The Book of Negroes
The Book of Negroes
TV-MA | 07 January 2015 (USA)

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    Btexxamar I like Black Panther, but I didn't like this movie.
    ChicDragon It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.
    WillSushyMedia This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.
    Iseerphia All that we are seeing on the screen is happening with real people, real action sequences in the background, forcing the eye to watch as if we were there.
    Cinefill1 -The Book of Negroes is a miniseries based on the novel of the same name by Lawrence Hill. The six-part miniseries derives its origins from the historical document Book of Negroes and tells the story of a woman forcefully brought to South Carolina from West Africa at the time of the American Revolution. Clement Virgo and Hill collaborated on writing the miniseries, with Virgo also directing. It premiered on CBC in Canada on January 7, 2015 and on BET in the United States on February 16, 2015. -The title of the series and the novel is derived from an historical document which records names and descriptions of 3,000 African-American slaves who escaped to the British lines during the American Revolution and were evacuated by the British by ship to points in Nova Scotia as freed men. Clement Virgo and series producer Damon D'Oliveira purchased the rights to Hill's novel in 2009 and began work on a feature film script. CBC and BET came on board in 2010 to develop the feature script into a six-part miniseries. -The international co-production began shooting in February 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. Filming also took place in various locations around Nova Scotia, Canada This included the Fortress of Louisbourg portraying 18th century New York City and Canvas Town, Lunenburg harbour portraying New York harbour and Shelburne's Dock Street appearing as historic Shelburne. Filming was completed by the beginning of June 2014. Reviews: -Metacritic which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 77 out of 100 based on 9 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews."
    seabreezelise This mini series is artfully and authentically written, acted and directed. Ms. Ellis and the cast are compelling and so believable. The story itself offers more of the complexities of the people and time period and reminds us of the vastness of a history that we have accepted on face value, as told to us from a very limited set of perspectives. This view hit me hard. A lesser told story of the Black family under the assault of genocide, racism, poverty, persecution and unthinkable acts of terror is explored here. The love story that often takes a second seat to those events, is, here, given a fuller and deeper expression. It was painful but so authentic, I was compelled to watch each episode and encourage all to do the same. There are a few moments when you want your children to close their eyes, and many when they will have questions and comments. It also demonstrates how even when the Caucasians considered themselves "good" to blacks, they were so entrenched in racism and superiority that they had to be made to know that their "good" was self-serving and constrained by their own indoctrination that they were inherently "better." It's a great way to explore history. Watch it.
    zaina-jalloh 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.
    cjde 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!