This Black History Month BET tells the story of Aminata Diallo (Aunjanue Ellis, "The Help") and her travels from Mali to Britain during slavery in the mini-series, "Book of Negroes." Last night during its premiere, viewers were introduced to the courageous early life of Diallo as she entered slavery/servitude in South Carolina.
"If I can't say a word, I just wave my hand." These words from an Old 100 hymn are indeed an appropriate reaction to the story thus far. The history of Blacks from Africa to America is astounding to the point it can be numbing. Much can and has been said about the highs and lows of the "Black Experience." This is the first time I am hearing the story from the perspective of a non-American and woman (it is Canadian made) and thus far have no words to describe the feeling I experienced as I gasped, looked away and at times stared blankly into the eyes of the lead character. The acting and directing kept me completely enraptured.
As an African American, I was literally moved to reverential silence, with respect to the captivity, Middle Passage and arrival of Africans to a strange new land. Tonight, part 2 of the epic, 3-part event airs on BET at 8:00 p.m. #blackhistorymatters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNHG_3-Zad8
The U.S. Delegation, led by Ambassador Troy Fitrell , Senior Bureau Official for African Affairs, included the senior-most officials advancing U.S. commercial engagement across Africa: Massad Boulos , Senior Advisor for Africa Thomas Hardy , Acting Director, U.S. Trade and Development Agency Constance Hamilton , Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa Connor Coleman , Head of Investments and Chief of Staff, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation Tamara Maxwell , Senior Vice President for Small Business, Export-Import Bank of the United States The record turnout made clear that both U.S. and African leaders share a strong commitment to significantly expanding trade and investment. The U.S. objective at the Summit was to secure key deals and commitments for U.S. companies and establish the conditions to boost U.S. exports and investment in Africa — advancing mutual prosperity in line with the Trump Administration’s Commercial Diploma...