Best movie of this year hands down!

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

As Good As It Gets

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

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!

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.

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!

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.