Washington Black tells the story of George Washington Black, an 11-year-old Black boy on a Barbados plantation. After being accused of murder, he teams up with Titch, a white scientist, to create the Cloud Cutter, an airship meant for their escape. However, it crashes during their flight, catalyzing Wash's journey through Virginia and Canada. The novel is marked by graphic violence and critical themes surrounding slavery, while the Hulu adaptation has been likened to a simplistic, school-friendly representation of the source material, despite its aesthetic appeal.
Esi Edugyan's 2018 novel Washington Black unfolds the tale of George Washington Black, a Black boy on a Barbados plantation, who becomes the protege of a white scientist.
The plot features an experimental airship, the Cloud Cutter, representing escape from plantation life but ultimately crashes, leading Wash on a journey to Virginia and Canada.
The novel has been described as graphic and unflinching in its depictions of violence and includes the frequent use of the N-word.
The Hulu adaptation is criticized for feeling less like a serious drama and more like a quasi-historical show pepped up for an audience of schoolchildren.
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