Francis Bok’s book gives a compelling story about a South Sudanese man who has been a slave for ten years in his journey to freedom. This book has been written by people from different faiths and cultures. For example, in his first steps towards the United States, he is helped by a man of Islamic background, yet a Sudanese.
His first attempt to escape from slavery happened when he was 14 years old. However, the militia got him. He waited until 1996 when he was 17 years old when he tried to escape again. This was successful. A Muslim called Abdah who despised slavery and its effects are the one that aided him. He used Khartoum, to Jarona where he became a refugee. In Jarona, he settled with another Sudanese who was not of his ethnic group. This is because he is Dinka whilst the others were Aweil. It is here that he adopted his Christian name Francis. In this camp, Bok was interrogated numerous times and all he denied he was a slave. It is in this period that he made a resolution to live South Sudan. In 1999, he got his break and arrived in Cairo using the black market tickets. On September 15th, 1999, he applied for refugee status to live in the United States.
The Dinka is a tribe in South Sudan who occupy the region of el Ghazal. Mr. Bok, the author and former slave hails from this tribe. Though the Dinka lack central authority, they are very organized. Wealth here is measured in terms of children and cattle. The more, the wealthier one is in this society.
Another cultural practice which is very common with the Dinka is the naming of children. They have various ways of doing this. One, they name their children according to deceased relatives. Two, they name their child according to the time the child is born. Finally, three, they name their children according to an ancestor who did a great thing for the community. In other terms, they name their children the heroes who have had great impacts in the community.
The book is a great read. Only a person that does not enjoy culture can say that it is not a great book. It has very many lessons. For instance, it teaches about modern day slavery. Even though slavery was abolished many years ago, it is still practiced. Bok stopped being a slave in 1996; long after the vice had been outlawed by international law. The book also gives great lessons about the culture and customs of the Dinka people. Anyone who is interested in diversity should enjoy this book.
Works Cited
Bok, Francis, and Edward Tivnan. Escape from Slavery: The True Story of My Ten Years in Captivity-and My Journey to Freedom in America. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2003. Print.
