The Book of Negroes

Book Two opens in London again, with Aminata ruminating on Sir Stanley Hastings, whom she calls “the jolly abolitionist” (99). He is very kind to her: when he “opens his arms wide,” it is as if he can comfort her sorrows with “his ample belly” (99). The abolitionists call her their equal, but she sees their interest in financial compensation for the loss of revenue. Even worse, they seek only to abolish the slave trade, not slavery itself, a position Aminata abhors. By contrast, John Clarkson, the abolitionist who brought her to London, is more idealistic, thus the others do not heed him. He worries that they are tiring her, while the other men offer condescension in their attempt to be kind. After each meeting, they give her gifts: candy, books and newspapers, ink and a quill. Afterwards, Clarkson escorts her home, and she thinks about writing her life story. She thinks about the unknown readers who will someday pick up her book. It is this desire which gives her purpose, and which will give meaning to her life.