All language subtitles for The Book of Negroes - 01x04 - Episode 4.CROOKS.English.HI.C.orig.Addic7ed.com

Previously on The Book of Negroes...

My name is Samuel Frances,
but you can call me Black Sam.

Oh! It's war now,

and we shall have freedom!

If you escape now, Lindo won't
have time to hunt you down.

- What will you do now that you are free of Lindo?
- Canvas Town.

I will stay among the Negroes there.

- You know this man?
- Sam was a friend when I needed one.

The British promise liberty. I will
fight for my freedom like any man.

The British just surrendered in Yorktown.

Solomon Lindo will be coming back for you.

(cheering and whistling)

Rebels exalted over the British
surrender, but for those who had

taken our freedom back, the
peace treaty spelled disaster.

American slaveholders and
their agents prowled Manhattan,

grabbing fugitives whenever they could.

My thoughts went to Solomon Lindo.

Would he return to New
York to try to claim me

and take me back to Charleston?

"All prisoners on both
sides shall be set at liberty

and His Britannic Majesty
shall, with all convenient speed

and without causing any
destruction or carrying away...

any Negroes,

or other property of American inhabitants,

withdraw all his armies,

garrison, and fleets from
the said United States."

Uh, Miss Mina? What do "carry away

any Negroes or other property" mean?

Black folks helped the British.

We up and fought and died for them.

It means the Americans are free
to re-enslave runaway slaves.

What did I tell you about the British?

Bounty hunters be all over
the city, snatching Negroes,

dragging them down South.

It's downright dangerous
now to be in New York.

And even more dangerous to leave.

I am a freeborn woman,

but most of us be runaway slaves.

No Racine plantation owner

is gonna separate me from my kinfolk.

- (approbations)
- General Washington

gave the Redcoats until the
end of November to evacuate.

Now, New York is the only place
still occupied by the British.

Until they leave completely,

you will still have some protection.

No. Let's protect ourselves,
protect our families.

Let's set up patrols,

look out for intruders, white or black.

This is what we must do.

Off to Sam's tavern?

No. I'm going to Holy Ground.

- There's a woman there in need.
- I will come with you.

No.

- There's no need for that.
- Kidnappers are everywhere.

I saw two white men
lurking around last night.

Bounty hunters, I suspect.

Everyone knows me

in Holy Ground.

I'll be fine.

Make sure you're back before nightfall.

I will. I'll be fine.

Let me go!

- Where are your freedom papers?
- What?

You can come with us polite,
or we can make it hard on you.

Ruffian!

Let her go or I shoot.

The next one will go
straight into your brain.

I am authorised to pick up

- runaway slaves.
- And I'm authorised to shoot.

Let her go now.

You heard the man.

(chuckling)

- Are you all right, Miss Diallo?
- I'll be all right.

I went looking for you in Canvas Town.

I was told you were here, in Holy Ground.

I no longer work for
you, Lieutenant Waters.

It is not what you think.

My captain would like to meet

the famous One-Pound Mina.

(footsteps approaching)

Aminata Diallo.

I've been meaning to
meet you for some time.

Thank you,

lieutenant. You may go.

Do you have your freedom?

I have been free in New York

for eight years now.

They tell me that you can read and write,

keep ledgers,

and that you speak two African languages.

- Yes.
- Are you familiar

with section seven of the
provisional peace treaty?

I've taught it to half of Canvas Town.

The Negroes feel betrayed by it.

But if they served for the
British for one year minimum,

then they've already been liberated.

Do the British aim to keep
their promise to the Negroes?

Our Navy plans to move all Negro Loyalists
to Nova Scotia, where they will be free.

Nova Scotia? Not London?

Nova Scotia's a British colony.

In this Nova Scotia, will we be free?

Entirely, yes.

But before long, there will be hard work.

The Negroes will be given
land and expected to farm it.

Why have you brought me
here, Captain Clarkson?

Miss Diallo,

I want you

to spread the word

among your people.

We need help to register the Negroes.

I'd like to engage you, if you agree,

to collect names and ages and how
they came to serve the British.

We need to know how many wish to travel,

and we need to begin
embarkations almost immediately.

If you agree, you'll be paid
one pound a week in silver.

There will be constant work

and all the information
will be kept in a ledger.

What will this ledger be called?

The Book of Negroes.

I do want to go to this
Nova Scotia. With my husband.

Consider passage guaranteed
for the two of you.

You have my word, Miss Diallo.

Then I accept.

Excellent.

And I would like a map of Africa.

Your maps are terrible.

Thank you, Miss Diallo. Thank you.

Tell me again about this book
that gonna have our names in.

The Book of Negroes.

(laughing) She already done told
you three times! Stop pestering her!

I'm just asking! I didn't
know there was a book

big enough to have every
Negro in New York in!

Knucklehead. (Laughing)

Oh, Miss Mina...

Why don't you tell us how about how
you come to know your man, Chekura?

Yes, Miss Mina.

When did you first encounter Chekura?

I met Chekura

when I was a little girl in Africa.

How?

When I was a little girl,

the man-stealers would come and take

many Negroes from many
villages, Fula, Bamana,

didn't matter who. One night,

they took me.

I met Chekura

on the long walk to the sea.

I helped the man-stealers
take the Africans.

This is how we came to meet.

You helped them... steal
Miss Mina from her kin?

He was kind to me.

He was my companion.

After the British surrendered,
slave owners began to prowl

Canvas Town.

- What is it? What? What is it?
- (Sobbing)

They took Claybourne!

He's gone!

Where's Claybourne? Where's Claybourne?

- I will do what I can Miss Diallo.
- Yes.

Claybourne!

- Bertilda!
- Sir, I am Lieutenant Waters

for His Majesty's Army.

Do you have one Claybourne
Mitchell on board?

What business is that of yours?

Claybourne Mitchell volunteered
with my regiment for two years.

Per the articles of peace,

any Negro who serves His
Majesty's Army for one year

has won his liberty.

- He's a free man.
- Well, go ahead and fetch him.

Sir,

the war

is over,

and we have a treaty
signed by your Congress.

That bark

is legally owned by my employer,

Mister, um,

Sam Stephens of Georgia.

He escaped the 13th,

but we got him now.

He fought for his freedom. You
have no right to hold him captive.

You speak to me again, nigger, and
I will kill you where you stand!

Ahem! Good day.

I want on the boat. I
want to leave with him.

You sellin' yourself
with a kid? It's too bad

Mr. Stephens's got all
the nigger wives he needs.

At least let me say goodbye to him.

You still wear that sword on your hip
like you were conquering this country.

Surrender that sword.

Go on.

I spent four years

hunting cowardly Redcoats like yourself.

That nigger killed good patriots.

He deserves what's coming.

Bring him up.

You got one minute to
say what you gotta say.

(small chuckle)

You done gone and got yourself caught.

Yeah.

Looks that way.

Listen, I want you and Sarah to go

- to Nova Scotia, you hear me?
- You shut your drawbridge mouth.

Me, you, and Sarah, we is family now.

You listen to me.

I want you to go see Freddie.

He owe me one pound. You make sure you get
that money from him for you and the baby,

you hear what I'm sayin'? You understand?

You get it from him your damn self.

If I could tell you
nothing, know how hard...

Sarah? Come hug your daddy.

Mama gonna take care of you.

You understand?

- Mama gonna take care of you.
- Wait!

- You hear me? You gonna go with your mama!
- That's enough now!

- No!
- Get off!

All right, all right!

Y'all go on! Get!

I'm gonna be all right.

- Go on!
- Y'all go on!

Get him down!

We is family!

It all gonna be all right!

I will be all right.

We is family.

Gonna be all right.

(people laughing and talking)

What happened?

Mina.

Shh, shh...

(sobbing) Shh...

(crickets chirping)

I'm going to help Sam cater a
conference hosted by General Washington.

- General Washington?
- South river, in Tappan.

General Washington is hosting
British General Guy Carleton

to discuss the British
withdrawal from New York.

- How long will you be gone away?
- Overnight.

I'll be back in the morning.

I will see you in the morning.

Guy Carleton and George Washington

met to discuss the British withdrawal.

Washington was angry that the
British were evacuating Negroes.

A speedy evacuation of all
His Majesty's armies, garrison

and fleets from New York
is actively under way,

supervised by Captain Clarkson.

As agreed upon, by the end of November.

As agreed upon, sir.

On the matter of delivery of all Negroes
and other property back to the inhabitants

of these United States, how soon

- will that transpire?
- Our Navy

has already embarked refugees
of all colors to Nova Scotia.

Negroes, sir.

Hmm, some Negroes were
among the refugees, yes.

Well, some of these Negroes are property
of the inhabitants of these United States

and should not have been carried off.

Your action violates article seven

- in the articles of peace.
- General,

with respect, Negroes who responded

to British proclamations of liberty
are no longer American property.

With these proclamations, a number of my
own slaves, slaves of members of Congress,

of officers in this very
room, abandoned their masters.

The carrying off of Negroes
is a clear infraction.

Infraction? Well, if declared as such

by our respective sovereigns,

compensation will be made
by the Crown to owners,

- including those in this room.
- Compensation?

In what manner?

I have taken measures to create
a register of evacuated Negroes,

classifying the name, age
and occupation of each person

as well as the name and
place of his former master.

It's impossible to ascertain
the value of the slaves

through any facts which you
may find in such a register.

A further difficulty would be
identifying the slaves' true identity,

supposing the slave gave a
false name for his master.

I must confess, General,

the mere supposition that
I, the King's Minister,

would breach the public faith
towards people of any complexion

seems to denote a less
than friendly disposition.

I'm afraid we must leave this with
our respective sovereigns. The...

dinner that Black Sam has so
generously prepared is ready.

General Washington

- was none too happy.
- No. (Laughing)

The British may have lost on the field
of battle, but their General Carleton

- has won the peace with his Book of Negroes plan.
- Hmm.

- The Negroes will have a chance at liberty.
- You.

- You as well, Mina.
- Well...

I love Chekura very much, Sam.

I know.

Forgive me for bringing you to this place.

There's nothing to forgive.

Miss Diallo, this is the ledger,

in which you'll record the
names of the Negro Loyalists.

_

Good morning, miss. Tell me your name

- and your age.
- My name is Emily.

I think I'm 23 or 24,

I don't know for sure. This my baby Janice.

- She four months.
- Where's the baby's father?

He dead. The Americans, they kill
him fighting with the British.

- Do you have a last name?
- No, just Emily. But my owner

was Mr. John Smith, but I runs
away from him six years ago

from Charlestown. Come to New York by boat.

How did you serve the British Army?

I worked in Holy Ground.

What did you do in Holy Ground?

I performed various services
for the British Army.

Certain officers, when they
were on leave, would come to me

'cause they say I gave special
service, different from the other girls.

I have general birth certificate.

Just write 'lusty wench'. Go
ahead, we have no time to waste.

Thank you, Miss Emily. Thank
you for telling me your story.

I am meeting people from
places I have never heard of!

You have become our diary,

recording our stories.

They're giving me something.

They're letting me know that I'm not alone.

That we are not alone.

Our baby will be born
in March in Nova Scotia.

Yes.

John Cartwright, born 1719, Virginia.

I deserted the rebel standard.

That was service enough.

I was born a slave,

but I will die free.

Uh, Joe Mason.

I be 25 years old.

My wife and my daughter drowned

crossing the Santee River while
we run away from Samuel Ash.

Got a plantation down there
in Edisto, South Carolina.

I worked as a blacksmith
for the King's Army.

From April to November,

I helped register thousands of Blacks

who were leaving New
York. Some went as slaves

of British officers,
but others traveled free.

- George Haskins.
- They had been promised land

and tools to break the land
and provisions on which to live

until they could enjoy
the fruit of their farming

in Nova Scotia. I wrote
names in the Book of Negroes,

recording how people had got their freedom,

how old they were, and
where they had been born.

South Carolina, Virginia, Madagascar,

Angola, and Bonny.

People watched the movement of
my hand as I wrote their names

and made me read them
aloud once I was done.

The work left me weary,

but it excited me to imagine
that, fifty years later,

someone might find an ancestor

in the Book of Negroes and say,

"That was my grandmother".

Prince.

So the nuns called me. I
didn't have a mother or father.

I picked up arms and
fought with the British

when the Americans started the fight.

I have a wooden leg now.

Lost it in Brooklyn Heights
fighting them rebels, and killed me

many an American. Now I's free.

I want me my own land
in this here Nova Scotia.

Sarah is my name.

I be 42 years old.

Got blind mixing lye for
soap. An explosion went off.

Man one foot over was
handing me his red coat,

telling me to wash it soft and gentle.

Killed him lickety-split,
so I reckon I was lucky.

I know worse trouble, though.

- May I have your name, miss?
- My name Aminata.

My mama Sanu said I
was born on a slave ship

going to South Carolina.

Where is your mother now?

Died two years ago. Got shot
up while nursing the British.

Dear God, girl!

I am Aminata too!

I caught you! I caught you

coming out of your
mother on that slave ship!

She named you after me!

She named you after me!

My mama told me all about you!

She spoke of you a thousand times!

Look at you.

You are Sanu's daughter.

I can't keep my family waiting any longer.

I leave for London in the morning.

Well done, Miss Diallo. And my ship?

When can I leave with my husband?

Your tickets for the Joseph,

departing November the
7th for Annapolis Royal.

Oh, do please write to me in London.

Here. I'm so curious to hear

how the Negro Loyalists
fare in Nova Scotia.

- Thank you, Captain.
- Good luck.

Drop Claybourne's name
and the name of his master

in the fishnet when you get to Georgia.
Someone will know where they took him.

You have a good man here, Miss Mina.

You hold on to him.

Ain't no patriot gonna
bust up me and Claybourne.

He better know to stay alive
till me and Sarah find him.

I have secured tickets
from Captain Clarkson.

For Nova Scotia.

Two tickets: one for you and
Sarah, and one is for Claybourne.

The last ship leaves from New York

to Nova Scotia on November 30th.

Thank you for going through
the trouble, Miss Mina.

I don't got much.

We're still young, though.

I'm gonna do what I have
to to win my man's freedom.

This should help you buy his freedom.

I'll pay you back every
penny, Mr. Fraunces, you hear?

I know.

I ain't gonna let this child
grow up without knowing her daddy.

We can spread the word for
Claybourne in Nova Scotia,

- Bertilda. He's smart and...
- I was born in these colonies

and this is where I'm gonna die.

I be American, Miss Mina.

I be American.

(clamoring)

When George Washington and his men
rode into New York to meet his aides

and celebrate the rebel victory,

it killed the hope in
those of us left behind.

If we didn't get out soon, we would be

re-enslaved and might never get out again.

Nine days ago,

the last of the British
Army left American soil,

and we have truly won our revolution.

- (all): Hear, hear!
- I must, however, bid you all farewell.

I intend on commencing a journey

this day to Annapolis, where
I will resign my commission.

- (protestations)
- Gentlemen, gentlemen.

It is with a heart filled
with love and gratitude

that I now take my leave of you.

I most devoutly wish that
your latter days may be

as prosperous and happy as your former ones

have been glorious and honorable.

(all): Hear, hear.

General Washington.

Please forgive the intrusion.

Of course.

Do you think the Negro will one day
have his freedom like the Americans?

Hm.

I can foresee that nothing
but the rooting out of slavery

will perpetuate the existence of our Union.

Then, General,

why do you own slaves?

Here is your hat and coat, General.

I'm afraid the General must be on his way.

- Thank you for your help, Sam.
- Hm.

Safe travels, Miss Diallo.

You're a good friend, Sam.

(giggling excitedly)

Your names?

I am Aminata Diallo and this is my husband,

Chekura Tiano.

Aminata Diallo.

Return here, please.

- Why?
- Aminata Diallo,

there's a claim against you, we cannot
allow you to leave. Go with these men.

- What claim?
- There will be no discussion.

I have a certificate from General
Birch. I have worked for the English

for years, from April up
until a week ago! I was working

on this very document, the Book
of Negroes, under Captain Clarkson!

You'll be allowed to respond to
the allegations of your claimant.

- What claimant?
- Gentlemen, remove this woman.

It's Lindo.

- It's Lindo. Lindo has made a claim on me!
- Please!

- I am her husband and I go with her.
- Now look here, boy.

If you get off this ship,
you will board no other.

If she prevails over her
claimant, she may board

another vessel. But if you leave this ship,
you stay in New York. I will see to that.

No. No.

- No, I will not leave.
- Go, go.

- I will not leave you.
- It's the only way.

Take her!

Canvas Town, at once had
been a fountain of life.

Now, after the British evacuation,
it was like a ghost town,

with just a few handfuls
of dispirited folks.

State your name.

- Aminata Diallo.
- Are you a runaway slave?

I was once a man's property, but
now I am free, like the Americans.

No, you're a runaway
slave from South Carolina.

A claim has been made against you.

Bring in the claimant.

- Mina, it's been too long.
- How dare you.

Your Honor, I own this woman.

She was loaned out to a Mr. Solomon Lindo,

of Charleston, and this
same Mr. Solomon Lindo

absconded with my property and
then she ran away in New York City.

This, sir, indicates

that I purchased this woman
from a Mr. William King in 1761.

What is your response to this?

That part is true,

but I was sold to Solomon Lindo in 1773.

Mr. Lindo manumitted me in 1775.

So where are your manumission papers?

- I've lost them.
- She lost them, Your Honor.

I did not lose my documents.

Right there is proof of ownership.

Miss Diallo, have you anything
else to say for yourself?

- He's lying.
- Sir,

if I may have a moment of the Court's time?

Mr. Fraunces,

have you something to
contribute to this process?

You know me to be an
upstanding businessman.

- Your reputation is steady.
- Now, I must ask

for a brief delay of two hours.

I am obtaining proof
on behalf of this woman.

Two hours.

Yes, sir.

You're coming home with
me, Mina. Coming home.

Thank you.

Did you think that I wouldn't find you?

What do you want?

To own you. And that child you're carrying.

You're my property.

I am no man's property.

I am a free woman.

Negroes do not understand

the meaning of that word.

If they did, they would not
help bring their own people here.

Now, true Americans know what liberty is.

I fought the British and I've got a...

I've got a crippled leg
now to show for that.

Hmm?

- Remember the big house?
- Oh...

You could've been up there close to me.

But you went and you let
an African impregnate you.

He has great honor.

You have none.

I sold your child, Mina.

Only got a few pounds for her.

No man could sell my child.

I would hunt him down to the ends
of the earth until I killed him.

What did your boy do?

What kind of man is that?

That's a slave, Mina.

Sir.

The justice of the peace has called
the court back in session, sir.

Mina.

I love that slave.

Freely.

Miss Diallo, Mr. Fraunces has not returned
with any evidence of your claim of freedom.

Mr. Fraunces...

said he would return, and he shall.

Miss Diallo, do you have

any evidence to substantiate

- your claim of freedom?
- I ask Your Honor for more time.

With all due respect, Your Honor, I
ask you to uphold the rule of the law

and return my property to me.

Miss Diallo, as you can see,
I've got three more cases.

I'm afraid I can no longer wait, I...

Ah, Mr. Fraunces.

- Have you made any progress, sir?
- Yes, sir, I have.

I present to you Mr. Solomon Lindo.

Mr. Lindo.

What stake have you in this case?

This man, Mr. Appleby,

sold Mina D. to me in 1773.

He does not own her. I
do. Shall I show you proof?

It's been a long day, Mr. Lindo.

Just read it out.

"Bill of sale between Robinson
Appleby, of St. Helena Island,

and Solomon Lindo, of Charleston.

Terms of sale of Mina, a Guinea wench".

- Will that suffice, sir?
- Read on.

"Solomon Lindo agrees to
purchase said wench, Mina,

for sixty pounds sterling,

and arrange the sale of May,

daughter of Mina.

Said sale to be effected
in Savannah, Georgia,

with terms suitable to
Robinson Appleby and Mr. Lindo."

I did this,

but I sought to place the child

in a caring family.

Mr. Appleby, would you care to reply?

No.

I have nothing to say to him.

Hand me the contract.

This court is adjourned
until tomorrow morning.

I will evaluate the contract
and render my decision

about this matter then.

Until then, you will be kept in chains.

Mina, may I have a word?

Aminata.

I have nothing to say to you.

Appleby was determined to sell your
baby to an owner and you to another.

What happened to my baby?

- From what I know, she died young.
- If you knew

it meant selling away my baby,
why did you do that to us?

You are no Hebrew.

I will no longer think of you.

Mina.

I have looked over the contract
between Mr. Appleby and Mr. Lindo.

Mr. Appleby, you have no honor.

You have one day to get out of New York.

Goodbye, Mina.

Mr. Lindo, you may take your property.

She's not my property.

I wish Mina to be free.

You're manumitting your slave?

It's a matter of making peace with my past.

I'm marking her down here

as free. Set this woman loose.

Aminata.

Aminata, I'm sorry.

Next claimant.

For your journey. Crab cakes.

- Ohh, crab cakes!
- Cheese,

- two loaves of bread...
- (giggling)

Fresh apples, and some beer.

Sam... Sam...

I don't know how to repay you.

Oh...

Freedom will come to
every Negro in America.

It will take some time,

but one day, the
Declaration of Independence

will live up to its creed.

Our new country will be called

the United States of America.

What's so united about it?

There's nothing united

about a nation that declares
all men are created equal,

but keeps its people in chains.

- I'm going to stay here and work on that.
- Will you?

And will I live to see it?

Are you sure you don't want to stay

in these United States?

- I could use your help.
- No, Sam, no.

It is time for me to
leave this new country.

My husband awaits me in Nova Scotia.

General Washington has offered
me a job in his residence

as head cook.

Mount Vernon, Virginia. I took it.

I'm going to close the tavern.

You are a true American.

And the Americans will prove
to be the better people.

Hmm...

I will take my chances with the British.

Will I ever see you again, Aminata Diallo?

Goodbye, Sam.

I had lost my belongings,

but I was going to see my husband.

I had my legs,

which were still in working order,

and a child growing in my belly.

I wonder what will dawn
bright in Nova Scotia.

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