Some important quotes from the book

"The toubab chief and the medicine man were left lying on their backs, as dead as I could have wanted them . Allaahu Akbar I muttered to myself. But maybe Fanta was right. Maybe God was impossible here." (107)

This quote relates to Religion, which is a re-occuring theme throughout the book. It shows Amanita almost giving up on her only tie to her parents. It shows the harshness of the conditions they were in, and how Aminata herself almost lost her mind.

"At times I still panic when surrounded by big white men with a purpose." (9)

This quote relates to Fear, which is a re-occuring theme throughout the book. It shows that fear has been planted in the mind of not only Aminata but all of the slaves, to the point where they have panicked moments in completely unrelated events.

"Got a slave mama, then you is slave. Got a slave daddy, then you is slave. Any nigger in you at all, then is slave as clear as day." (153)

This relates to Racism which is a theme throughout the book. This also relates to the author, who had identity issues with his race (due to the fact that he himself is mixed). This (in the Book of Negroes) shows how the states is stereotyped, and that anyone born into slavery is a slave. It is also forshadowing for the fate of Mamadu (son).

"You need something to ugly you up. You're like a flower now, and that ain't no good."(168)

This relates to the theme of Beauty. Aminata states throughout the book that she is uncommonly beautiful, and that her beauty was taken away by the atrocities inflicted upon her, this quote exemplifies the start of that decline of beauty, and is also foreshadowing for Aminata's future.

"At least he had is own people. with whom he could break bread and cry. I had nobody at all." (245)

Aminata does not deal well with death, which occurs many times in the novel. She realizes that she has no one left, her husband comes and goes, her son is sold, and her parents are dead. She has no one to grieve with (in this instance) or love. She feels like everything she touches dies.

Overcoming Obstacles

cerebral palsy

noun

1. 1.

   a condition marked by impaired muscle coordination (spastic paralysis) and/or other disabilities, typically caused by damage to the brain before or at birth.

I found out I had a mild case of cerebral palsy when I was 10. I cried. I didn't know what it was, but up until that point I thought I was fat, and that is why I couldn't run as fast as the other kids. I wailed at my mom and dad, for not telling me until that point, but I understand their reasoning now: they didn't want me to use it as a crutch.

I've been living with it up until now, and these past 6 years have been no cake walk. I have quickly realized all of the disabilities that I have, and desperately try not to use them as a crutch. To always be two steps, literally and figuratively behind everyone can prove to be grinding. To be honest, I haven't overcome this problem, and I don't think I ever can or will. But I have learned to take pride in trying. Me trying is me succeeding. Success has taken on a different meaning for me (pro in athletics, con in academics), and that has allowed not only me esteem to take part in events, but my esteem after the fact as well.

This is a life battle, and I'm in it for the long run.

- K

The Inner Prison

Zimbardo's Prison experiment was a test, where wiling participants subjected themselves to take part in a pre-constructed society. Namely a prison built in Stanford's basement. The prison was fully functional, the only thing that it needed was a staff. The participants, upon arrival were split into two groups: guards, and prisoners with Zimbardo himself as the warden. The prison mindset began to set in as both Zimbardo and the rest of the guards begin to take their roles too seriously (contacting other prisons for prisoner transport, physically beating the prisoners, creating plusher cells while stripping the other prisoners of their dignity). The project was then shut down.

How this relates to The Book of Negroes is in regards to de-humanization. When captured, Aminata and the other prisoners are stripped of their clothes, and therefore their dignity. The tobabu believe themselves to be the end all and be all, when in actuality they have a better to answer to (similar to the guards). The tobabu also used confusion tactics to cause chaos and disorganization within the slave group (bringing certain prisoners to plusher conditions), however (similarly to Zimbardo's prison experiement) it ceases to be effective and the prisoners revolt.

That's the connection I make.

- K