Did He Just Say Negro

“The book of what?”

 “She asked why I was so black. I asked why she was so white. She said she was born that way. Same here, I replied.” (Excerpt from the book of Negroes)

Reads out Lawrence Hill, as a class packed full of 50 plus students, and adults listen in to hear the widely known author of the Book of Negroes speak. On September 29, 2010, Canadian born Lawrence Hill snatched the attention of many at Wilfrid Laurier University. Lawrence Hill read excerpts from his books “Any Known Blood” and “The Book of Negroes” and then finished off the meeting with answering many questions. While listening to him read and looking at his appearance, one could understand why he was so fit to write a book that crosses so many boundaries. Lawrence Hill’s parents, who are also civil activists, are of two different racial backgrounds, white and black, which have given him two fields of knowledge to embed in his writing. Lawrence himself was seen to the crowd as a charming, humble and polite person, patiently waiting for questions and speaking very softly. So many people were swept away by his personality that as one woman named Julie said “I’m going to read the book just because I’ve heard him speak” and many others felt the same. Many had not even read the book, which was the case for Judy, an African Canadian woman from Toronto like Lawrence.

“I’ve had the Book of Negroes in my house for years and just never got to reading it, but now after I’ve seen and heard the author I can’t wait to get home and read it. A man from a background the same as mine, from Toronto and being black, I feel an immediate connection with the historical importance of this novel.”

The book name itself has historical importance. Lawrence Hill spoke of taking the name from a historical British Literature were black slaves were accounted for, for the first time in a book called, the Book of Negroes. A black student named Rochelle Parcellis came only because she was given the book by a white fellow student and recognized his name on a poster.

“My friend gave me the book and said ‘I think you should read this book it’s really good.’ I took the book from her thinking, what kind of racist gift is this, the book of what? I finally started to read it and realize I can’t put it down”

After hearing this amazing author read out his books, one could wonder how long it took for him to write the Book of Negroes. According to Lawrence it took five years, and now so many that read the book have the same opinion saying “I couldn’t put it down”. It was a privilege for all to hear him speak and his book is in the process of becoming a movie. It is a must read, and as said by Donna Bailey Nurse “Right off the top, this is the best black Canadian novel”.