Discussion 26.11.13

The chapter, "Negroes or other property," was discussed today, in class. What I got out of this chapter right after reading it was that Aminata goes through so many things that she does not deserve but she stands tall, nonetheless. What she did deserve was to leave and go to Nova Scotia with her husband but of course, Appleby being the devil he is tries to take away her hard earned happiness and freedom. BUT! As the thesis of today's discussion states, Aminata has found the strength to endure these hardships. This chapter shows Aminata's skills being put to "good" use. She is assisting in having her people, herself, and people just like her FREED. Unfortunately and not-so-unexpectedly, the whites betray them and make a few empty promises. Aminata is about to leave and head to Nova Scotia with the love of her life and a baby that they made together in her belly until the devil takes away her dream. She was about to be happy and about to have what she always dreamed for and always wanted. I don't know what the future holds for Aminata at this point but I hope that she reunites with Chekura and they live with their baby happily and easily. Aminata deserves this and even Chekura deserves this. Chekura is not a character that is extremely well-developed and we don't know as much about him as we do Aminata but he, to me, is crucial in the story of Aminata's journey. I think that Aminata needs him and I believe that he is one of the FEW reasons that she is still alive. He gives her a reason to stay alive, even though she is a slave, who is treated like garbage for most of her life. Aminata's own strength is important to her survival, also. Without it, she would be a weak, scrawny slave just like the rest of them but Aminata is a strong, SMART woman with skills that not many black women had in the slave days. Everything Aminata has, she has worked for and DESERVES.