Blog Post #4

Today in class we discussed Book Two Chapter One, which was short, but very meaningful. It was full of similes, and foreshadowed many events that are about to take place. The thing that was the most meaningful to me after our discussions was something I spoke many times about. This is the fact that it seems Aminata will never be treated as an equal, even by people who are trying to abolish slavery.

An example of this is on page 114.

"Believing I am deaf, Sir Hastings murmurs to his neighbor that I can't expected to grasp the details in their complexity." (Hill 114)

This shows that no matter what, it always seems that there will always be differences throughout the book, and even in todays society between black and white people. Further explanation of this is in Lawrence Hill's essay "Black + White = Black" 

Post #3: The Book of Negroes Title

After our discussion in class, how do you feel about the title The Book of Negroes. Please comment on censorship, the book burnings, and the appropriateness of the title. Based on what you already know about the novel, what other names might be fitting?

I feel that the title The Book of Negroes is the appropriate title for the book. I think that all of the censors that are taking place in other countries is very unnecessary. I definitely do not think that the title of the book is racist in any way, because it was the actual title of a book signed to take a select group of Black-Loyalists to Canada. I think the book burnings were unnecessary as well, because if the word is used in the book, and the Dutch still like it, how is it justified for it not to be allowed in the title. If the book was going to be named something else, I think an appropriate name would be "False Freedom". I think this title would be appropriate because the book talks about a false sense of freedom in Canada, and also how Lawrence Hill states that still in the 21st century, black people are still considered different.

Post #2: The Essay

Which essay did you like best? Explain your choice.

"In the Trenches" by Charles Yale Harrison
"The Suitcase Lady" by Christie McLaren
"The 51-Per-Cent Minority" by Doris Anderson

In My opinion, In the Trenches was my favorite essay. This is because of the author's style, and the extreme detail the author used in explaining the character's view of the war. Every word coming out of the character's mouth is so filled with description that you can picture exactly what was going on. The imagery is amazing, and you truly feel like you are the one on the front line of the battlefield, living in his shoes. There are multiple literary devices used, which also adds to the quality of the essay. All of the metaphors used provide comparisons that paint pictures in your mind.

For these reasons, I think that this essay was the best one.