BOOK OF NEGROES, THE: EPISODE 4 (TV)
Summary
The fourth installment in this six-part miniseries, based on the book by Lawrence Hill, about the life of a young woman kidnapped from Africa and sold into slavery in America. In this episode, the many escaped slaves in Canvas Town resolve to protect themselves against bounty hunters, aware that New York is the only place still occupied by British forces. Lieutenant Waters come to Aminata's rescue when she is nearly apprehended as she travels to help another expectant mother, and he introduces her to his captain, Clarkson. Clarkson explains that all former slaves who fought on their side are now free according to the surrender agreement and are to be sent to Nova Scotia, and he asks her help in creating a comprehensive register, or a "book of Negroes," of those individuals. He promises her payment and places on the boat for herself and Chekura, and she agrees. Later, she tells her Canvas Town friends of the plan, though they are all surprised when they ask about her first meeting with Chekura and he admits that he assisted in her capture. Bertilda is heartbroken when Claiborne is captured as a runaway, and though Waters tries to argue that he earned his freedom with his military service, the bounty hunter refuses to release him and Claiborne urges Bertilda to head for Canada without him, promising that they will be reunited someday.
Aminata heads to the De Wint House as General Washington meets with Sir Guy Carleton to discuss the withdrawal of the British troops, though Washington makes it clear that he disapproves of the removal of the now-free blacks, feeling that they are still the "property" of Americans and that they could easily lie about the origins in the book. Aminata begins recording the many names and stories of escaped slaves who earned their freedom as soldiers and "lusty wenches," and Chekura happily notes that she has become a djeli, or storyteller, after all. She reveals to him that she is pregnant again and their new child will be born free in Canada, and she is stunned to encounter the other Aminata, whom she herself delivered on the boat from Mali. Clarkson gives Aminata the tickets for her own boat trip, and though Bertilda is still sure that she will reunite with Claiborne, she asserts that she intends to remain an American. When the final British soldiers leave and Washington rides triumphantly into town, Aminata knows that her window for escape is narrowing. She asks the general frankly if black people will ever be free in America, and when he asserts that slavery should indeed end, she notes that he himself is complicit in the trade.
Aminata and Chekura prepare to leave New York for good, but she is then told that there is a claim against her and arrested, though she tells Chekura to go on without her rather than permanently sacrifice his freedom. She is stunned when Appleby, not Solomon, arrives and declares that he still owns her, but Sam intervenes and vows to refute his claim. Appleby taunts Aminata, declaring that her unborn child is also his and suggesting that Chekura never bothered to search for May, but Sam returns just in time with Solomon in tow. Solomon proves that he legally purchased both Aminata and May from Appleby years ago, and when the judge finds in his favor, he declares that he wishes her to be free, though Aminata still refuses to forgive him for stealing her child. Aminata muses to Sam that the new country is hardly "united," though he promises to "work on that" and bids her a sad farewell. Aminata finally boards a ship bound for Nova Scotia, determined to reunite her family for good. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: BET
- DATE: 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:41:18
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 122136
- GENRE: Drama, historical
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Drama; Drama, historical; Miniseries
- SERIES RUN: BET - TV series, 2015
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Carrie Stein … Executive Producer
- Margaret O'Brien … Executive Producer
- Daniel Iron … Executive Producer
- Michael Levine … Executive Producer
- Damon D'Oliveira … Executive Producer
- Lance Samuels … Executive Producer
- Bill Niven … Executive Producer
- Clement Virgo … Executive Producer, Director, Writer
- Adam Friedlander … Co-Producer
- Roberto Biagi … Co-Producer
- Armand Leo … Co-Producer
- Aeschylus Poulos … Co-Producer
- Justin Giallonardo … Associate Producer
- Margaret Harrison … Line Producer
- Manny Danelon … Line Producer
- Kate McColeman … Visual Effects Producer
- Lawrence Hill … Based on the book by
- Philip Miller … Music by
- Aunjanue Ellis … Cast, Aminata Diallo
- Lyriq Bent … Cast, Chekura Tiano
- Ben Chaplin … Cast, Cpt. John Clarkson
- Allan Hawco … Cast, Solomon Lindo
- Cara Ricketts … Cast, Bertilda
- Dwain Murphy … Cast, Claiborne
- Rick Roberts … Cast, General Washington
- Cuba Gooding Jr. … Cast, Sam Fraunces
- Armand Aucamp … Cast, Lieutenant Waters
- Joris Jarsky … Cast, Dockyard Bounty Hunter
- David Christoffel … Cast, General Sir Guy Carleton
- Deon Lotz … Cast, New York Justice of the Peace
- Tenika Davis … Cast, Sanu's Daughter
- Shanice Banton … Cast, Emily
- Rachael Crawford … Cast, Sarrah
- Philip Akin … Cast, John Cartwright
- Michael Xavier … Cast, Joe Mason
- Dayo Ade … Cast, Prince
- Wendy Gray … Cast, Book Signing Woman #1
- Luwanna Fagan … Cast, Book Signing Woman #2
- Garth Johnson … Cast, Book Signing Man
- Brian Heighton … Cast, American Ship's Officer
- Atandwa Kani … Cast, New York Jail Guard
- Christopher Shore … Cast, Deputy Quartermaster
- Lilly Jean Oliver … Cast, Bertilda's Daughter Sara
- Hugh Cape … Cast, British Ship's Office
- Gary Levert … Cast, Slave Catcher