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BET will be shedding some light on little known Black history in its upcoming miniseries, “The Book of Negroes,” which is set to debut early next year.

The network will very appropriately be airing the miniseries as part of its Black History Month programming in February, Deadline.com reports. The show is a TV adaptation of Lawrence Hill’s novel, “The Book of Negroes,” which takes a look at slavery from a woman’s perspective.

‘The Book of Negroes’ follows the story of Aminata Diallo (played by Aunjanue Ellis), an African woman who was sold into slavery and secured her freedom during the American Revolution. It’s an extraordinary story that miniseries star Cuba Gooding Jr. feels should have been shared long.

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From what he told Deadline.com, Cuba thinks that it is an injustice the Black community that stories like Aminata’s have largely been swept under the rug or ignored by the history books.

“I didn’t know anything about The Book Of Negroes,” said Cuba,”or the slaves participation with the British and upon hearing this, it always upsets me when I hear about something I don’t know.”

He continued, “Like The Tuskegee Airmen, ‘The Book Of Negroes’ is another upsetting moment for African Americans, when we have made a positive impact on the building of America, but our history hasn’t been told.”

Beyond that, Cuba sees ‘The Book of Negroes’ as conveying “a sense of empowerment” for Black women, as the hero found a way to freedom. He said, “Through Aminata’s journey we see the strength of her character.”

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“The Book of Negroes” will be making it’s big premiere tonight at the Mipcom in Cannes, and director Clement Virgo expects the project to take the audience on a truly emotional odyssey.

“I told [producer Damon D’Oliveira] that I see this project as The Wizard Of Oz,” said Virgo. “Just as Dorothy was pulled out of Kansas, Aminata is in Africa and then this twister of slavery pushes her out of her home, across the ocean and all she wants to do is get back home.”

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