Aminata faced many challenges and obstacles during her fight for freedom. Describe a circumstance, obstacle or conflict in your life, and the skills and resources you used to resolve it. Did it change you? If so, how?
Not to long ago I was under going an obstacle. With the pressure of applying to university, I find my self discovering more and more things that interest me. I had always pictured myself creating a career for myself somewhere in the area of design. Sure it is something that interests me but so do many other things. Deciding your future is a big decision that can impact the rest of your life, what happens if you make the wrong decision? I decided to not worry about the future, what ever happens happens. Life will go on, but not only that there is always room for change. I have decided to apply to various programs that have to do with different interests in order to cover all the bases. This will give me more time to decide since the final decision is not until further months. Have I overcome this obstacle, not yet. But I have provided a temporary solution that allows me to look forward to my future!
Tuesday, 19 November 2013
Social Experiments & Theories
Summarize one of the experiments/theories below and provide insight into how this topic connects to The Book of Negroes.
Dr. Stanley Milgram (Yale 1961-62)
·
There was a teacher (a role intended to obey the
orders of the Experimenter), a learner (the recipient of stimulus from the
Teacher) and the experimenter (an authoritative role)
·
They were given various shocks if they answered
a question wrong
·
In reality the learner was not receiving real
shock
They were given this script; they had to finish these four
in order to quit. But if they wanted to stop after this they were able to.
·
Please continue.
·
The experiment requires that you continue.
·
It is absolutely essential that you continue.
·
You have no other choice, you must go on.
When Milgram posed this question to a group of Yale
University students, it was predicted that no more than 3 out of 100
participants would deliver the maximum shock. In reality, 65% of the
participants in Milgram’s study delivered the maximum shocks.
People assume that they will chose to do the right thing,
connecting to the Book of Negroes people make the wrong actions because they
are convinced by others that the thing they are doing is ok. It is relates to
group mentality or peer pressure.
Thursday, 14 November 2013
Milk For The Longest Nursing
Why does Aminata want to marry Chekura?
Aminata and Chekura have a strong emotional connection. When Chekura is first introduced to Aminata he favors her and is a key to her survival. He gives her food and the basic necessities to survive. Originally she thinks of him as a brother figure. But we soon learn that they develop a romantic connection as well. The reason she wants to marry him, even in the difficult conditions is because he is the last piece that he was that connects her to her past life. To her, he understands her situation and can sympathize with her. They are both from Africa, and want to maintain African. He keeps her past alive in her, and she does not want to lose touch with that. Her parents, village, her entire life, they are all memories. Chekura helps keep those memories alive. She also wants to bind her family together, she is pregant without being married. In her village you were only respected if you were married as well. They want to keep the traditions alive.
Aminata and Chekura have a strong emotional connection. When Chekura is first introduced to Aminata he favors her and is a key to her survival. He gives her food and the basic necessities to survive. Originally she thinks of him as a brother figure. But we soon learn that they develop a romantic connection as well. The reason she wants to marry him, even in the difficult conditions is because he is the last piece that he was that connects her to her past life. To her, he understands her situation and can sympathize with her. They are both from Africa, and want to maintain African. He keeps her past alive in her, and she does not want to lose touch with that. Her parents, village, her entire life, they are all memories. Chekura helps keep those memories alive. She also wants to bind her family together, she is pregant without being married. In her village you were only respected if you were married as well. They want to keep the traditions alive.
Words Swim Farther Than a Man Can Walk
Is there a deeper meaning to why Fomba can't speak anymore? Refer to the quote "You done cross the river, and your head is on fire. But grown man done cross the river and shut his mouth forever," on pg. 149.
The deeper meaning to this is that Fomba knows his fate. He had been a slave of his village, so he understands what it means to not have any freedom. But now that he is a slave of the the toubabu's, he understands that the chances of him ever being free are very slim. When they were in Bayo they had heard rumors that people had been coming and kidnapping civilians. Aminata had always interpreted this as being a rumor or scary story meant to scare the children. But Fomba had known the harsh truth that those rumors could soon be a reality. Aminata went into the situation with no prior knowledge, she did not know what to expect or what would become of her. She still maintained a sense of hope. She still has a sense of innocence, and she continues to be curious. The curiosity is what is meant by her head being on fire. She is still trying to figure out what to make of the situation since she does not fully understand her situation.
The deeper meaning to this is that Fomba knows his fate. He had been a slave of his village, so he understands what it means to not have any freedom. But now that he is a slave of the the toubabu's, he understands that the chances of him ever being free are very slim. When they were in Bayo they had heard rumors that people had been coming and kidnapping civilians. Aminata had always interpreted this as being a rumor or scary story meant to scare the children. But Fomba had known the harsh truth that those rumors could soon be a reality. Aminata went into the situation with no prior knowledge, she did not know what to expect or what would become of her. She still maintained a sense of hope. She still has a sense of innocence, and she continues to be curious. The curiosity is what is meant by her head being on fire. She is still trying to figure out what to make of the situation since she does not fully understand her situation.
They Call Me An African
What did Aminata's dream mean?
When Aminatas strange dream occurs, we were lead to interpret a deeper meaning from the text. The pregnant rabbit appears on the pathway, it is traveling down a path way encouraging Aminata to follow its lead. She can hear the beating of drums, that brings her back to her homeland, Bayo. The dream feels surreal to Aminata, since it is bringing her back to her past life, that she so desperately wants to return to. When the rabbit emerges into her mother. The reasoning the rabbit symbolized her mother alike the rabbit are there to guide Aminata. To give her the guidance she needed to decide weather or not she should continue her life into slavery. The rabbit/her mother was showing Aminata that one day she will return home, that if she continues on the path she is on she will one day be free.
When Aminatas strange dream occurs, we were lead to interpret a deeper meaning from the text. The pregnant rabbit appears on the pathway, it is traveling down a path way encouraging Aminata to follow its lead. She can hear the beating of drums, that brings her back to her homeland, Bayo. The dream feels surreal to Aminata, since it is bringing her back to her past life, that she so desperately wants to return to. When the rabbit emerges into her mother. The reasoning the rabbit symbolized her mother alike the rabbit are there to guide Aminata. To give her the guidance she needed to decide weather or not she should continue her life into slavery. The rabbit/her mother was showing Aminata that one day she will return home, that if she continues on the path she is on she will one day be free.
Monday, 4 November 2013
"And my story waits like a restful beast"
Question: Compare and contrast Amanita’s beliefs and values with the Abolitionist’s.
Amanita has endured many hardships, that most people have never experienced anything like. She had been living with the basic necessities for almost her entire life. Now that she is in London, she has to learn to adapt to her modern society that surrounds her. To Amanita all she needs to survive is her food, shelter, water etc., so now that she is surrounded by the British men who make the most of there resources she determines strong opinions on those who she is supposed to work with. The Abolitionist's like to think that they have the best motive in mind while trying to persuade Amanita to share her story. But we are lead to believe there is an underlining motive. Amanitas values are family, religion, and her historic past. But the abolitionists main motive is money. The contrasted difference lead us to wonder how the two different personalities are going to work together to abolish slavery.
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