Discussion #11 pg. 344-375 March 3

Discussion Leader-Harkirn Mangat

Questions:

1.When the Witherspoons took May, if you were in Aminatas position would you have done the same thing or different?

2. Aminata has finally decided to go to Sierra Leone, Africa. Is this a good or bad idea? Why or why not?

3. What do you think “Place elephants for want of towns”(368Hill) means?

4.Thougths on John Clarkson?

5.Thomas peter’s speech made Aminata remember about the boldness and ambition she once had. Do you think this inspired her to continue one? Why or why not?

Illuminator-Rika Wong
Quotes (five):

1. "My children were like phantom limbs, lost but still attached to me, gone but still painful" (350).

·       Here, Aminata expresses her sadness of the loss of her children.  She compares her children to her phantom limbs, which continues to support the fact that they were a part of her, almost literally. At this point in the book, she found it hard to go on with her everyday like as she could not stop thinking of her missing children who she cared very much for. 

2. "The pain of my losses never really went away. The limbs had been severed, and they would forever after be missing. But I kept going. Somehow, I just kept going" (p.351).

This quote was significant because it connected to the very first line of the book, which was was a thought that skipped scenes. As a reader, you don't really know why she says that, but this quote mentions a lot about it. Again, Aminata questions her existence, and wonders what the worth of life is. She also questions how she had been able to live so long after all that she had gone through.
3. "I'm just the same as the rest of you: I came to Nova Scotia seven years ago and I'm still waiting for my land. But now I'm tired of waiting and I'm going to do something about it" (pg. 353)

This quote of the book is said by one of the free slaves who stand up for the people who had not received what they had promised. It was a avery heroic action for a black person to fight against the court as there was often little hope for them as they were inferior to the white people. This proves that the free slaves who were expecting to get something out of coming to Nova Scotia, were upset because they did not find that they got what they were told.
4. "None of us imagined that anything would come of it, but contributed what we could" (353).
This quote signifies that the free blacks were inferior to the rest of the society, and although they were ready to fight, they still had expected nothing to change as they knew they were quite powerless. regardless, they still did everything they could, and hoped for a brighter future for themselves and their people. This quote also represents the society as white people continued to rule, even if they were promised to be free.

5.  "Many times I could have died, yet I was here still, now on the precipice of yet another journey across the water. the first one had been involuntary. This one was my choice" (p.370).

This quote is quite significant in the Book of Negroes as here, Aminata hits rock bottom, but at the same time, has a new start. Since she lost everything, it was time for her to make a choice for herself, and at this point she realized that all her hope had been lost as well. This was a start of something new for her. This quote also relates to an earlier part of the story where she talked about how she should have died sooner before. It also reflects on the time where she had her first journey on the water, and it was definitely a hard time for her. She compares this to the first trip, and although they are similar, they are still different in many ways as this journey was to somewhere that could actually bring her freedom. 

Word Wizard-Anisha Sangha

 1. Marauding 

Page #- 348

Paragraph#- 14

Phrase from the text (context): "The woods were eerily silent, and free of marauding men." 

Definition and/or meaning in context: Engaged in raiding for plunder, especially roaming about and ravaging an area.

2.Parishioners 

Page #- 353

Paragraph#-2

Phrase from the text (context): "He was a short, stocky fellow who looked a little older than me, and he spoke in a tone so flat that some parishioners fell asleep."

Definition and/or meaning in context: One of the community or inhabitants of a parish. 

3. Tarnation

Page #-  345

Paragraph#- 2

Phrase from the text (context): "I pounded again on the front door, until the woman in the nearest house opened hers and asked me what in tarnation I thought I was doing."

Definition and/or meaning in context: Damnation

4.   Abacus

Page #- 348

Paragraph#- 7

Phrase from the text (context): "She had a tiny abacus-just a toy-and was pushing all the pieces"

Definition and/or meaning in context:  A device for making arithmetic calculations, consisting of a frame set with rods on which balls or beads are moved.

5. Fortified

Page #- 353

Paragraph#- 1

Phrase from the text (context): "I had no husband, no children, and no home other than the cabin in Birchtown that I fortified each summer against the coming winter."

Definition and/or meaning in context: To protect or strengthen against attack; surround or provide with defensive military works.

Stagecrafter-Anisha Sangha
1.

Discussion #10 pg. 312-343 Feb. 26

Discussion Leader-Rika Wong
Questions:

1. What did you expect Nova Scotia to be like for the emigrants?
2. How is Nova Scotia similar/different from your expectations?
3. Thoughts on Daddy Moses (aka Preacher Man)?
4. Why do you think Aminata does not trust other local doctors?
5. What do you think influences Aminata's relationship with her child?

For the first question, Anisha replied by saying that she personally did not expect the people who were convincing them to go to Nova Scotia to keep their promises as there could have been a ulterior motive behind it. She also expected that the slaves would come to face culture shock in Canada as their experience in the South is quite different in terms of climate, society, and more. In terms of the actual experience that the emigrants had in Nova Scotia, Harkirn said it was different from her expectations, as they were treated poorly and did not get what they were promised. Instead, she expected find a better life in Nova Scotia, however, that did not seem to be the case. Later on in the discussion, we talked about our thoughts on Daddy Moses. We all agreed that he was a very caring man, which was something that Aminata really needed in her life after she had lost everything. Anisha mentioned that he was a very laid back person, especially for someone who was in his situation, and Harkirn also said that he was very positive. After I had asked why Aminata did not trust the local doctors, Anisha and Harkirn shared that they believed that Aminata probably thought they were ripping off the patients since they cared more about the business instead of the people, like Aminata genuinely does. We later spoke about the relationship between Aminata and her children and we agreed that Aminata wasa very long and caring mother to both her children. They represented a part of her and you could tell that her children kept her going and gave her something to live for. Another reason that contributed to the care that she had for her kids was the fact that were not able to grow with a father figure or without the knowledge of where they came from. 

Illuminator-Anisha Sangha
Quotes (five):

1. "Two white men in the ragged remains of the British Redcoats were passing a bottle back and forth. When I started at them directly, they stopped pitching peanuts in my direction, but spat, one after the other." (page. 313 paragraph 10)
This shows that even though Aminata made it to Nova Scotia she still endured abuse. She was still an outsider in a place that was supposed to be safe and where she had freedom. This quote was retrieved from the part of the book when she was new to Canada. If this was to happen to happen to me I would not feel very welcomed. Aminata most likely has second thoughts and Nova Scotia is not what she expected. Also she has a little bit of culture shock because it is  very cold there. She was expecting a nice place with no problems and no abuse. 

2. "But the British said we would have land, I said. Get good and comfortable at the back of the line, he said. There are a thousand coloured folks waiting before you. And, aged of them, a few thousand white people." (page. 316 paragraph. 16)
I chose this quote because it shows how the British lied about giving the slaves land in Nova Scotia. The slaves were promised land which got them all excited and when they came they were not given anything. Aminata learns that there are thousands of white people before her as well who are entitled land. This shows that the British were unjust and unfair. I am confused as too why the British would have done this and lied.
3. "I came to understand that if you had come to Nova Scotia free, you stayed free-although that didn't prevent American slave owners from sailing into town and attempting to snatch back their property." (page. 321 paragraph. 3)
This quote scares me a little bit because slaves owners from American were allowed to come into Canada and take back what was "theirs". The slaves would b living life in Nova Scotia thinking they are free when in fact their owners from before could track them and enslave them once again. This could mean that if Lindo changed his mind he could come back and take Aminata back. 

4."I felt that the sound of my voice had to make up for all the things she lacked-a father, and the traditions of my native village." (page. 332 paragraph. 1)
Since Aminata already lost her first child and learned that he had sadly died I think that she will love and cherish her new child even more. If something were to happen to this child I think Aminata would go crazy because she has already lost so many things and her baby is the only thing that she has left. I hope that Aminata and her baby will eventually find Chekura since he has not met the baby yet and that seems to be the only thing lingering in Aminata's mind. 

5.  "They built this port in too much of a hurry, Mr. Witherspoon said. Everybody was convinced it would be the next New York. But the jobs never came. The people have no money to spend, and the businesses can't sell their goods." (page. 337 paragraph. 3)
This leaves me thinking, where will Aminata and her baby go then if the town breaks down. Why would the port be built in a hurry to house all of the slaves? This proposes that the idea of bringing in the slaves to Canada was a sudden decision. This whole idea was not thought out properly since no one had any money. If no one has money they can't buy things, they can eat and so on. It is all one big cycle. 

Word Wizard-Harkirn Mangat

 1.Guffawed

Page #- 315

Paragraph#- 6th

Phrase from the text (context): "The man guffawed. 'I like a sense of humour in a women.'"

Definition and/or meaning in context: A loud, unrestrained burst of laughter.

2. Indentured

Page #- 316

Paragraph#- 6th

Phrase from the text (context): "Along the way, he explained that slaves and indentured servants stayed in town with white Loyalist who owned them

Definition and/or meaning in context: Any deed, written contract, or sealed agreement. 

3. Scarcity

Page #- 317 

Paragraph#- 2nd

Phrase from the text (context): "'Nova Scarcity'"

Definition and/or meaning in context: Insufficiency or shortness of supply. 

4. Condiments    

Page #- 322

Paragraph#- 4th

Phrase from the text (context):"If you dress it up with condiments, rice stands up and talks right back at you."

Definition and/or meaning in context:  a ingredient used to add flavour to food. 

5. Vagrancy

Page #- 323

Paragraph#- 2nd

Phrase from the text (context): "A lashing there for drunkenness and vagrancy."

Definition and/or meaning in context: A person, who wonders around with no permeant home or employment. 

Stagecrafter-Harkirn Mangat
1.

Discussion #9 pg. 279-311 Feb. 24

Discussion Leader-Anisha Sangha
Questions:

1. Why do you think every Negroe living in that time period jumped on any opportunity to work for the British?
2. What is the significance of the section of treaty shown on pages 282 and 283?
3. How did you feel when Aminata was reunited with her husband Chekura once again?
4. How do you think Aminata's job, recording peoples information boarding the ship, changed her as a person?
5. Why do you think Appleby tried so hard to get Aminata back to work for him?

Illuminator-Harkirn Mangat
Quotes:

1.  “We aren’t far from free, but we aren’t there yet,” I (Meena) said. “Not until we leave the Thirteen Colonies.” (289)

I picked this quote because it got me thinking that once they leave the colonies will they really be free? How are they sure that they won’t be handled the same way as the planation leaders had treated them? I feel that this quote has foreshadowing, but I am not sure if there is going to be a good or bad result.

2.  “The coloured element is not the ‘property’ of the Americans. If you have served the British for one year at minimum, you have already been liberated. You are no man’s property”(291)

Colonel Baker says this quote. This is as he talks to Meena about the British’s plan to sail Negroes to Nova Scotia. As I read these sentences the way they are written arise suspicion in me. The quote makes me wonder if the British are taking the negroes over because they really do care about them or they have plans to use them, which is why they made a treaty to have them come along.

Word Wizard-Rika Wong

 1. Proclamation

Page #- 279

Paragraph#- 3

Phrase from the text (context): "Canvas Town had been attracting fugitives in twos and threes each day, especially after the Philipsburg Proclamation of 1779" (p.279).

Definition and/or meaning in context: A formal announcement to the public or the act of proclaiming.

2. Barracks

Page #- 287

Paragraph#- 4

Phrase from the text (context): "You will have to move into residence in our barracks, as there will be constant work" (p.287).

Definition and/or meaning in context: A building used to provide shelter for a large number of people, especially soldiers.

3. Wharf

Page #-  291

Paragraph#- 5

Phrase from the text (context): "After the first ninety negroes assembled on Murray's Wharf first thing in the morning on April 21, 1783, my real work began" (p. 291).

Definition and/or meaning in context: A wharf is used to keep boats tied onto when loading or unloading.

4. Fraudulently   

Page #- 290

Paragraph#- 3 

Phrase from the text (context): "Any person who presented himself fraudulently would be turned over to the Americans" (p.290).
Definition and/or meaning in context: A person who presents him or herself dishonestly in order to get something they want.

5. Wench 

Page #- 293

Paragraph#- 4

Phrase from the text (context): "Stout wench, I wrote , disgusted with the term. 

Definition and/or meaning in context: A young woman or girl. Usually a servant or peasant. 


Stagecrafter-Rika Wong
1.