The Book of Negroes (2015)

Mr. Man could start a library consisting of Mark Rylance’s mandangler in Propero’s Books (1991); Ewan McGregor’s junk in The Pillow Book (1995); Jeffrey Donovan’s derrière in Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000); Simon Baker’s bottom in Book of Love (2004); Jonah Armstrong’s peen in Book of Blood (2009); Daniel Bellomy’s body in Power Book II: Ghost (2020); and Rafi Gavron’s glutes in Books of Blood (2020). In other words, there are a lot of books on film and TV that feature male flesh! Alas, The Book of Negroes (2015) is skingy when it comes to dudity. Based on Lawrence Hill’s novel of the same name, this televised drama uses history to tell a fictional tale of Aminata Diallo (Aunjanue Ellis). Her story begins in a village in West Africa in 1761. Aminata is just 11-years-old when she’s abducted and sold into slavery across the globe in South Carolina. Through the years, she must navigate her way through America’s Revolutionary War in New York, overcome isolation and loneliness in Nova Scotia, and survive her journey through the treacherous jungles of Sierra Leone before she gains her freedom in England. If you can imagine, nestled comfortably in a saga full of challenges, there’s a love story. Despite all of her trials and tribulations, Aminata finds time to marry and bed a man named Chekura (Lyriq Bent). It’s easy to fall in love with Mr. Bent when he touts his toned torso. Needless to say, we’re glad he freed himself of his shirt!