The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill

The first Book Club pick of year, in preparation for Black History month, has me loving The Book of Negroes by Canadian author Lawrence Hill. It is a work of fiction written like an autobiography, bringing us the story of Amanita Diallo, a girl ripped from from her village in the interiors of Africa and sold into slavery. In an extraordinary epic that takes Aminata from Africa to America to Canada back to Africa and finally to England, the slave trade comes to gross life, replete with sight, sound and horrific smell.

As we grow older, our enjoyment of fairy tales are often jaded by the realities of everyday life. I mean, who still believes in Prince Charmings and Happily-Ever-Afters? Yet, in many ways, history is much like those same stories, full of heroes and villains, damsels and princes. Like most Canadian-educated children, I learned the story of Harriet Tubman and read Underground to Canada. I knew vaguely about the earlier stories of Black Loyalists and other former slaves who sought refuge on first British and then Canadian soil. I had firmly cast Canadians in the role of the Prince rescuing African Damsels in distress. I know, now, as an adult, that that is far too simplistic role. That, yes, slavery also existed here and yes, as a nation, we profited from the debasement and mistreatment of our first black immigrants. Never has that history resounded so clearly (and with so much compassion) as it did in Hill's writing.

The Book never attempts to be a textbook; instead, it is a story of one woman, like any other, whose life happens to be caught up in the tidal waves of slavery, servitude and freedom. By shifting the focus to Aminata and keeping us firmly enthralled by her, we, the readers, are able to digest the harshest conditions and cruelest torments. Were this a "real" autobiography, i doubt I would have been able to stomach past that first revolution of the moon.

There is talk of adding the Book of Negroes to the school curriculum, thereby effectively replacing Harper Lee's classic To Kill A Mockingbird. I don't see why it has to, why we can't have both? I mean, I read some really terrible books in high school, all in the name of Canadian content. Well, why not replace some of those deadly boring books with something solid, engaging, thoughtful and Canadian? Something that actually speaks to the readers and aren't some weird 70's throwback novel to which no contemporary teenager can relate?

Regardless of what the schools decide, as Canadians (and, indeed, as global citizens) we should make an effort to read this book. It is truly a fantastic piece of writing, one that echo forth long after you've put it down. An absolute must-read.