disscusion

So he iz kidnapped by these huge men who take on a boat. Why do you think they want him to be on the ship?


 * They need someone to play music for the slaves to keep them healthy and profitable. But why him? There are plenty of other kids that can play instruments after all. Also does the boy's mom cry at night cause she misses him?** **-Samir 824**

I agree to Samir about why Jessie was kidnapped by men. I think the reason why the men chose Jessie is because he was a young guy and he looked healthy. I guess his mother missed Jessie. (normal mother would miss her son) Jessie concerned about his mother so much. So there should be a bond between them. Noriyo Onishi 824 Feb/24/09 10:01pm **I wonder will Jessie's aunt actually start to care for her nephew if she finds out that he was kiddnapped by a bunch of pirates and that he is forced to play his fife for the 4 month journy to Africa and back.** **-Samir 824**

I am not sure if Jessie's aunt is going to take care of him but she should be worried about him so maybe she will figure out where he is. If she finds Jessie, what whould happen next? I am not sure about his aunt. (Specifically her characteristics) Noriyo Onishi 824 9:59pm I agree noriyo lol i think she will be worried also. But why doesn't his anut like him anyway?

Agatha dislikes the fact that Jessie makes a living playing the fife and tells him he should be apprenticed and learn a respectable trade, saying that she doubts he would gain any benefit from school. Also it says Jessie's aunt became irritable and withdrawn since Jessie's father died. (I researched them from the web) I think something happened to her when Jessie's father died. Jessie's family is very poor. I think he disagrees about slavery, but from his aunt's charactristics maybe she likes slavery. Noriyo Onishi 824 Mar/01/09

I think the author used main character to tell what did the America looked like during the slavery period. Especially about the environment. Also I know that every citizen didn't agree with the government. Few of White people didn't agree about the Slavery or didn't care about it. I think it wanted to tell that do not do slavery again. Noriyo Onishi 824 Mar/03/09

I think the author was trying to spread a message about slavery in general and you become inhuman and deaf to suffering by being a slave trader. I also agree with Noriyo about what his aunt thinks about him and how she thinks he is wasting his time playing the fife and not being an apprentice to a master in a "useful" trade. Edward Streshinskiy March/03/09

I think the author is trying to send a messafe to children about how racism is bad and should not be done to anyone. White or Black. I think he also trying to say that everyone can be a victium of racism. -chelsey s. 3/3/09

I don't know how Jessie felt about the journey. He should missed his hometown but he might enjoyed the journey a little. He met with a lot of guys and slaves. I think it was kind of good experience of boarding on the boat with unknown people. Noriyo Onishi 824 Mar/04/09

I'm a little confused about Jessie. Does he like slavery? I don't think so but in middle of the journey, he despised the slaves. (I think) I think he changed his mind from comparing before he boared on the ship and after. Maybe now he cares about slaves. By the way I didn't like about the captain because he wasn't respectful. I guess Ned doesn't like slavery and he just wants money. Noriyo Onishi 824 Mar/05/09