"I had learned that there were times when fighting was impossible, when the best thing to do was to wait and to learn"(p.379-380)
Background:
Slaves were being transported through Freetown, a town where many of the inhabitants were formally slaves. The people of Freetown wanted to fight the slave traders and free the slaves before they are to reach the shoreline. Aminata felt that they should wait because picking a fight with the slave traders was a fight that the small community of Freetown would not win.
Commentary:
If you came face to face with a bear, would you fight or run from the beast? Aminata does her best to avoid altercations but on multiple occasions she has to decide weather to fight or to be patient. While on the long walk to the slave ship, Aminata doesn't fight or try to escape because those who did were "cut loose and slaughtered"(p.32). When on the ship during the riot, Aminata "didn't move"(p.90) as she knew for a thirteen year old girl to participate in the riot would be suicide. On the boat, Aminata decided the best thing to do was to wait and learn and not fight but the saying "pick your battles" doesn't always apply. In the mini television series based on "The Book of Negroes", Chekura (Aminata's husband) was forced to go to war and fight for the British. In this case, Chekura couldn't wait and learn but instead he had to fight.I agree with Aminata when she says "sometimes the best thing to do (is) to wait and to learn" and asses the situation and think before acting. For example, often at lunch or after school, I am often faced with people who oppose my ideas or thoughts resulting in me becoming tempered and irritated. As much as I would like to have an outburst and let my emotions loose, I stop and realize the consequences that my actions would have.
Aminata embracing Chekura before he leaves to war.
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