, beliefs, symbols and traditions intertwined with superstitions—and she is able to connect with her tribal roots and legacy. Keywords: wandering, stilantsecna, roots, migration, African Americans, diaspora, displacement 1. Introduction In the narrative of Wandering in Strange Lands, Morgan Jerkins traces her family‟s roots to become more familiar with her genealogical history, much of which was lost as a result of the Great Migration. This movement pushed Black Americans to leave their homes in the South for better economic opportunities in the North, West, and Midwest, disconnecting the Black Americans from their roots, homes and family history. Over the course of Jerkins‟s search for her family ancestry, she also uncovers the history of Blacks who have been displaced and oppressed by Whites throughout American history. Jerkins‟s Wandering in Strange Lands provides deep insight into Black history in general, traced back over 300 years as stated in the narrative. Through Jerkins‟s personal research and exploration of Black Americans who moved to different places, she was able to collect excellent data about their history through interviews, public records, transcriptions, letters and photos, as well as about her own family. The narrative enthralls readers with the legacy of the Jerkins family, which becomes the path to understanding more about Black Americans in general. The book investigates the struggle of African Americans for survival and how they left their homes and what was familiar, forgetting their sense of identity and belonging through their efforts to seek a better life: “No one spoke about the past—the goal was to move forward and never look back” (p.8). The significance of this journey for Jerkins is the meticulous unveiling of information about the past and Black traditions, which have long been neglected and marginalized. Jerkins attempts to reconnect with the cultural and spiritual legacy of Black Americans, a quest that in many ways remains unfulfilled and cannot leave her memory. Other African - American writers have also attempted to uncover their family history and legacy by writing about the displacement of Blacks across America. It is a painful journey into the past, but one that is not without rewards.