Essay Questions

Explain the controversy over continuing to teach this novel in schools.

Amos Fortune, Free Man is a famous children's novel that won the Newbery Medal for Excellence in Children's Literature in 1951. It is the touching story of an African slave, following him from his youth as a prince in Africa through his enslavement all the way to his freedom late in life. The story teaches children valuable lessons, such as patience and diligence, as well as the importance of treating all people as if they truly possess equal value. It also teaches young readers how to deal with conflict with other people who might consider themselves superior, responding with grace and humble poise.

Despite these positive attributes, however, this book was written in 1951, and as such, there are still a few elements that might be considered racially insensitive in today's sensitive society. One example is the descriptions of Africans that compare them to dogs and other trained animals in their obedience. Others might cite the unrealistic treatment of Amos as an equal by the families that owned him, calling for harsher representations of the difficult truth. Regardless of the controversy, it is clear that the novel instills both good and possibly bad lessons into its readers, and it will continue to be an important classic in children's literature for years to come.

Explain the irony of Amos's kingship in the context of his new life.

When he was in Africa, young At-mun was the prince of the village, his father being the revered chief. When the slavers' raid began, his father was killed by a shot, making At-mun the new king. Ironically, he is immediately captured and enslaved, being sold to a white family in New England as an involuntary slave. The only things that sustain At-mun on the journey to America are two thoughts: those of rescuing his sister, and the repeated line, "I am a king." This dramatic irony is highlighted by a Bible verse that Roxanna, the Copelands' daughter, reads to Amos later in the novel, saying that when he is redeemed by Christ, he will be a king. This leads Amos to resurrect his favorite quote: "I am a king." Despite his circumstances, Amos still sees himself as a king, especially once he buys the freedoms of Violet and Celyndia and establishes his own tannery, buying his own land and building his own house. In doing so, he becomes king over his own dominion: his new family.