Like others have said here, I got a good bit of new information from this series, that I didn't know about before. I've always liked Ms. Ellis, especially in The Mentalist. There was a great deal of subtle artistry in her makeup as she aged. I thought the story flowed very well. But honestly, whoever cut the series should get a new pair of scissors. Maybe the network cut it so sloppily for commercials? It was completely distracting. Other than that, I was fascinated with the set direction, costumes, locations and thought the supporting cast was very good. I'd like to read a bio of Ms. Diallo now. Ridiculous that we have to write ten lines for a review. Blah.
14 Reviews
little known history
SnoopyStyle11 February 2015
Aminata Diallo (Aunjanue Ellis) is captured from her West African village and sent into slavery. She falls for Chekura, a boy in the slaving party. He in turn is also sold. She is sold to the cruel Robinson Appleby. She resists his advances and eventually has a child with Chekura. Rosa Lindo is a sympathetic white woman but she dies. Her husband Solomon is able to buy Aminata but also brokers the sale of Aminata's child away from Robinson. Aminata escapes from Solomon to live in NYC's Canvas Town during the American Revolution. She is befriended by Revolutionary bar owner Samuel Fraunces (Cuba Gooding, Jr.). Chekura manages to escape and join Aminata. She is also befriended by British Cpt. John Clarkson (Ben Chaplin). At the war's end, she helps to record names of slaves into the Book of Negroes for slaves who supposedly served the British Army for one year and thereby earning their freedom.
It's great for this little mentioned part of history to be made. Also Aunjanue Ellis is a very compelling actress. I can do without Cuba Gooding Jr. doing an accent. Also Rick Roberts doesn't fit my image of General Washington. Aminata directly challenging Washington on slavery seems too obvious and on the nose. It's unrealistic. The story is rushed through a long winding life. I can understand the need for it. However it does feel sometimes like a highlight reel. The production and directions are mostly TV movie level. Ellis is able to elevate the production almost by the sheer power of her will.
It's great for this little mentioned part of history to be made. Also Aunjanue Ellis is a very compelling actress. I can do without Cuba Gooding Jr. doing an accent. Also Rick Roberts doesn't fit my image of General Washington. Aminata directly challenging Washington on slavery seems too obvious and on the nose. It's unrealistic. The story is rushed through a long winding life. I can understand the need for it. However it does feel sometimes like a highlight reel. The production and directions are mostly TV movie level. Ellis is able to elevate the production almost by the sheer power of her will.
Not too bad
sergelamarche25 May 2018
Nice enough reenactments of stories and adventures that could or have happened in the slave period of the englishes. Very english point of view with no subtitles english or french. Rather disappointing from the CBC. Saw it on dvd.
Looks Interesting
Prof_Lostiswitz8 January 2015
The Book of Negroes was an eighteenth century British document detailing all the Afro-Americans who had fought on the British side in the Revolutionary war, and were promised a new life elsewhere. A considerable number ended up in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. There were problems with the harsh climate and petty racism, but it was better than the alternative.
This program takes its name from that, and the first episode looks quite satisfying, as we trace a black girl's odyssey from Mali to America.
So far, it does not seem much different from Roots, but I will keep watching to see if something original turns up.
This program takes its name from that, and the first episode looks quite satisfying, as we trace a black girl's odyssey from Mali to America.
So far, it does not seem much different from Roots, but I will keep watching to see if something original turns up.
Learned things I never knew
the_remixer0819 February 2015
To make the long story short, this movie proves that you can never learn too much when it comes to historic events. My mother is almost 60, and she went into this movie thinking that she wasn't going to like it but was drawn in as well, learning things she never knew.
All of the actors did a superb job at bringing these individuals to life. They made you chuckle at time as well as cry.
I also appreciated the beautiful love story in between the education. Aunjanue Ellis and Lyriq Bent made you fall in love with Aminata and Chekura immediately, and it showed how much strength and beauty people had through the roughest time. I am glad those two are getting the recognition they deserve for they have always been great actors!
I have never read the book, but because of being introduced to historic events from this movie, has driven completely to read the book and soak all the information in that I can. Hopefully this will inspire others as well, who haven't had the pleasure of reading the book.
TEN POINTS AND BEYOND!
All of the actors did a superb job at bringing these individuals to life. They made you chuckle at time as well as cry.
I also appreciated the beautiful love story in between the education. Aunjanue Ellis and Lyriq Bent made you fall in love with Aminata and Chekura immediately, and it showed how much strength and beauty people had through the roughest time. I am glad those two are getting the recognition they deserve for they have always been great actors!
I have never read the book, but because of being introduced to historic events from this movie, has driven completely to read the book and soak all the information in that I can. Hopefully this will inspire others as well, who haven't had the pleasure of reading the book.
TEN POINTS AND BEYOND!
superb!
cjde18 February 2015
my recorder is filled with quality Black history programming of all sorts. i love me some Black history like crazy but didn't think i needed to see another "slavery" story but boy was i wrong. this one was different! what an amazing story and very well done! lots of unexpected twists and turns and what a unique and amazing heroin Aminata Diallo was. wow!! that is a name i will never forget. i can't say that i have seen every movie or mini-series and i Roots is in a category by itself. it was an epic event - not just a miniseries. but Book of Negros was a really refreshing take on the slavery story, one that i am ashamed to admit i was totally unaware of. i can't wait to watch it with my daughter when she comes home for spring break. i did not expect a program of this quality from B.E.T. but was very pleasantly surprised. not sure what the ratings were but certainly help they will be encouraged do more stories like this that show the many and varied heroes and heroines that we are. Thank You B.E.T.!!! something i haven't said in many years, if ever!
A Must See
seabreezelise10 May 2015
This mini series is artfully and authentically written, acted and directed. Ms. Ellis and the cast are compelling and so believable. The story itself offers more of the complexities of the people and time period and reminds us of the vastness of a history that we have accepted on face value, as told to us from a very limited set of perspectives. This view hit me hard. A lesser told story of the Black family under the assault of genocide, racism, poverty, persecution and unthinkable acts of terror is explored here. The love story that often takes a second seat to those events, is, here, given a fuller and deeper expression. It was painful but so authentic, I was compelled to watch each episode and encourage all to do the same. There are a few moments when you want your children to close their eyes, and many when they will have questions and comments. It also demonstrates how even when the Caucasians considered themselves "good" to blacks, they were so entrenched in racism and superiority that they had to be made to know that their "good" was self-serving and constrained by their own indoctrination that they were inherently "better." It's a great way to explore history. Watch it.
I would hardly call the Jungles of Sierra Leone "Savage"
zaina-jalloh24 February 2015
Warning: Spoilers
The book of Negroes does something that most Slave-genres do not. They give a voice to the African slave. I don't mean the Black-America slave, but the African slave. Warning, may contain spoilers.
It is rich with authenticity, and empowering despite the genre it covers. Aminata Diallo is a brave soul, an abolitionist, a feminist and she is African.
The series gives a glimpse of the rich culture that existed in Africa prior to Colonization, and helps give a better understanding of who enslaved African were (most slave narratives provide insight on who enslaved Africans became-under the whip if I may add).
Chekura Tiano dispels the myth of the powerless black man and his relationship with Aminata validates the African family even as it was being ripped apart by slavery. Their relationship was in many ways a sort of fairytale, it carried with it the essence of traditional story-telling.
Over-all, I enjoyed the series and hope to see it extended; maybe to fully explore either the colony in Sierra Leone, or Africa prior to the events in the series.
It is rich with authenticity, and empowering despite the genre it covers. Aminata Diallo is a brave soul, an abolitionist, a feminist and she is African.
The series gives a glimpse of the rich culture that existed in Africa prior to Colonization, and helps give a better understanding of who enslaved African were (most slave narratives provide insight on who enslaved Africans became-under the whip if I may add).
Chekura Tiano dispels the myth of the powerless black man and his relationship with Aminata validates the African family even as it was being ripped apart by slavery. Their relationship was in many ways a sort of fairytale, it carried with it the essence of traditional story-telling.
Over-all, I enjoyed the series and hope to see it extended; maybe to fully explore either the colony in Sierra Leone, or Africa prior to the events in the series.
This is the Saga of an African girl, featuring Aminata Diallo well starred by Aunjanue Ellis
ma-cortes18 August 2023
Epic, intense TV series in 6 episodes about a young girl and then adult, depicting an intense dramatization of Aminata Diallo (Aunjanue Ellis), she is abducted from his African village, sold into slavery, and taken to America, her love story with Chekura (Lyriq Bent) who manages to escape and join Aminata, they have a daughter, who is eventually sold away from them , to her liberation. She is also befriended by British Cpt. John Clarkson (Ben Chaplin) and along the ways suffering cruel enslavement. Later on, she migrated from Nova Scotia to Sierra Leone, where they formed the original settlers of Freetown, under the auspices of the Sierra Leone Company. Throughout the series, Aminata efforts to secure her freedom in the eighteenth century, she must navigate a revolution, isolation in Nova Scotia and the treacherous jungles of Sierra Leone. Observing notable events in U. S. history, such as a revolutionary movement in New York, slave uprisings, and emancipation. Her testimony to lead the African-American people into freedom.
The series deals with a young African woman captured in Africa as a child and subsequently enslaved in South Carolina, she is literate and acts as a scribe to record the information about the former slaves. The film packs crude scenes full of brutality and cruelty in which the African-American slaves suffer humiliations, flagellation, beating, degradation and mistreats by their owners Based on the novel concerning a saga of African-American life, in which Aminata witnesses countless atrocities - against herself and his fellow slaves ; being written by Canadian novelist Lawrence Hill, The Book of Negroes, (2007, published in the United States as Someone Knows My Name). 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. The book won the top 2008 Commonwealth Writers' Prize notable African-American. The film displays nice acting talent at the time and several actors were solicited to join the cast. Support is frankly fine, such as : Cuba Gooding Jr, Greg Bryk, Jane Alexander, Ben Chaplin, Dwain Murphy , Allan Hawco, and Louis Gossett Jr. Canadian director Clement Virgo adapted decently the book into a six-hour television mini-series of the same title. The series premiered on CBC in Canada on 7 January 2015 and on BET in the United States on 16 February 2015.
Based on historical events , in fact ¨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. African people were then brought as slaves to Nova Scotia during the founding of Louisbourg and Halifax. The first major migration of African people to Nova Scotia happened during the American Revolution. Enslaved Africans in America who escaped to the British during the American Revolutionary War became the first settlement of Black Nova Scotians and Black Canadians. Other Black Loyalists were transported to settlements in several islands in the West Indies and some to London. Recorded in 1783, this 150-page document is the only one to have recorded Black Canadians in a large, detailed scope of work. The document contains records on 3000 Africans; the former slaves recorded in the Book of Negroes were evacuated to British North America, where they were settled in the newly established Birchtown and other places in the colony. According to the Treaty of Paris (1783), the United States argued for the return of all property, including slaves. The British refused to return the slaves, to whom they had promised freedom during the war for joining their cause.
The series deals with a young African woman captured in Africa as a child and subsequently enslaved in South Carolina, she is literate and acts as a scribe to record the information about the former slaves. The film packs crude scenes full of brutality and cruelty in which the African-American slaves suffer humiliations, flagellation, beating, degradation and mistreats by their owners Based on the novel concerning a saga of African-American life, in which Aminata witnesses countless atrocities - against herself and his fellow slaves ; being written by Canadian novelist Lawrence Hill, The Book of Negroes, (2007, published in the United States as Someone Knows My Name). 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. The book won the top 2008 Commonwealth Writers' Prize notable African-American. The film displays nice acting talent at the time and several actors were solicited to join the cast. Support is frankly fine, such as : Cuba Gooding Jr, Greg Bryk, Jane Alexander, Ben Chaplin, Dwain Murphy , Allan Hawco, and Louis Gossett Jr. Canadian director Clement Virgo adapted decently the book into a six-hour television mini-series of the same title. The series premiered on CBC in Canada on 7 January 2015 and on BET in the United States on 16 February 2015.
Based on historical events , in fact ¨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. African people were then brought as slaves to Nova Scotia during the founding of Louisbourg and Halifax. The first major migration of African people to Nova Scotia happened during the American Revolution. Enslaved Africans in America who escaped to the British during the American Revolutionary War became the first settlement of Black Nova Scotians and Black Canadians. Other Black Loyalists were transported to settlements in several islands in the West Indies and some to London. Recorded in 1783, this 150-page document is the only one to have recorded Black Canadians in a large, detailed scope of work. The document contains records on 3000 Africans; the former slaves recorded in the Book of Negroes were evacuated to British North America, where they were settled in the newly established Birchtown and other places in the colony. According to the Treaty of Paris (1783), the United States argued for the return of all property, including slaves. The British refused to return the slaves, to whom they had promised freedom during the war for joining their cause.
Excellent Weekend Binge Watch
coachdeah24 October 2017
Based on a bit of true history and a fictionalized book of the same name, this mini-series yields an aspect of the African slave story that I'd not known about before. Set in the late colonial / post-Revolutionary era, the story fills in some gaps left by Alex Haley's Roots chronicle.
No doubt legitimate criticism could be made of the film regarding its perhaps overly romanticized version of real life for African slaves in the colonies, and the multiple, implausible transatlantic voyages of the main character, and the surprise ending. If you can look past those flaws, the movie holds interest and the principal actors give engaging performances.
Two actual copies of the real Book of Negroes exist -- one in the National Archives in London, the other in National Archives in Washington DC.
No doubt legitimate criticism could be made of the film regarding its perhaps overly romanticized version of real life for African slaves in the colonies, and the multiple, implausible transatlantic voyages of the main character, and the surprise ending. If you can look past those flaws, the movie holds interest and the principal actors give engaging performances.
Two actual copies of the real Book of Negroes exist -- one in the National Archives in London, the other in National Archives in Washington DC.
Story that transcends colour, race and class
allanndungu4 March 2015
Warning: Spoilers
The book of Negroes is an inspiring story of hope and the determined will to survive whatever calamities life unfolds. Aminata's story is a human story that transcends colour, race and class. She makes the best of her situation and always has faith in the better part of humanity even when all she sees is the ugliest side of it. It is not a poor imitation of "Roots" or "12 years a slave". The book of Negroes is a story of it's own. The history surrounding the black populace of Nova Scotia is put into historical context and also presents us with the very difficult decision slaves had in regards to the fight for American Independence.
An amazing, eye-opening series!
shanellevaz29 February 2016
Warning: Spoilers
The Book of Negroes miniseries was amazing! The cast truly portrays what the African people had experienced throughout the years. Even in the pilot episode, the Book of Negroes depicts the torture, loss of identity and culture that the people faced.
Unlike other movies or television shows that revolve around slavery and oppression of black people, the vividness of the show really hit me hard. There are a few moments when I had to shut my eyes because it was became too intense and I couldn't bear to watch.
The story is a great reminder of the hardships and suffering of the African people and captures the true meaning of why we celebrate Black History month. It is one of the most interesting shows I have watched as it gave me better insight of how the slave trade functioned and the oppression of a whole race as well as the many cultures within it.
I would definitely recommend others to watch the Book of Negroes or read it. It is a heartbreaking yet an eye-opening story.
Unlike other movies or television shows that revolve around slavery and oppression of black people, the vividness of the show really hit me hard. There are a few moments when I had to shut my eyes because it was became too intense and I couldn't bear to watch.
The story is a great reminder of the hardships and suffering of the African people and captures the true meaning of why we celebrate Black History month. It is one of the most interesting shows I have watched as it gave me better insight of how the slave trade functioned and the oppression of a whole race as well as the many cultures within it.
I would definitely recommend others to watch the Book of Negroes or read it. It is a heartbreaking yet an eye-opening story.
Lovers of the book will be a bit disappointed
LaughingTigerIMDb3 November 2021
I thought I had found the wrong series when first I saw lead actor Aunjanue Ellis on the DVD jacket-cover with a modern look (including makeup). A far cry from the book's original cover that included a modest, much darker-skinned woman whose look was to reflect that of being enslaved most of her life.
But that's just the start of my experience with this series.
I had read and enjoyed every gritty details of the book, simply because it was raw and heart-breaking, meant to make the reader feel something beyond their grasp. All of the ugly elements and consequences of rape, humiliation, personal loss, just to name a few things that rob someone of their dignity. The series seemed to cater to the ever-sensitive TV viewers who very likely needed to see slaves fully-clothed, clear-skinned, and bright-eyed. The series left out shocking details from the book, such as the infants that were thrown overboard (alive) on the first ship to the Americas. Once again, TV & Film find it too easy to spoon-feed the viewer only as much as they need to.
This series consisted of six episodes. Surely they had some time to show a few shocking moments from the book.
What's more, the very obvious sexual tension between Aminata and Sam seemed to be added for the viewers' pleasure since an absent husband just isn't as romantic.
These details that the readers of the book know about that the viewing audience doesn't makes me wonder if there ever will be a bridge between literature and screen-writing, as we see it time and time again.
I realize that this work is meant to be separate, and that Lawrence Hill did not write the screenplay, but I can't help but wonder why it is so necessary to take a subject as serious as this, during times like we are in now, and water it down with so much Hollywoodism.
My answer for those who read the book and wonder if they'll also enjoy the series?: No. I did give it two stars simply because I did enjoy the cast and for what it's worth, they did a good job. The costuming, cinematography, sound.. all of it good, but just a disappointment when you know how the story goes and end up with so much less than you hoped.
But that's just the start of my experience with this series.
I had read and enjoyed every gritty details of the book, simply because it was raw and heart-breaking, meant to make the reader feel something beyond their grasp. All of the ugly elements and consequences of rape, humiliation, personal loss, just to name a few things that rob someone of their dignity. The series seemed to cater to the ever-sensitive TV viewers who very likely needed to see slaves fully-clothed, clear-skinned, and bright-eyed. The series left out shocking details from the book, such as the infants that were thrown overboard (alive) on the first ship to the Americas. Once again, TV & Film find it too easy to spoon-feed the viewer only as much as they need to.
This series consisted of six episodes. Surely they had some time to show a few shocking moments from the book.
What's more, the very obvious sexual tension between Aminata and Sam seemed to be added for the viewers' pleasure since an absent husband just isn't as romantic.
These details that the readers of the book know about that the viewing audience doesn't makes me wonder if there ever will be a bridge between literature and screen-writing, as we see it time and time again.
I realize that this work is meant to be separate, and that Lawrence Hill did not write the screenplay, but I can't help but wonder why it is so necessary to take a subject as serious as this, during times like we are in now, and water it down with so much Hollywoodism.
My answer for those who read the book and wonder if they'll also enjoy the series?: No. I did give it two stars simply because I did enjoy the cast and for what it's worth, they did a good job. The costuming, cinematography, sound.. all of it good, but just a disappointment when you know how the story goes and end up with so much less than you hoped.
Powerful
fiona_r_lamb26 September 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I read the book Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill a few years ago. I loved the book. Took me a while to watch the mini-series but I just finished binge-watching it with tears flowing down my face. So very powerful. It truly makes me sick to see the revolting things white human beings have done to people not of their colour.
One of the reviewers has talked about the anti-Semitism. Well, I must vehemently disagree with that person. Firstly, the two Jewish characters were portrayed in a very sympathetic light - the wife treated Aminata very well and kindly. The husband brought a reunion about with Aminata and her long lost daughter, May, at the very end. Yes, he sold May initially but he thought he was doing her a favour. So, I don't see any anti-Semitism in this min-series at all.
I would love to see this book on the school curriculum everywhere. I have researched this period of history and the book/TV series stays very close to reality. Well done to all involved!
One of the reviewers has talked about the anti-Semitism. Well, I must vehemently disagree with that person. Firstly, the two Jewish characters were portrayed in a very sympathetic light - the wife treated Aminata very well and kindly. The husband brought a reunion about with Aminata and her long lost daughter, May, at the very end. Yes, he sold May initially but he thought he was doing her a favour. So, I don't see any anti-Semitism in this min-series at all.
I would love to see this book on the school curriculum everywhere. I have researched this period of history and the book/TV series stays very close to reality. Well done to all involved!
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