Disucssion #6 pg.200-229 Feb 17

Discussion Leader-Anisha Sangha

Questions:

1. Why do you think Lindo is acting with more kindness towards Aminata?
2. How do you think Aminata feels now that she is earning money?
3. Why do you think Aminata is so set on knowing where she is from?
4. Do you think Aminata's relationship with Chekura is helping the situation or not? Why?
5. From the beginning of the book till now, how do you think Aminata has developed as a character?

Today we had a very in depth conversation about the book. For the first question Harkirn's response was that Lindo feels bad for her in general, she has lost her freedom her child and many other things. He also feels that he can relate to Aminata in the sense that he feels like an outsider since he is jewish and. On the other hand Rika thinks that he is insecure in society and he just wants to fit in by having a slave. Now that Aminata is earning money Harkirn thinks she feels like she has her own freedom and Rika thinks she feels more independent. For the third question Harkirn responded with she simply just wants to know where she comes from. Rika responded with, she is puzzled because the "white people" society perceives where she comes from in a different way which makes her more curious. For the fourth question I asked a questions in relation to Chekura. Harkirn believes that he is neutral. He is not helping her nor is helping. Rika on the other hand feels differently and thinks that their relationship gives her a reason to live and something to look forward to. Finally, for the last question Harkirn responded with, "she is finding out more about who she is as a person" and Rika's answer was that "she is realizing that she has to accept the way her life is and that her chances of returning home are slim. All in all it was a good discussion.

Illuminator-Harkirn Mangat

Quotes (five):

1.“He was peering at me brightly. He seemed to be enjoying himself. I didn’t like the way his eyes paused on my body.”(201)

In this quote Lindo and Aminata are talking about her advertisement for catching babies. This quote stood out to me because when they first meet she mentioned how Lindo stared at her eyes when talking to her. This could be foreshadowing in that his perspectives has changed on the way he looks at her now that he owns her. I have a hunch that this could be leading up to some sexual tension. 

2. "Lindo put some coins in my left hand and told me to imagine that I had a live chicken in my right. I was to imagine myself going to market with only these possessions, he said. A person selling oranges would gladly take my coins, but only a person who needed the chicken would accept it as payment."(202)

In this quote Lindo is teaching Aminata important skills when it comes to handling money. The reason I chose this quote is that it has a lesson about the worth of money. This lesson is that even though there is no physical coins it can still be worth the same as the chicken. 

3. "He glanced at me quickly and turned away, as if from something distasteful.'Ah yes, Mr. Lindo,' he said. 'Im afraid we don't allow Negroes here.'"(210)

This quote shows the reaction of the keeper of the books at the Charles Town Library Society, where Lindo takes Meena. This quote is an example of a restriction to education by not being able to go into these types of places but have this resource of education so close to them.  

4. "This "Mapp of Africa" was not my homeland. It was a white mans fantasy."(212)

This quote shows how much "the white people" knew of Africa. Such as the villages and towns, but most importantly the people. I feel this quote is showing that the maps don't give a home for where each slave is from but the areas where the best slaves are found. 

5." White People in the markets mumbled to each other about being enslaved by the King of England, but I had stopped listening to their complaints. Liberty to the Americans Down with slavery."(228)

I chose this quote because it amazed me that the "white people" felt enslaved meaning the lose of freedom and choice of their actions. That they felt like slaves for the King of England. Especially this one line sentence "liberty to the American Down with slavery" because there is no reference to the negroes, who are actually slaves to these white people that complain of them being slaves. 

Word Wizard-Rika Wong

 1. Skiff

Page #- 214

Paragraph#- 1

Phrase from the text (context): "Fomba had been fishing in his skiff at night when the buckra called for him to identify himself" (p. 214).

Definition and/or meaning in context: A type of small boat usually designed to hold one person.

2. Epidemic

Page #- 214

Paragraph#- 2

Phrase from the text (context): "In the fall of 1774, nearly thirteen years after I had come to live with the Lindos, a smallpox epidemic took the lives of Mrs. Lindo, Dolly, their sons and some two hundred other people in Charles Town" (p. 214).

Definition and/or meaning in context: A widespread disease affecting many people/ a community(s) at once.

3. Mulatto

Page #- 218

Paragraph#- 1

Phrase from the text (context): "At night, I sometimes bought grilled fish sold behind a tavern where white men went looking for mulatto women" (p. 218)

Definition and/or meaning in context: Mulatto women are women who have a mix of both black and white heritage.

4.  Sentries

Page #-  221

Paragraph#- 3

Phrase from the text (context): "They used sentries to stop Negroes from moving about at night. I got past the sentries but fell into a man-trap"(p. 221).
Definition and/or meaning in context: Sentries are soldiers who work to guard restricted areas.

5. Exodus

Page #- 229

Paragraph#- 5

Phrase from the text (context): "I decided to travel with him in the morning. It would be my Exodus. With a bit of luck, I would never return to the Province of South Carolina" (p. 229).

Definition and/or meaning in context: The departure of a large number of people at once.



Stagecrafter-Rika Wong

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