In the river region of The Gambia in 1750, Omoro Kinte and his wife, Binta, give birth to a son, Kunta; Kunta is kidnapped in 1767 and sold to British slave traders; after arriving in Maryland, Virginia planter John Waller purchases Kunta.

Redcoats attempt to persuade slaves to run away and join the English army; Kunta escapes but slave catchers apprehend him and amputate half of his foot to ensure he never runs off again; John Waller sells Kunta to his younger brother, William.

George becomes an accomplished trainer of gamecocks and earns the nickname of Chicken George; George marries Matilda, a preacher's daughter, and fathers many children; Tom Lea loses a wager with an Englishman and sells George to save his farm.

Chicken George returns to the Lea farm after 20 years; George's son, Tom, nurses a grudge against his father; George and Cyrus join the Memphis Colored Battery; Tom returns home after the war to embark on a new life with his family.