My 5 Top Quotes

Quote #1
Page 274
"Lindo began to sign a registration... as much right to life and liberty as the man who claimed to own me."
Aminata's narration
This quote is heavenly laden with significance and poetic appeal. When Solomon Lindo and Aminata arrive at Fraunces' Tavern in New York City, Solomon Lindo begins to write "Solomon Lindo and servant" in a registration book, but loses his patience for such a mundane task, and does not finish. I imagine the book would read something like this: Solomon Li. However, once Lindo is gone, Aminata writes her full, African name in exquisite script in the registration book. This is a small victory for Aminata because she has written her name on a public document, forever registering herself as a person and proving her existence.  It is important to not the differences in attitude between Aminata and her master. While she takes great pride in making her name beautiful, Lindo scribbles and does not even bother to completely identify himself. Once Aminata writes down her name, there is a obvious change in diction. Before, she was subservient to her owners, saying "yes sir, no sir" and hiding her disrespect from them. Now, Aminata has a new mindset and asserts her own freedom; Lindo only "[claims] to own [her]."

Quote #2
Page 348
"'I have nothing to say to the Jew,' Appleby said."
Robinson Appleby
It is a fair assumption that Robinson Appleby is the manifestation of all things wrong with slavery in the novel. He is a horrible man with no morals at all. He is too proud of even speak Lindo's name at the hearing over who claims Aminata. Historically, South Carolina was predominantly populated by Anglo-Americans and their black slaves. However, the racism did not stop at blacks, but was extended to the few French, Dutch, German, Jewish, and colonists from other backgrounds. The fact that Solomon Lindo is Jewish is one of the few unifying factors between him and Aminata- they are both outsiders. Furthermore, this quote allows the reader to assume Solomon Lindo is the better of the two men, because he does not discriminate against Appleby for being "Christian", and claims to subscribe to a set of values.

Quote #3
Page 116
"But I have long loved the written word, and come to see in it the power of the sleeping lion. This is my name. This is who I am. This is how I got here. In the absence of an audience, I will write down my story so that it waits like a restful beast with lungs breathing and heart beating."
Aminata's narration
Books are amazing. They are written down once, and then last for ever. Whether it be for good or evil, books have the power to unite people (ie. Adolf Hitler's Mien Kampf, Thomas Paine's Common Sense). The words devour whoever reads them much like a lion devours its prey. Aminata may not be able to tell her story the way she wants to the abolitionists, but there is nothing stopping her from writing it down. Someday, someone will most likely stumble across her work. The lion which had been lying in wait will pounce. Then, at least, someone will know. This is a beautiful metaphor as well as the definition of elderly Aminata's mission.

Quote #4
Page 25
"'You must learn respect,' Papa said.
'But I do not respect her,' I said.
Papa paused for a moment, and patted my leg. 'Then you must learn to hide your disrespect.'"
Dialogue between Mamadu (father) and Aminata
This quote is significant in developing Aminata's character. Although she has not a clue yet, being a slave will present her with far more and worse injustices than being scorned by a jealous Fanta for using a bucket as a drum. Hiding her disrespect and holding her tongue gains Aminata favor again and again; it also saves her from numerous beatings. This simple lesson her father taught her at a young age greatly contributed to Aminata's survival.

Quote #5
Page 204
"'You don't own that baby anymore than you own the wool on your head,' Appleby said. 'They both belong to me.'"
Robinson Appleby
This quote is significant because it highlights the theme of dehumanization. Just before he says this, Appleby used a knife to shave Aminata's head and publicly humiliate her. He says that her hair is not hair, but rather wool. Clearly, this strips Aminata of her humanness, lowers her to the status of a sheep, only used for the gain of the owner, much like the role of slaves on an indigo plantation. However, the meaning of this is deeper than dehumanization. Recently, Aminata had been learning about and reading the Bible with Mamed. She would know that for Judeo-Christian women, their hair was their pride and dignity. It was something sacred, never to be cut with impure shears. This deepens the cruelty of Appleby's actions. Also, she would know about the Good Shepherd. If the slaves are the sheep, then Appleby is the shepherd; unfortunately, the divide between a shepherd who makes his sheep lie down in green pastures and a shepherd who rapes his sheep is vast. Furthermore, Appleby's choice of words here should be noted. Aminata would never claim to own her child, but rather see it as a blessing. This quote allows the reader to foster a hatred for someone who thinks owning other human beings, and extends this wrongdoing by treating them like farm animals.

Obstacles

Let me start this post off by getting one thing straight: I am not inviting anyone to throw a pity party, nor am I likening my experiences to those of the slave trade. However, there is a major emotion that Aminata experiences throughout the book that I understand on a level many cannot. There is no feeling like the loss of a parent. I do not have words to describe it. Both Aminata and I lost our fathers unexpectedly in a gun accident when we were young girls. The death of my father is by far the biggest obstacle in my life. Just like Aminata, the pain travels with me no matter where I go, and his memory haunts me each and every day. This is not a type of obstacle that you can overcome. For this reason, I empathize with Aminata's trying to listen for her father's words for guidance. Sometimes, the memory of those few sentences is all that can give me perspective. Each day is an uphill battle knowing I stand at a disadvantage to those who have fathers to guide them, but I also get a little bit stronger.

Stockholm Syndrome in The Book if Negroes

In my opinion, Aminata exhibits a few symptoms of Stockholm Syndrome throughout the novel. First, she develops an unusual bond with the medicine man on the slave ship. The other slaves only seemed to interact with him when they were trading sex for good favor. Aminata, on the other hand, learned from him, while receiving food and better living conditions, even though she was uncomfortable being held captive in his sleeping quarters. Over time, her complaints about the sleeping arrangements become fewer and fewer. Although much less severe, I also believe Aminata shows similar symptoms when Mrs. Lindo and her son die, even though she is their "servant".

They Call Me an African

One of the most popular questions popular questions during the seminar for this chapter was: Do you think Biton has given up? Why?
In my opinion, Biton has not given up. Instead, he has accepted the reality that he is now in South Carolina, and will never return to his homeland. This is his life now, and he knows it. When I picture someone who has given up, I would use words like these to describe them: slumped, defeated, ashamed. Instead, Hill says Biton "stood tall and straight. His skin was oiled and shiny" (Hill, 128). Biton is clearly still the proud man he was when he was chief of his village. Furthermore, Aminata's final interaction with Biton is similar to that with her father. When taken into captivity, her father stood tall and fearless, much like Biton. The last words both men utter to Aminata were her name. We know that Aminata's father was a proud man who died an honorable death, so it can be inferred that Biton has not given up, and maintains his dignity.

And my story waits like a restful beast

I've come to think Lawrence Hill's favorite animal may well be a lion. He makes multiple comparisons to the beast in his novel The Book of Negroes, at least. He describe the mountains of the African coast as an enormous powerful lion (page 63), and often refers to the belly of the slave ship as a lion's anus. On page 116, Aminata says, "But I have long loved the written word, and have come to see it in the power of a sleeping lion. This is my name. This is who I am. This is how I got here. In the absence of an audience, I will write down my story so that it waits a restful beast with lungs breathing and heart beating." This piece of text reminded me of a Charles Spurgeon quote: "The Word of God is like a lion. You don't have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself." In the same way, Aminata's story is powerful. It is so powerful it doesn't need to be read aloud to move mountains. However, as soon as someone begins to turn the pages, the beast awakens. It pounces, and scratches at your heart. Unlike the paper it is written on, Aminata's story is alive. It is a resting beast.