This book by lawrence hill does not lessen the barbarity of the times, but adds a unique human dimension. The book was inspired by the british freeing and evacuation of former slaves, known as black loyalists, who had left rebel masters during the american revolutionary war. The book of negroes amnesty international book club canada. Williams, a former marine who volunteered to lead the monroe chapter of the naacp and founded a 60member, nrachartered rifle club, described the battle in his 1962 book, negroes with guns, which was reprinted in 1998 by wayne state university press. The book of negroes is a masterpiece the globe and mail. An essence black history month pick this engaging story of eighteen remarkable black men admitted to harvards class of 1963 is an eyeopener. The canadian author of book of negroes, and more recently the illegal both winners of canada reads, never saw spiders the same way. Bookclubinabox discussion companion for the book of negroes someone knows my name print isbn.
May 20, 2008 its called the book of negroes in canada but americans wont buy that term lawrence hill tue 20 may 2008 02. The book of negroes, based on the award winning novel by lawrence hill, wednesdays at 9pm9 on. Despite the unpalatable subject matter, he compels our attention and manages to delight. It was the first book to win both cbc radios canada reads competition in 2009 and radio canadas combat des livres in 20. First, please prepare at least four provocative questions two inferential and two evaluative that you will use to discuss your novel up to the agreed upon point. Book of negroes, the lawrence hill the history and outrage of black slavery has been welldocumented in literature and film in the last halfcentury. The book of negroes, based on the award winning novel by lawrence hill, wednesdays at 9pm9 on cbc. There, as in cuba, he enjoyed celebrity status and. The starstudded production includes lead actress aunjanue ellis ray, the help, oscar winner cuba gooding jr.
I am discussing the book of negroes, which i am reading in english class. Guntar kravis september 2014 amnesty international book club. Its called the book of negroes in canada but americans wont buy that term lawrence hill tue 20 may 2008 02. Jan 18, 2007 i was invited to discuss my own forthcoming book at a book club and the book club were reading the book of negroes for march. The question and answer section for the book of negroes is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. Visa, mastercard, american express paypal, diners club and discover. The negrocaucasian club at michigan helped relieve the negro students feeling of isolation, wrote armistead pride, and to give him some portholes onto campus life other than those of the classroom and the michigan daily. The book of negroes is a document created by brigadier general samuel birch that records names and descriptions of 3,000 black loyalists, enslaved africans who escaped to the british lines during the american revolution and were evacuated to points in nova scotia as free people of colour. The book of negroes won the rogers writers trust fiction prize in 2007 and the commonwealth writers prize in 2008.
The novel explores the life of a fictional woman included in this. The negrocaucasian club university of michigan heritage. Why the book of negroes matters the globe and mail. The book of negroes the book of negroes is a masterpiece the globe and mail the exclusive club that includes literatures most memorable characters now has a. May 09, 2017 lawrence hills the book of negroes written by a book club member at kwikwexwelhp healing village. For more information about the bookclubinabox team, visit our website. The book of negroes based on the awardwinning novel by lawrence hill, the book of negroes depicts the extraordinary life journey of aminata diallo, an indomitable african woman who cuts a swath through a world that is predisposed to underestimate her. Book club discussion guide the book of negroes by lawrence hill stunning, wrenching and inspiring, the fourth novel by canadian novelist hill any known blood spans the life of aminata diallo, born in bayo, west africa, in 1745. Brilliantly placed in historical context, including the unfolding of the civil rights movement, the last negroes at harvard conveys an important message. Its called the book of negroes in canada but americans wont buy that term.
Bookclubinabox discusses someone knows my name the book of negroes, the novel by lawrence hill book club in a box. The book of negroes captures a little known piece of history, while laying bare the cruel and barbarous practice of slavery. Bookclubinabox presents the discussion companion for. The following edition of the novel was used to create this guide. Kidnapped in africa and subsequently enslaved in south carolina, aminata must navigate a revolution in new york. Why im not allowed my book title books the guardian. Stunning, wrenching and inspiring, the fourth novel by canadian novelist hill any known blood spans the life of aminata diallo, born in bayo, west africa, in 1745. Litlovers has given some questions to answer about this book which you can find here.
The british transported some 3,000 black loyalists to nova scotia for resettlement, documenting their names in. Carleton papers book of negroes, 1783 library and archives. The book of negroes we dont bake muffins book club. Based on a true story, the book of negroes tells the story of aminata, a young girl abducted from her village in mali aged 11 in 1755, and who, after a deathly journey on a slave ship where she witnesses the brutal repression of a slave revolt, is sold to a plantation owner in south carolina, who rapes her. The british transported some 3,000 black loyalists to nova scotia for resettlement, documenting their names in what was called the book of negroes. The book of negroes book club kit vancouver public. Bookclubinabox discusses someone knows my name the book. The book of negroes the book of negroes is a masterpiece the globe and mail the exclusive club that includes literatures most memorable characters now has a remarkable new member. Take a look at the walmart books best sellers section. Bookclubinabox discusses someone knows my name the. From oprahs book club, which first launched in 1996 as a segment on the oprah winfrey show, to movies like 2007s jane austen book club and 2018s book club, womenled literary gatherings have become part and parcel of the american imagination. Jerry maguire, a few good men, oscar and emmy winner louis gossett jr. Bookclubinabox discusses someone knows my name the book of negroes, the novel by lawrence hill herbert, marilyn on.
The book of negroes by lawrence hill reading guidebook. Film screening the book of negroes the loring greenough house. The range of issues it raises includes not only slavery but human trafficking, violence against women, racial discrimination, hypocrisy, greed and more. The book of negroes stories of rape, concubinage, and the loss of children remind viewers of the gendered differences within the institution of slaverya welcome addition to the general narrative about human bondage.
But years later, she forges her way to freedom, serving the british in the revolutionary war and registering her name in the. Mar 19, 2020 in september 1959, 18 black students matriculated at harvard college, 1. Come to your first book club meeting with a couple of preparations. The book of negroes by lawrence hill abducted as an 11yearold child from her village in west africa and forced to walk for months to the sea in a coffle a string of slaves aminata diallo is sent to live as a slave in south carolina. I used the book of negroes as the title for my novel, in canada. What makes the book of negroes extraordinary is hills ability to transcend the facts to make something magical out of them.
Millions around the world today still share her predicament. The book of negroes someone knows my name by lawrence hill by penguinlady see profile 092409. Apr 06, 2020 from oprahs book club, which first launched in 1996 as a segment on the oprah winfrey show, to movies like 2007s jane austen book club and 2018s book club, womenled literary gatherings have become part and parcel of the american imagination. In september 1959, 18 black students matriculated at harvard college, 1. Shop for books at and browse categories like young adult books, childrens books, mystery books, adult coloring books and cook books. Lawrence hill is the son of american immigrants a black father and a white mother who came to canada the day after they married in 1953 in washington, d. Id heard of the novel but didnt have immediate plans to read it. There are some that beckon a reading every spare minute in todays all too hectic lifestyle. Kidnapped by slave traders in west africa and subsequently enslaved in. The book of negroes summary and study guide supersummary. In the end i read the entire huge tome its about 500 pages in just two or three days. Based on a true story, the book of negroes tells the story. Ask and answer questions about the novel or view study guides, literature essays and more. Lawrence hills novel is not just a prizewinner or the popular choice on canada reads, donna bailey nurse says.
A sweeping story that transports the reader from a tribal african village to a plantation in the southern united states, from the teeming halifax docks to the manor houses of london, the book of negroes introduces one of the strongest female characters in canadian fiction, one who cuts a swath through a world hostile to her colour and her sex. The book of negroes summary and study guide supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. With aunjanue ellis, lyriq bent, ben chaplin, allan hawco. Aminata diallo, a woman from the village of bayo in africa, advocates for the abolition of the slave trade in london, england in 1802. The book of negroes lawrence hill is the author of nine books, including the book of negroes, winner of many prestigious awards including the commonwealth writers prize, the rogers writers trust fiction prize, and both the english and french canadian versions of cbc. The novel opens in 1802, as aminata is wooed in london to the cause of. It gives us a glimpse of what it might have been like to be. I may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. She pursues that dream even when it means leaving the security of slavery for an unpredictable and harsh life of poverty and hard work. Youll find modern classics such as game of thrones or the harry potter books and books that are the basis for movies such as a wrinkle in time. Dec 01, 2016 this is an emotionally intense well written book. A sweeping story that transports the listener from a tribal african village to a plantation in the southern united states, from the teeming halifax docks to the manor houses of london, the book of negroes introduces one of the strongest female characters in recent canadian fiction, one who cuts a swath through a world hostile to her colour and. The history of womens book clubs extends far beyond a time when women were the representatives of this.
Nicole lane the word negro is highly offensive in the african american community and a book with such a title would receive a lot of criticism from the averagemore the word negro is highly offensive in the african american community and a book with such a title would receive a lot of criticism from the average american. Of course fiction, especially historical fiction, contains all manner of facts. In 1966, williams moved his family to china during the height of the cultural revolution. Abducted as an 11yearold child from her village in west africa and forced to walk for months to the sea in a cofflea string of slaves aminata diallo is sent to live as a slave in south carolina. Kidnapped in africa and subsequently enslaved in south carolina, aminata must navigate a revolution in new york, isolation in nova scotia, and the treacherous jungles of sierra leone, in an attempt to secure her freedom in the eighteenth century. I am always hesitant to use fictional representations of slavery and freedom in my lecture courses, but this film could be. The book of negroes is a television miniseries based on the novel of the same name by canadian writer lawrence hill. I was invited to discuss my own forthcoming book at a book club and the book club were reading the book of negroes for march. In canada this book is published under the title book of negroes, in the states it is called someone knows my name. This is a good place to start your search for your next book. Please join us for a twoday screening of the book of negroes, a sixpart miniseries starring aunjanue ellis, lyriq bent, cuba gooding, jr. The book of negroes based on the novel someone knows my name will be bets first miniseries. A wonderful historic epic of an african american young woman kidnapped at the age of 11 into slavery.
Oct 01, 2015 the book of negroes stories of rape, concubinage, and the loss of children remind viewers of the gendered differences within the institution of slaverya welcome addition to the general narrative about human bondage. This 81page guide for the book of negroes by lawrence hill includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 21 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. Bookclubinabox discusses someone knows my name the book of negroes, the novel by lawrence hill. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. The book of negroes aunjanue ellis on why aminata is a modern hero cbc connects duration. Club served a distinct purpose then, wrote joseph langhorne.
Right now, i am going to be answering some discussion questions that i found online. Lawrence hills awardwinning novel is a major television miniseries airing on bet networks. The sixpart miniseries tells the epic journey of an african woman. The book of negroes contains references not only to black people, but also to mulattoes and others of mixed race. The book of negroes by lawrence hill reading guidebook club. Namely, the willingness of these young men to embrace, not retreat from, the challenges of. The book of negroes by lawrence hill nook book ebook. Discussion questions my answers the book of negroes.