What if the knowledge that helped generations survive was never lost—only hidden in plain sight? Across Africa and the global diaspora, healing did not begin in clinics. It began in kitchens. In forests. In courtyards. In the hands of mothers, midwives, elders, and quiet plant keepers. Roots of Survival brings readers into this living tradition. This book traces how communities protected health long before modern medicine became widely available—using roots, leaves, food wisdom, spiritual balance, and collective care to restore strength and harmony in everyday life. Inside these pages, you will discover: how African healing traditions understood wellness as balance between body, spirit, family, and lan - the roles of herbalists, midwives, elders, and household healers in sustaining community health - traditional preparation methods including decoctions, infusions, baths, oils, and powders - root-based plant knowledge preserved through migration, displacement, and resilience - the survival of healing systems across the Caribbean, the American South, and diaspora communities - the ethical responsibility of protecting ancestral plant knowledge today More than a reference guide, this book is a cultural record of how people cared for one another when resources were scarce but wisdom was abundant. It speaks to readers who want to understand where traditional plant knowledge comes from—and why it still matters. Whether you are exploring ancestral heritage, studying traditional wellness systems, or simply curious about the deeper story behind plant remedies, Roots of Survival offers a rare window into a legacy carried across generations. Some traditions are written in books. Others are written in memory, practice, and survival. This book helps bring them back into view.