'The Long Song' Episode 2 Recap

Welcome back for the second installment of The Long Song miniseries recaps. In this week’s episode, the Amity planation enters a new and uncharted era in history. Unfortunately, for July and emancipated slaves across the British Empire, it soon becomes clear that it will take much more than a decree and high ideals to make their expectations of living as free and equal people a reality.

You may recall that last week, we followed July from childhood through to early adulthood. She suffered separation from her mother at a young age, learned how to manage her shallow and immature mistress, and was traumatized by a series of events that transpired at the Amity sugar plantation immediately following the Christmas Rebellion of 1831.

We pick up right where we left off last time. The new overseer’s news that the slaves would be freed in a few days’ time has come to fruition. Nevertheless, it’s the slave owners who get compensation from the Crown. July can read and keep the books, but there are no reparations for her or any of the other slaves. “What good be free, if nothing change?” wonders our narrator, Old July.