The Book Of Negroes

Upon finishing The Book of Negroes, I can't help but feel disappointment that the story is over. The amazing journey of Aminata has captivated me the last couple of months, and I am already experiencing withdrawal from this amazing novel! This book has been one of very few that I have read in my life and connected with. This story will certainly stay with me. I look forward to exploring more of Hill's work.

Social Experiments & Theories

Dr. Zimbardo's Prison Experiment was run to investigate the causes of conflict between guards and prisoners. Half of the subjects were chosen to play the role as prisoners and the other half the role of guards. The guards were allowed to inflict upon their prisoners psychological torture but no physical torture. Zimbardo wanted to test the hypothesis that the innate personality traits of prisoners and guards are ultimately the source of abusive behavior in captivity. He also aimed to induce disorientation, depersonalization, and deindividualization in the participants. He told his guards that "you can create in the prisoners feelings of boredom, a sense of fear to some degree, you can create a notion of arbitrariness that their life is totally controlled by us, by the system, you, me, and they'll have no privacy ... We're going to take away their individuality in various ways. In general what all this leads to is a sense of powerlessness. That is, in this situation we'll have all the power and they'll have none."


This experiment connects to The Book of Negroes in several ways. The first that comes to mind is the dehumanization of many black characters in the story. Throughout the story they change in savage and even animalistic ways. This is a result of how their captors are controlling and interacting with them. The prisoners are driven to feeling powerless, hopeless, and in to despair - or even insanity. On the same hand, two prisoners on the ship stood out and above the captivity: Biton and Aminata. Biton, regardless of his situation, maintained poise and control. He became a rebel leader against the captors. This was due to his inherent traits as a leader. Amimnata at that point even refused to give up; refused to be controlled. She let the captors believe they were in control, when in fact, they were not completely - although at some points they certainly were. The undying spirit and fight in Aminata led to her freedom and liberation - regardless of being a prisoner of slavery.

Obstacles

A conflict I have recently - and unfortunately - experienced in my life is being insulted due to my sexuality. I don't find this to be something I come by often at all, but when such a conflict occurs I go about it in the most sophisticated way possible. The cause of these insults (or acts) is typically ignorance; it's simply the best solution to be the bigger person. This takes a lot of self discipline, which I have grown to use as a skill more and more every day. "Coming out" and being insulted due to my sexuality hasn't changed me so much as it has opened my eyes to the world. I have become more sympathetic towards others as days go by, which is a trait I cherish very much. I've also learnt that it's important to take criticism and use it to make you stronger.

"And My Story Waits Like A Restful Beast"

"Only when you are safely sheltered, Papa said, can you tell which way the wind is blowing. Only from the calm, he said, can you see how to protect yourself."

"But this time, he says, a woman like you could make all the difference."

"The abolitionists may well call me their equal, but their lips do not yet say my name and their ears do not yet hear my story."

"I will write down my story so that it waits like a restful beast with lungs breathing and heart beating."

"Don't laugh, John Clarkson says a little too sharply, I bet she has read more books than you."

"Englishmen do love to bury one thing so completely in another that the two can only be separated by force: peanuts in candy, boiled ginger with honey, Africans in irons."

"If I live long enough to finish this story, it will outlive me."

"Sometimes I imagine the first reader to come upon my story. Could it be a girl? Perhaps a woman. A man. An Englishman. An African. One of these people will find my story and pass it along. And then, I believe, I will have lived for a reason."

The Book of Negroes Title

I feel that the title The Book of Negroes to be appropriate to the story. It is deliberately referring to the historical document of the same name. If this is the title the author chose for the book, there is most certainly a considerable reason - or many - and we should respect that. The content of the book itself is very explicit; anybody reading it should be able to cope with considered "inappropriate" words, phrases, and circumstances. Censorship as a practice is acceptable, but it's not fair to criticize and try to change original works. The book burnings are extremely inappropriate and even offensive. As already explained, it's quite evident that the author isn't being racist by intentionally throwing the word "negroes." However, if need be, I would suggest the following alternative names:

"Pink Water"

"Dark Nights, Dark Days"

"A Lion Called Injustice"

The Essay

I personally really appreciate and enjoy the essay "The Suitcase Lady" by Christie McLaren. It's a beautiful, raw, and layered story about the unanimousness of the homeless. It gives the reader a sense of nothingness and anonymousness. There's a certain delicacy to the homeless lady in the story, and its inevitable to not necessarily pity, but actually sympathize with her. The story is very tragic, and it's very honest. I think I personally enjoy this piece because I am from Toronto. I also generally enjoy pieces that discuss being "lost" and "anonymous."

Introduction

Hi all, my name is Sophie Ward. I go to Ridley College, and have done so since grade five. In the classroom I enjoy film, english, and the arts the most. I assert myself in field hockey, ice hockey, and rugby. I love music, and on my spare time can be found with friends or writing music (lyrics and/or music) and poetry. My favorite shows are True Blood, Orange Is the New Black, Nurse Jackie, The OC, and Entourage. My favorite movies are Kill Bill (Vol. 1 and 2), Pulp Fiction, Bridesmaids, Gia, Perks of Being A Wallflower, Limitless, Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, and Savages. I enjoy all music - specifically alternative, R&B, and electrohouse. My favourite books are Go Ask Alice, Will Grayson Will Grayson, The Uglies, The Pretties, The Extras, The Specials, Savages, Orange Is The New Black, Looking For Alaska, Scar Tissue, and Speak. I love all poetry for its depth and beauty; I enjoy getting lost in underlying meanings and polysemy. I also enjoy reading movie scripts and lyrics to my favorite music. I myself do some writing: poetry, lyrics, and stories. This year in English, I wish to further expand my knowledge in literature and increase my literacy abilities.