Summary
The Book of Negroes by Canadian author Lawrence Hill is an internationally acclaimed historical novel. Published in 2007, it tells the story of Aminata Diallo, an African woman abducted from her village as a child and forced into slavery. Hill's meticulous research and compelling storytelling have earned the novel numerous accolades, including the 2008 Commonwealth Writers' Prize. The novel's title refers to a real historical document that recorded the names of Black Loyalists who were granted passage from New York to Nova Scotia after the American Revolutionary War. This unique perspective on a lesser-known aspect of history has resonated with readers worldwide.
Plot
Aminata Diallo, an 11-year-old girl from West Africa, is abducted from her village and forced to embark on a grueling journey to the coast. She is then shipped to South Carolina as a slave. Despite the hardships, Aminata learns to read and write, becoming a skilled midwife. She marries a fellow slave named Chekura and gives birth to a son, but both are cruelly taken from her.
During the American Revolutionary War, Aminata escapes slavery and makes her way to New York. There, she aids the British by recording names in the historic “Book of Negroes,” a document listing Black Loyalists permitted to leave for Nova Scotia. She is briefly reunited with Chekura, and they plan to start a new life together but are separated once again. Aminata travels alone to Nova Scotia, where she gives birth to a daughter and becomes a pillar of the Black community in Birchtown.
Years later, Aminata joins a group of former slaves embarking on a journey to establish Freetown in Sierra Leone. However, the settlement proves challenging, and Aminata realizes her true calling lies in advocating for the abolition of slavery. She accepts an offer to travel to London, where she shares her life story to support the abolitionist cause.
As an elderly woman in England, Aminata writes her memoirs, speaks at various events, and even meets the King and Queen. Her powerful testimony contributes to the movement against the slave trade. After a lifetime of struggle and separation, Aminata is finally reunited with her long-lost daughter May, who cares for her in her final days.
Themes
The enduring impact of slavery, oppression, and racism
Resilience and strength in the face of adversity
The power of literacy and education
The quest for freedom and self-determination
The importance of cultural identity and heritage
The complexity of human relationships across racial lines
The journey of personal growth and transformation
Setting
Set primarily in the 18th century, The Book of Negroes spans several decades and continents, following the tumultuous life of its protagonist Aminata Diallo. The story begins in West Africa, where Aminata is kidnapped from her village as a child and forced into the brutal transatlantic slave trade.
The narrative then shifts to colonial America, specifically South Carolina, where Aminata endures years of enslavement. As the American Revolutionary War unfolds, she finds herself in New York City, working for the British and eventually having her name recorded in the historical “Book of Negroes”—a document listing freed African Americans who sought passage to Nova Scotia.
The latter parts of the novel take place in Nova Scotia, Sierra Leone, and London, reflecting the complex diaspora of formerly enslaved people in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Throughout these settings, Hill vividly portrays the harsh realities of slavery, the struggles for freedom, and the enduring human spirit in the face of overwhelming adversity.
Characters
Aminata Diallo: The protagonist and narrator, who is kidnapped from her African village at age 11 and sold into slavery. Intelligent, resilient, and determined to return to her homeland, Aminata becomes a midwife and teacher, survives many hardships across continents, and, in her later years, serves as a powerful voice against slavery.
Chekura Tiano: Aminata's husband and fellow slave. As a boy, he was forced to assist slave traders before being enslaved himself. Chekura forms a deep bond with Aminata and, despite their repeated separations, remains loyal and persistent in his love for her.
Georgia: An older slave woman who becomes a mother figure to Aminata on the plantation. Teaching her English and survival skills, Georgia provides comfort and wisdom to Aminata during her early years of enslavement.
Mamed: A fellow Muslim slave who recognizes Aminata’s intelligence and, risking punishment, secretly teaches her to read and write. His education and belief in Aminata’s potential prove invaluable throughout her life.
Solomon Lindo: A Jewish indigo inspector who purchases Aminata and treats her relatively well but still exploits her skills for profit. Their relationship is complex, with moments of both trust and betrayal.
Captain John Clarkson: A British naval officer who assists former slaves in resettling to Nova Scotia and later Sierra Leone. He becomes an ally to Aminata and helps her in her later years as an abolitionist speaker.
Daddy Moses: A respected elder and preacher in the Black community of Birchtown, Nova Scotia. He provides spiritual guidance and leadership to the former slaves struggling to build new lives.
Mamadu: Aminata's first child, a son who is cruelly sold away from her as an infant. His loss haunts Aminata throughout her life.
May: Aminata's daughter, born in Nova Scotia. Separated from Aminata as a child, May is reunited with her mother in London many years later.
Appleby: The cruel plantation owner who first purchases Aminata in South Carolina. He rapes and abuses her, representing the brutality of the slave system.
Quick facts
Canadian author Lawrence Hill was inspired to write The Book of Negroes after learning about the Black Loyalists in Nova Scotia.
It took Hill nearly five years to research and write The Book of Negroes.
Hill traveled to Niger, West Africa, to research locations and culture for the novel.
The novel’s title refers to a real historical document that recorded the names of 3,000 Black Loyalists who fled to Canada after the American Revolutionary War.
The Book of Negroes was published under a different title, Someone Knows My Name, in the United States, Australia and New Zealand, due sensitivities surrounding the word “Negro."
Hill received threats to burn the book from people in the Netherlands who objected to the Dutch translation of the title.
The Book of Negroes won both the English and French editions of Canada Reads, a national book debate competition.
The main character, Aminata Diallo, is named after Hill's daughter.
In 2015, The Book of Negroes was adapted into a six-part miniseries, which aired on CBC in Canada and BET, starring Aunjanue Ellis as Aminata Diallo.
More than 500,000 copies of The Book of Negroes have been sold in Canada alone.
About the Author
Lawrence Hill is a renowned Canadian novelist, essayist, and memoirist. He is best known for his 2007 novel The Book of Negroes, which won numerous awards and was adapted into a television miniseries. His other novels include Some Great Thing, Any Known Blood, and The Illegal. His nonfiction works cover a range of topics, from the memoir Black Berry, Sweet Juice: On Being Black and White in Canada to Blood: The Stuff of Life, which formed the basis of his 2013 Massey Lectures.
Hill was born in 1957 in Newmarket, Ontario. His work often explores themes of identity, belonging, and the Black experience in Canada, drawing inspiration from his background as the child of an interracial American couple who immigrated to Toronto in the 1950s. Hill's writing has earned him numerous accolades, including the Commonwealth Writers' Prize and Canada's Walk of Fame induction. His works have been translated into multiple languages and published in numerous countries, cementing his status as one of Canada's most influential contemporary authors.
In addition to his writing, Hill is deeply committed to social activism. He has volunteered in several West African countries and founded the Aminata Fund to support programs for women and girls in developing areas of Africa. He has also been involved with various literary organizations, including PEN Canada and the Writers' Union of Canada. Currently, Hill serves as a professor of creative writing at the University of Guelph in Ontario.
