Carvings and Brandings

Carvings and brandings arise frequently throughout the novel and carry two key meanings: they encapsulate either one's humanity, or one's commodification. Throughout the novel, whenever Aminata encounters a new group of slaves, she always looks for facial markings, as facial markings symbolize home for her. Their association with Islam also indicates fellow believers; when she arrives in America, she is forbidden to pray in Arabic and to read the Qu’ran. Christianity, the white man’s religion, rules the Thirteen Colonies, so Islam is not allowed – at least in public; accordingly, Mamed, the overseer at Appleby’s indigo plantation, teaches Aminata to read, write, and pray in secret.

But skin markings arise in other ways. After she is kidnapped and taken to the west coast of Africa, Aminata has the initials "GO" burned into her chest with an iron brand; many other slaves are...