Amari had a happy family. Her father was a weaver in her African village, her mother was caring, and her brother was full of life. She thought nothing could go wrong, but she was so wrong. When her fiance Besa comes to warn her about the white men heading toward her village, her life gets turned upside down. Her family is brutally murdered and Amari is captured to be a slave.
The men lead her and the other survivors to Cape Coast, Africa. They are then branded and brought to the death ship. Amari meets a wise woman named Afi, who becomes her second mom. Afi helps Amari get through the brutal trip. Every night the women are taken away to be raped, except some nights when a kind red-headed sailor teaches Amari how to speak english. Amari is so grateful for him.
On lonely nights, Amari likes to remember her brother, Kwasi. She wishes he could be there with her, but she knows she would never want him to go through the suffering she has endured. He was too young, too playful, too innocent to feel this kind of pain. However, she still felt terribly lonely.
After months of being on the ship, they finally made it to Sullivans Island. Amari thought things would get better, but things only got worse. The slaves were brought to Charlestown to be sold to slave owners. Amari was horrified when people started bidding on them like they were animals. Amari was finally sold to a white master, Mr. Derby.
She was going to be given to his son as a birthday present, like she was some toy. She was at the Derby household for many months. While there she met an indentured servant named Polly, who became her first white friend. She also became close to Teenie; the cook and Tidbit, Teenie’s son. Amari became very fond of the pregnant Ms. Derby, who actually cared about the slaves, unlike Mr. Derby.
Slave life went pretty smoothly, except for the fact she was raped almost evernight by Clay Derby, Mr. Derby’s son. She would never forget the horrible nights she was led into his bedroom. One day, Amari trips and spills the Derby’s dessert, she is punished by being harshly whipped, barely being able to move. That’s when everything goes downhill. Amari is sent to work out in the rice fields. The worst possible job a slave like her could have.
The day finally arrives that the whole Derby household has been waiting for, Ms, Derby is in labor. She seems awfully nervous however. No one knows exactly why until the baby is born. The child is black. The woman try to hide the baby, they know Mr. Derby will be furious. Ms. Derby explains frantically that she is in love with Noah, her black bodyguard. They had been worried this would happen and now, it had. Ms. Derby prepares for the worst.
Mr. Derby finds out and he is furious. The baby and Noah are soon shot. Amari can not belive it. She watches as Ms. Derby breaks down. Mr. Derby plans to sell Amari, Polly, and Tidbit, but they have a plan. They are going to escape.
Months go by and Amari, Tidbit, and Polly are still on the road to freedom. They don’t give up and all pays off when they make it to Fort Mose, Florida. A spanish colony where there are no slaves. Amari finds out shocking news, she is pregnant. She didn’t know what to do, but she knew she would make it through.
Nine long months pass and Amari lives peacefully in her new home at Fort Mose. The women all gather when Amari finally goes into labor. Amari gives birth to a baby girl, who she names Afi, after the women who helped her through her travels.
Amari spends many of her days watching Afi grow. Before long, she is back to work spinning and weaving thread. Amari meets a new man, Alexander. Months go by and Amari becomes engaged to Alexander. They get married many weeks later, in the month of December.
Amari is finally happy again and on Afi’s sixteenth birthday, Amari finally tells her the story of her past. Amari lives out the rest of her days free. Sadly, Amari passes away at the age of forty one, eight days after her husband.
The men lead her and the other survivors to Cape Coast, Africa. They are then branded and brought to the death ship. Amari meets a wise woman named Afi, who becomes her second mom. Afi helps Amari get through the brutal trip. Every night the women are taken away to be raped, except some nights when a kind red-headed sailor teaches Amari how to speak english. Amari is so grateful for him.
On lonely nights, Amari likes to remember her brother, Kwasi. She wishes he could be there with her, but she knows she would never want him to go through the suffering she has endured. He was too young, too playful, too innocent to feel this kind of pain. However, she still felt terribly lonely.
After months of being on the ship, they finally made it to Sullivans Island. Amari thought things would get better, but things only got worse. The slaves were brought to Charlestown to be sold to slave owners. Amari was horrified when people started bidding on them like they were animals. Amari was finally sold to a white master, Mr. Derby.
She was going to be given to his son as a birthday present, like she was some toy. She was at the Derby household for many months. While there she met an indentured servant named Polly, who became her first white friend. She also became close to Teenie; the cook and Tidbit, Teenie’s son. Amari became very fond of the pregnant Ms. Derby, who actually cared about the slaves, unlike Mr. Derby.
Slave life went pretty smoothly, except for the fact she was raped almost evernight by Clay Derby, Mr. Derby’s son. She would never forget the horrible nights she was led into his bedroom. One day, Amari trips and spills the Derby’s dessert, she is punished by being harshly whipped, barely being able to move. That’s when everything goes downhill. Amari is sent to work out in the rice fields. The worst possible job a slave like her could have.
The day finally arrives that the whole Derby household has been waiting for, Ms, Derby is in labor. She seems awfully nervous however. No one knows exactly why until the baby is born. The child is black. The woman try to hide the baby, they know Mr. Derby will be furious. Ms. Derby explains frantically that she is in love with Noah, her black bodyguard. They had been worried this would happen and now, it had. Ms. Derby prepares for the worst.
Mr. Derby finds out and he is furious. The baby and Noah are soon shot. Amari can not belive it. She watches as Ms. Derby breaks down. Mr. Derby plans to sell Amari, Polly, and Tidbit, but they have a plan. They are going to escape.
Months go by and Amari, Tidbit, and Polly are still on the road to freedom. They don’t give up and all pays off when they make it to Fort Mose, Florida. A spanish colony where there are no slaves. Amari finds out shocking news, she is pregnant. She didn’t know what to do, but she knew she would make it through.
Nine long months pass and Amari lives peacefully in her new home at Fort Mose. The women all gather when Amari finally goes into labor. Amari gives birth to a baby girl, who she names Afi, after the women who helped her through her travels.
Amari spends many of her days watching Afi grow. Before long, she is back to work spinning and weaving thread. Amari meets a new man, Alexander. Months go by and Amari becomes engaged to Alexander. They get married many weeks later, in the month of December.
Amari is finally happy again and on Afi’s sixteenth birthday, Amari finally tells her the story of her past. Amari lives out the rest of her days free. Sadly, Amari passes away at the age of forty one, eight days after her husband.