The Book of Negroes

The Book of Negroes is a novel written by Lawrence Hill as it follows the life of Aminata Diallo through her life as a slave. What makes Aminata so special is her abilities in reading and writing that allow her to excel where many other characters do not. This book is a depiction of the ways of which African people were treated in a time period were slavery was most prominent. Women, for example were treated much worse than the males, as they were raped and even forced to give away their own children. One universal truth that is apparent through the book is that education is one of the ways for someone to escape oppression and it can be seen through setting/power structures and characters. In terms of the power structure and setting, men were…

The Book of Negroes – An Inspired Playlist About the Life of Aminata Diallo 1) Africa – Toto ‘It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do’ Aminata started her journey in Africa, where she was born and grew to the age of eleven. This song represents her continent of origin and her homeland. 2) Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes ‘And I'm bleeding, and I'm bleeding, and I'm bleeding Right before the Lord All the words are gonna bleed…

The Book of Negroes (Lawrence Hill, 2007) is about a woman named Aminata Diallo. When Aminata was eleven years old, she was kidnapped from her little village, Bayo, located in a part of West Africa now known as Mali. After this incident, Aminata is then sold into slavery. Throughout the book, she had her heart set on returning home, which she eventually did. Aminata left Africa and went to England so that she could present the account of her life so it could help abolish the slave trade. In…

One of Aminata’s traits that ought to be called into question was her advanced literacy and ability to connect to people through irregular communication devices. As a fictional character, she could have been able to do whatever her creators pleased. If she had been alive at that time, it is safe to say no one would have let her obtain the authority to write the historical document, The Book of Negroes. Furthermore, when the abolitionists in London expressed they wanted to control the…

There's no place like home? Dorothy was right: there’s no place like it. We go through life dodging wicked witches of all cardinal directions but, ideally, our homes are places where we feel most comfortable. At home we should no longer have to battle immorality. In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy struggled to find her way back to her family, her friends, and her lifestyle in Kansas. The story of Dorothy Gale resonated the human desire to return home after being forcefully removed from them. We have…

“Knowledge is potential power. It transforms itself into actual power the moment you decisively act on it” (Robin Sharma). This attitude is portrayed in Lawrence Hills, The Book of Negroes through the life of Aminata Diallo as she uses the power of knowledge that she has gained through her struggles to get access to new opportunities in hopes of getting her freedom and returning home. Through her ability to help others because of her knowledge of midwifery, languages, and traditional education,…

“Lawrence Hill has dedicated his life to learning, to teaching, and to helping. Through his efforts, Canadians have gained a better understanding of our shared history, and of the Black experience” (Lawrence Hill). Lawrence Hill has written many fictional and non- fictional pieces throughout his career, consisting of novels, short stories and essays. Some of the titles include Any Known Blood, The Illegal and Blood: The Stuff of Life. Hill’s most popular novel, The Book of Negroes received a…

The slave trade brought about the devastation of entire African communities; who lost their history and unique way of life, with every branded slave. However, it also created much difficulty for those who wished to maintain their culture outside of their native land. Lawrence Hill’s The Book of Negroes reveals the struggles that slaves faced in colonial lands through Aminata’s experiences, as she strives to remain true to her religion, family, and childhood ambitions. First off, Aminata…

Braydon Turato-Brooks Mrs. Fung ENG 4U1-02 21 September 2017 Title of Your Report The reality of the world is always changing. Taking different perspectives, living through experiences and imagination all take a toll in how the world is visualized. In the novel The Book of Negroes, Lawrence Hill studies the ways that reality can be shifted through the persona of Aminata Diallo with experiences of loss along with physical pain and monumental heartbreak. Relation to the real world can be a…

In the 1800’s many people of colour did not enjoy the rights and freedoms that people enjoy today. In this time, Slavery was active which many people of colours lose their freedom. More than 11,863,000 Africans were shipped across the Atlantic, most slaves died in the Middle Passage due to horrible conditions on the ship transporting them. As a result between with a death of 9.6 and 10.8 million Africans arrived in the Americas alive. With the odds against Aminata Diallo, she faces many losses…