And while her uncanny proximity to the real slave traders, british officers, black freedom fighters, and english abolitionists strains credulity, this flaw common to much historical fiction pales next to the power of her story. The main character in your novel someone knows my name, aminata diallo, remains in a readers mind long after he or she finishes reading the book. Aminata diallo, the daughter of a jeweller and a midwife, is kidnapped at the age of 11 from her village bayo, near segu in west africa and forced to walk for days to the sea in a coffle with hundreds of strangers and a handful of people from. The protagonist of the novel, aminata is a black slave who was originally born in nigeria but was taken by slave traders. Aminata diallo, the daughter of a jeweller and a midwife, is kidnapped at the age of 11 from her village bayo, niger. Aminata is the heroine of the latest novel, someone knows my name, by lawrence hill. These 16 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like aminata. Character analysis of aminata diallo essay example. Our first lesson began with the pronunciation and spelling of my name. I am aminata diallo, daughter of mamadu diallo and sira kulibali, born in the. Readers follow aminata diallos firstperson slave narrative from her. The story begins in 1745 in west africa, where aminata is captured in her hometown of bayo at age 11 and.
Lawrence hills awardwinning novel is a major television miniseries airing on bet networks. It is the story of a heroic woman in the eighteenth century, and i felt that the best way to lift her off the page was to love her like i love my own daughter. Aminata dia partner product marketing manager, news feed. African names list az page 3 from aminata to atiya. The novel opens in 1802, as aminata is wooed in london to the cause of british abolitionists, and begins reflecting on her life. The book of negroes illuminates a journey to freedom. A universal story of loss, courage and triumph, the book of negroes recounts the extraordinary journey of aminata diallo, an indomitable african woman who survives in a world in which everything seems to be against her. The canadian novelist lawrence hill wrote the book of negroes 2007, published in the united states as someone knows my name. The book of negroes is a 2007 awardwinning novel from canadian writer lawrence hill. Feb 16, 2015 a gripping, powerful show needs an equally powerful protagonist, and the book of negroes aminata diallo, played by aunjanue ellis, is exactly that. The book of negroes by lawrence hill published as someone knows my name in the us, australia and new zealand. Changing climate in the sahel region is a global security issue 1. He works as a jewler, traveling to different villages to sell his wares. Readers follow protagonist aminata diallos firstperson slave narrative from her abduction as a child to her imminent death as an elderly woman.
Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the. She is an old woman who, as she says, seems to have trouble dying. It is inspired by the african americans who were resettled in nova scotia, and some of them who later chose to go to sierra leone, where they created a colony of freedmen in africa. Aminata who comes to be known as meena in south carolina, where. Jerry maguire, a few good men, oscar and emmy winner louis gossett jr. Lawrence hill creates a remarkable character and challenges notions of canada as the slaves promised land. A universal story of loss, courage and triumph, the book of negroes recounts the extraordinary journey of aminata diallo, an indomitable african woman who survives in a. Jan 23, 2020 a work of historical fiction, the book of negroes tells the story of aminata diallo, who is captured by slave traders in africa and brought to america. I dont mean the blackamerica slave, but the african slave. It is the story of a heroic woman in the eighteenth century, and i felt that the best way to lift her off the page was to love her like i. Aminata meaning of aminata, what does aminata mean. In the united states, australia and new zealand, the novel was published under the title someone knows my name. Those who founded sierra leone have been described as settlers who brought america to africa. Billed as being in the tradition of roots, but perhaps closer in scope to its sequel queen, the book of negroes is an ambitious sixhour miniseries, anchored by the.
The book of negroes is a document created by brigadier general samuel birch that records names and descriptions of 3,000 black loyalists, enslaved africans who escaped to the british lines during the american revolution and were evacuated to points in nova scotia as free people of colour. It is rich with authenticity, and empowering despite the genre it covers. Join facebook to connect with aminata ndobi and others you may know. But aminata refuses to be called mary, just as years later she refuses to cooperate with abolitionist ghostwriters.
Aminata diallo, the daughter of a jeweller and a midwife, is kidnapped at the age of 11 from her village bayo, niger in west africa and forced to walk for three months to the sea in a coffle, a line of prisoners chained together, with hundreds of strangers and a handful of people from her village. A 11 ans, aminata diallo est enlevee pour etre vendue dans. The the book of negroes community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. Lawrence hills someone knows my name is also known by the frankly more arresting though unpc title of the book of negroes. Aminata diallo is a brave soul, an abolitionist, a feminist and she is. Is aminata based on a real person, and why did you decide to write the book from the perspective of a female character. Eventually escaping her masters, aminata is thrown into the chaos of the revolutionary. It is a work of historical fiction that follows the life of aminata diallo from 1745 to 1805. It allows you to go beyond the similarities of a name, which can provide a lot of inspiration.
I gave the protagonist, aminata diallo, my eldest daughters middle name. To have somebody else say your name is like saying, i acknowledge your humanity, while you are trapped in a totally dehumanizing process. Aminata shows the readers that she is willing to learn and approach new things. Abducted as a child from her village of bayo and subsequently enslaved in south carolina, aminata diallo wants nothing more than to secure her freedom and one day return home. Jan 18, 2007 based on a true story, the book of negroes tells the story of aminata, a young girl abducted from her village in mali aged 11 in 1755, and who, after a deathly journey on a slave ship where she witnesses the brutal repression of a slave revolt, is sold to a plantation owner in south carolina, who rapes her.
She lives a happy childhood until one day she is captured from her village along with many others and sent on a. A gripping, powerful show needs an equally powerful protagonist, and the book of negroes aminata diallo, played by aunjanue ellis, is exactly that. Based on a true story, the book of negroes tells the story of aminata, a young girl abducted from her village in mali aged 11 in 1755, and who, after a deathly journey on a slave ship where she witnesses the brutal repression of a slave revolt, is sold to. View the aminata name popularity page to see how the popularity trend for aminata has changed since 1880, or to compare the popularity of aminata to other names. Her identity is a teacher, mother and story teller. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes. Aminata does not like to show her emotion and pain while in the presence of the buckra. The book of negroes based on the novel someone knows my name will be bets first miniseries. Aminata diallo, author at the organization for world peace. She is also tasked with entering the names of other former slaves into the. Aminatas story illustrates the physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, religious and economic violations of the slave trade. Novel about slave blends true events and real power.
He was determined to write stories about negroes, so true that. If youre thinking youve read similar stories before, please dont let that. Someone knows my name is my attempt to give this fascinating but littleknown story a human face. The book of negroes tells the story of aminata diallo, who makes this same journey after she is captured by slave traders in africa and brought to america. Aminata diallo was only 12yearsold, when she was kidnapped from guinea in the 1750s. The book of negroes someone knows my name study guide contains a biography of lawrence hill, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Aminata diallo, from the time she was savagely removed from her african home and parents at the age of eleven, to her voyage to nova scotia and beyond. Someone knows my name blends true events, real power the. Aminatas story illustrates the physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, religious, and economic violations of the transatlantic slave trade. Feb, 2015 aminata diallo was only 12yearsold, when she was kidnapped from guinea in the 1750s. The book of negroes does something that most slavegenres do not. Aminata diallo abducted as a child from her village of bayo and subsequently enslaved in south carolina, aminata diallo wants nothing more than to secure her freedom and one day return home. Terrible journey, beautiful tale johns hopkins magazine. So is the book of negroes lead character aminata diallo.
The story begins in 1745 in west africa, where aminata is captured in her hometown of bayo at age 11 and marched to the coast in a coffleor a shackled stringof slaves. Join facebook to connect with aminata diallo and others you may know. Aminata diallo born 3 april 1995 is a french footballer who plays as a midfielder for utah royals of the national womens soccer league on loan from paris saintgermain. The document called the book of negroes is a british naval ledger that lists the names of black loyalists who fled to canada during the american revolutionary war 177583. The publishers weekly summary is pretty good, so ill just use theirs below. Was the book of negroes aminata diallo a real person. See the complete profile on linkedin and discover aminatas. View aminata dias profile on linkedin, the worlds largest professional community. In contrast, the year before it ranked 2,315 in baby name popularity for girls with 79 occurrences. Is killed by a gunshot wound when trying to save his daughter.
Jan 20, 2008 but aminata refuses to be called mary, just as years later she refuses to cooperate with abolitionist ghostwriters. Having an incredibly strong character, the protagonist fights for her freedom. Speaks both bamanankan mothers language and fulfude fathers language is a freeborn muslim. Feb 16, 2015 the bet miniseries the book of negroes premieres feb. Book of negroes reveals littleknown chapter in history. Born in a west african village called bayo, she was captured and sold into slavery when she was 11. This novel tells the story of protagonist aminata diallo. Feb 12, 2015 billed as being in the tradition of roots, but perhaps closer in scope to its sequel queen, the book of negroes is an ambitious sixhour miniseries, anchored by the. The bet miniseries the book of negroes premieres feb. It is also the title of lawrence hills third novel, which was published in 2007. One thing she does is use names as a means of empowering herself and her fellow slaves. Born in west africa shortly before the american revolution, aminata is captured, sent across the atlantic, and sold into slavery on a plantation in south carolina.
The 11yearold portrays the young aminata diallo in. Shailyn pierredixon is an exciting new face to watch on cbctvs the book of negroes. I read that thousands of african americans fled slavery to serve the british, who promised to liberate them in return for service during the american revolution. Getty images offers exclusive rightsready and premium royaltyfree analog, hd, and 4k video that you wont find anywhere else in the world. In the novel the book of negroes, aminata endures great hardship but is able to maintain her spirit and resolve. The book of negroes, also known as someone knows my name, is a novel written by author lawrence hill, which was originally published during 2007. London, england 1802 while in london she is given the opportunity to write her story, which is something. At age 11 she is caught by slave traders in west africa and winds up a slave to the thirteen colonies. Oct 24, 20 stunning, wrenching and inspiring, the fourth novel by canadian novelist hill any known blood spans the life of aminata diallo, born in bayo, west africa, in 1745. Aminata looses her identity when she is taken from her home, and through her journey she creates a new identity.
The starstudded production includes lead actress aunjanue ellis ray, the help, oscar winner cuba gooding jr. Please be aware that this discussion guide may contain spoilers. Teaches aminata how say the prayers and a bit on how to read and write. It was released in the united states, australia and new zealand under the title someone knows my name. Book of negroes reveals littleknown chapter in history the boston. If you didnt find an alternative name that you like better than aminata, try our name generator.
He features aminata diallo, a young african woman captured as a child. The book of negroes tv miniseries 2015 the book of. Meet the book of negroes young aminata, shailyn pierredixon. Hills novel was published under the more generic title someone knows my name. Canadian author lawrence hill builds his historical novel around aminata diallo, a slave freed by the british.
She lives a happy childhood until one day she is captured from her village along with many others and sent on a ship to be enslaved in south carolina. Has specific moon shape scars on each cheek to represent what village she is from. In this transporting entertainment weekly and heartstopping washington post work, aminata diallo, one of the strongest women characters in contemporary fiction, is kidnapped from africa as a child and sold as a slave in south carolina. Lawrence hill on someone knows my name years before i began writing someone knows my name, i came across two startling discoveries in a scholarly work. Jan 05, 2008 aminata is an eloquent guide to 70 years of turbulent history spanning three continents. She is not based on a real person, although i did give her the name of my eldest daughter, whose name is genevieve aminata hill. There, she and thousands of other african slaves are boarded. The character analysis of aminata diallo essay sample aims to show all the strength of muslim woman in front of merciless blows of fate. This quote demonstrates that aminata will grasp any opportunity that she is offered. As the sahel region experiences the harsh realities of climate change in real time, the president of niger, mahamadou issoufou, last week, made the case that the climate crisis in the region warrants a.
The book of negroes 2007, a book by canadian writer lawrence hill, is known as someone knows my name in the us, australia and new zealand, and aminata in french. Abducted as a child from her village of bayo and subsequently enslaved in south carolina, aminata diallo wants nothing more than to secure her freedom and. Fleeing to canada after the revolutionary war, she escapes to attempt a new life in freedom. Page 3 of the ultimate az african names list, complete with name meanings and origins for all african baby names. Stunning, wrenching and inspiring, the fourth novel by canadian novelist hill any known blood spans the life of aminata diallo, born in bayo, west africa, in 1745. Aminata diallo is this singular champion, who in a stirring bet miniseries becomes the author of the real life book of negroes, a historical document compiled in 1783 by order of the british military at the end of the revolutionary war. He features aminata diallo, a young african woman captured. Clement virgo tells the story of aminata diallo aunjanue ellis, the help. She was abducted from west africa as a child and sold into slavery within south. Aminata diallo aminata was born in africa in the village of bayo. Find professional aminata diallo videos and broll stock footage available for license in film, television, advertising and corporate uses. Aminata diallo is an actress and director, known for super flics 2008, kadi jolie 2001 and puk nini 1996. After months of walking overland and a dangerous ocean crossing. Someone knows my name a powerful historically accurate book that brings alive the life of one woman enduring the emotional and physical hardships of slavery written so well and so lyrically that we feel and see all she does we are there it is a visceral experience.
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