Dialectical Journal #2

Passage:
"I do not like that woman.
“You must learn to respect," Papa said.
"But I do not respect her," I said.
Papa paused for a moment, and patted my leg. "Then you must learn to hide your disrespect.” "(p.21)

Background: Aminata and her father were walking past a woman that recently beat Aminata

Commentary:
Throughout the novel, disrespect was evident almost everywhere Aminata travelled. In this passage, Aminata hated a woman that would often discipline her for her wrong doings. Although she hid her disrespect from the woman, as she grew older, she often showed impudence towards other characters in the story. In America on the indigo farm, Robinson Applebee (Aminata's current master) threatened to "burn every single thing in (her) hut"(p.179). But, Aminata "back talked"(p.179) Mr. Applebee saying that she has "a home, a home that she lives in"(p.179). Currently eighteen years old, Aminata decided to ignore her father's instructions about hiding disrespect. On the Indigo farm, everyone knew that if you were to show any disrespect towards Applebee, you are to be beaten from head to toe.However, in this situation, Aminata was correct to show her disrespect as shortly after Aminata was sold off the Indigo farm to a much healthier living space with Solomon Lindo. But even when living with Mr. Lindo, Aminata again ignored her father's advice. After talking back and forth with Lindo, Aminata refused to "cook and do as (he) says"(p.227). In many homes,a salve refusing to do work for their master would result in an instant beating but again, Aminata was able to escape any whipping just by ignoring what her father advised. It is evident that after Aminata grew older, her courage incited her to discount what her father has told her about hiding her disrespect. With this in mind the author of "The Book of Negroes" is attempting to show how as you mature, the lessons you receive as a child begin to fade as you find yourself and your individuality.

The image above shows Aminata shortly before getting her head shaved by Mr. Lindo for disrespecting him.