After thoroughly analyzing The Book of Negroes throughout the course of the school year a word
that has frequently come up is freedom. What does freedom mean to you? For most
of it doesn’t mean much as we have had the privilege of being free for our
entire lives. However, this was not the case for slaves. In the times of
slavery, people suffered through the most traumatic of experiences in the hope
of one day being free. Doesn’t seem cynical that we take our freedom for
granted?
Aminata would give anything to be free. She despises the
fact that she is “owned” by another. It was her main goal to return back to
Africa and she did everything in her power to ensure that she did. For example,
when she worked for Solomon Lindo she convinced him to take her to library to
look at a map of Africa. She does this in the hope of learning more about her
homeland. Aminata makes it her sole purpose to further educate herself so that
she could one day return to Africa.
Aminata is a determined woman who does not let anything get
in the way of her venture for freedom. She is knocked down time after time yet
she always manages to get back up. This shows how much freedom means to
Aminata. Her strength of character is one of the factors that not only aid in
her survival but also allow her to one-day return home. She says, “Then I will
sleep by day and walk by night. But listen to me, friend. I will come back and
I will come home” (Hill 60).
Slaves are not the only people who have had a long walk to
freedom throughout the course of their lives. For example, Nelson Mandela
dedicated his life to fighting for freedom for South Africans. Mandela changed
the lives of the South African people. Also, Gandhi led India to independence
and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. In my
opinion, Aminata can be compared to these world leaders as her quest for
freedom was just as difficult. Aminata eventually achieved her freedom as a
result of determination, hard work and maintaining a positive attitude. She
never gave up and therefore was successful!
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