Help from the saints

The last chapter that was discussed in class was “Help from the saints”. A question that was examined during our discussion of the chapter was “What do you think of Anna Maria’s character?” To answer this question I had to read deeper into this section of the book. When I did this I noticed that every time Aminata and Anna Maria had a discussion, Anna Maria would base her opinions off the opinions of others. It seems as if she does not have a mind of her own. For example she says, “but many people more intelligent than I have argued that the slave trade saves Africans from barbarity. Are you aware of that?” This shows the reader that she is simply stating what other people have said instead of coming up with her own opinions.  Aminata can see how ignorant this woman is but she also likes the way she speaks so openly and asks for her opinions. It can be said that Anna Maria represents the mind-set of the English. For example Anna Maria believes that the whites are not stealing the Africans because they are paying for them. She doesn’t seem to realize that it is theft, regardless of if the traders are paying for the slaves or not. From reading the book I noticed that this is the English’s way of thinking. They neither have care nor knowledge about the slave trade.  
 From the discussion in class about the chapter, a second question that was asked was, “Why do you think that Falconbridge seems to be more haunted by the memories of being on the slave ship than Aminata? “  It is my belief that Falconbridge is more haunted by the memories because he is overwhelmed by the amount of guilt he feels. Falconbridge worked as a surgeon on the vessels that carried the slaves from Africa to America. He regrets working on the vessels and is extremely guilty about his participation in the slave trade. He says,“But no matter. They participate. They perpetuate the sin. I did myself. But no longer” (Hill 450). This quote basically shows the reader that Falconbridge knows how wrong slavery is and is disappointed in himself for participating in it. On the other hand, Aminata is not haunted by the memories as much because she has chosen to move on. She says, “If I spent my time hating, my emotions would have been spent long ago, and I would be nothing more than an empty cowrie shell” (Hill 452). This shows that Aminata has moved on and that she knows that she cannot keep revisiting her memories of being on the slave ship as it will wear her out. I believe that Falconbridge seems to be more haunted by the memories because he was a part of the slave trade even though he knew it was wrong. Whereas Aminata was merely a victim of the slave trade and she could do nothing about it.

Elephants for want of towns

The chapter "Elephants for want of towns" was one of the chapters discussed in class on Friday. Many symbols are seen throughout the entire chapter, however the most important symbol is elephants. Elephants are mentioned in the title of the chapter and also, in the quote from the poem by Jonathan Swift. The last line of the quote says, “Place elephants for want of towns” (Hill 413). In the maps of Africa, Aminata notices that maps show neither towns nor villages but only half naked African men and women, usually with baboons and elephants nearby. The elephants symbolize the lack of knowledge and care that toubabu have for Africa. The quote by Jonathan Swift is also seen at the beginning of the book and therefore it is clear that the author wanted readers to be thinking about it throughout the entire book. He did this because the quote perfectly describes how the toubabu feel about the Africans. They have very little care for them and have no interest in learning about them. They just use the Africans for their own personal advantage.

My children were like phantom limbs

Today in class we discussed the chapter, “My children were like phantom limbs”. Several themes were apparent throughout the chapter. The first theme that was analyzed was motherhood. Aminata becomes a mother once again and we as readers are able to see her motherly instincts begin to show. This is seen in the quote, “You need to know where it’s safe to go, and where it isn’t” (Hill 373). This was a lesson that Aminata taught May. She believes that she as May’s mother has a duty to teach her all the lessons that she can. Another theme that was discussed was betrayal. Aminata believes that she can trust the Witherspoon’s but in the end they betray her. This betrayal is seen when Aminata goes back to the Witherspoon’s to pick up May but instead finds that they and May are gone. She learns from Theo McArdle that they took May, and left on a ship for Boston. A third theme that was explored in this chapter was segregation. This segregation is seen in the riots that occurred in Birchtown and Shelburne. The blacks of Shelburne had trouble finding work, and they accepted low wages so they would be hired. This upset the disbanded soldiers who were living in Shelburne who felt that the blacks were depriving them of work. This therefore caused a separation between the whites and blacks of Shelburne. The themes explored in this chapter aid in the development of the book.

Quotations

There are many relevant quotations from the book that I could choose from however these five stand out the most to me.

First Quotation

The first quotation is, “The abolitionists may well call me their equal, but their lips do not yet say my name and their ears do not yet hear my story” (Hill 115). This quote is significant because it shows the theme of discrimination, which is displayed throughout the entire book. It is saying that although the abolitionists may try to make it appear that they view Aminata as an equal, they actually do not. It also shows Aminata’s intelligence, as she is able to see right through them. It is ironic because Aminata is far more intelligent and experienced than most of the abolitionists yet they don't even view her as an equal. This makes us as readers really become aware of the effect of racism in that time in history.

Second Quotation

Another great quote is, “One of these people will find my story and pass it along. And then, I believe, I will have lived for a reason” (Hill 118).  This shows Aminata’s character, as it shows that she believes that her sole purpose in life is to tell her story. She knows how much of an impact her story is going to have on society and therefore is aware that she needs to share her story with the world. "And my story waits like a restful beast", the title of a chapter in Book Two even goes as far as to describe her story as a beast ready to be unleashed on the world.

Third Quotation

One of my favorite quotations from the book is when Georgia says, “Your mouth is like a galloping horse. Slow down and steer, honey chile, or you will hit a tree” (Hill 155). The first sentence in this quote is a simile and it is significant because Georgia is telling Aminata that she talks too much. She is giving Aminata advice by telling her that she must be careful of what she says because if not it may get her into trouble. This quote also shows Georgia’s character as it shows that she is a wise woman. Georgia is also somewhat like a mother figure to Aminata. She teaches her things that aid in her survival.

Fourth Quotation

A good quote is where Mr. Lindo says, “ “In my faith,” he said, “it is considered a very good thing to give another person what they need to become independent, and to take care of themselves in the world." Then why, I wondered, didn’t he set me free?” (Hill 228). This quote is ironic as Lindo is saying that it is part of his religion to help people to become independent yet he won’t let Aminata be free. This quote shows that although Lindo makes himself seem better than the other slave owners, he really is not. He is hypocritical. This quote can also be connected to the quote, "Some Hebrew you are. And you say you're not a white man" (Hill 257). Aminata says this to Lindo after she learns that he has helped in the selling of her baby. This also shows Lindo's hypocrisy as he believes that he is much more reformed than other plantation owners when in reality he is just like them.

Fifth Quotation

Another interesting quote is where Colonel Baker says, “And that, wherever you go, you have earned the respect of men and women in your community. Yes? Good. You are required for service to His Majesty the King” (Hill 319). This shows that Aminata is well respected in the community and liked by everyone. It also shows that Aminata is well known within the community. This is what allowed Aminata to move her way up in the hierarchy of slavery. It aided in her survival and resulted in her finally returning to Africa. Aminata has not only earned this respect because of how skilled she is but also because of her personality. She is always friendly to people in the community and always willing to lend a helping hand. This shows us as readers that if we want to get somewhere in life then we must remember to keep a positive attitude, always help others when we can and inspire others to help themselves. We can learn a lot from Aminata!