Kupperman, Karen O. (2000). Olaudah Equiano Recalls His Enslavement, 1750s. Major Problems in American Colonial History (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin, 292. This document refers to Equiano’s recall of the day he and his sister were kidnapped and sold for slavery. The kids usually had a sensor out to watch for kidnappers. That day, two men and one woman entered the house so quickly Equiano and his sister did not have time to react. The document is a helpful source for an overview on how kids were kidnapped while the adults were out working the fields. Kupperman, Karen O. (2000). Olaudah Equiano Recalls His Enslavement, 1750s. Major Problems in American Colonial History (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin, 295. This document Equiano and King made a deal that he could earn his freedom for forty pounds, the amount King paid for him. Equiano became friend with Thomas Farmer, the ship’s captain, who allowed him to earned the forty pounds by petty trading. This source is relevant to my research as it establishes the beginning of Equiano’s journey as a free man. Olaudah Equiano. (n.d.). In Encyclopedia Britannica on line. Retrieved August 29, 2016 from https://www.britannica.com. This reference reports how Equiano became an active abolitionist by lecturing against the cruelty of British slave owners in Jamaica. He was assigned to the Committee for the Relief of the Black Poor. Equiano expresses his concerns for free slaves and their humane treatment. This source is beneficial in explaining why Equiano was fighting for slave rights. Brycchan, Carey (2014). Olaudah Equiano, African or American? 1650-1850. This resource mentions Equiano’s arguments against the slave trade and how the trade did not make sound economic sense. Instead, blacks should have been allowed to stay in their own country, they could have increased the population by one hundred percent in fifteen years. Higher population would mean more production and therefore better economy. This source establishes the reason why Equiano fought for the abolishment of slave in Olaudah Equiano (c.1745-1797), Christians Who Changed the World. Christian Worldview Journal. Retrieved from http://www.colsoncenter.org. This article describes Equiano most important experience of his life, his conversion to Christianity, while on a voyage to Spain. Equiano was involved in setting up a new colony in Central America and bringing in African Slaves. He worked hard to see that slaves were treated well in the colony. This movement made him a full-fledged abolitionist. He was nearly re-enslaved, only barely escaping by canoe from his captor. This source resembles a new perspective on why Equiano was fighting for slave rights. Vincent, Carretta. Equiano the African, biography of a Self-made man, 417. This book explains Equiano’s success as a best-selling author and the wealthiest black man in the English world. He was so well off that he dabbled in money lending to English people. A major reason for his popularity was his autobiography containing a detailed account of his birth and childhood in Nigeria. His narrative of the Atlantic crossing in a slave ship is as unique as it is moving. Along with Thomas Clarkson, William Wilberforce, and Granville Sharpe, Equiano was a major abolitionist working to expose the nature of shameful slave trades. This resource is helpful since it described Equiano’s traveling throughout Britain while promoting his
Olaudah Equiano was not an American born slave. He was born and raised well into his childhood in Africa with his family. His slave narrative, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustav Vassa, the African, published in New York in 1791 however, had a lasting impact on America as it described the inhumane treatment of Africans being sold into slavery (Baym 1: 687). Equiano’s initial concept of freedom stemmed from his childhood of which he speaks very fondly, describing his homeland as a “nation of dancers, musicians and poets,” a...
Equiano was the youngest of his brothers who enjoyed playing outside throwing javelins enjoying the normal life of a small child. At the beginning of the day, the elders would leave their children at home while they went out into the fields to work. While they were gone, some of the children would get together to play but always took precautions of potential kidnappers. Even with all these precautions, people were still seized from their homes and taken away. Equiano was home one day with his little sister tending to the everyday household needs when out of nowhere they were captured by a couple men who had gotten over the walls. They had no time to resist or scream for help before they found themselves bound, gagged, and being taken away. Equiano had no idea where these people were taking him and they didn’t stop once until nightfall where they stayed until dawn. He tells us about how they traveled for many days and nights not having any clue where they were going or when they would get there. Slaves traveled by land and by sea, but Equiano’s journey was by sea. He tells us how he was carried aboard and immediately chained to other African Americans that were already on the ship. Once the ship halted on land, Equiano along with many other slaves were sent to the merchant’s yard where they would be herded together and bought by the
Document One The Journey to Slavery is about the life of Olaudah Equiano. Equiano was born in what is now Nigeria in 1745. At the age of 11 Equiano and his younger sister were taken from their home, drug though the woods, sold, and was then separated from one another. Equiano’s experience was considered very rare. Throughout his life as a slave he had three different owners. Equiano went from one master to the other till he ended up in a pleasant country in the hands of a leader with children and two wives. He describes how his owners treated him like he was part of the family. They spoke he same
Olaudah Equiano was a freed slave living in London who made it his life person to abolish the British slave trade. His knowledge and training of the English language allowed him to grow into one of the key figures in the movement to abolish the slave trade in England. Although many scholars acknowledge his incredible talent, there has been evidence in the recent years that may question his reliability as a first-hand account. There is evidence to support that Equiano may have been born in South Carolina. This evidence does not make him a valid source of information about the slave trade and leads his audience to question his statements.
His religious conversion is also a key component within his narrative that’s sets the stage for is beliefs and his association as a religious individual to many of the readers he is trying to persuade. He identifies himself as a true Christian who places his utmost faith in the lord. He does this so much to the extent that he believes his path in life is predetermined and whether his efforts of escaping enslavement are what the Lord wishes for him. Equiano believes himself to be a “favorite of heaven” because of the serendipity he experienced during his enslavement (page 4). On many occasions we see Equiano’s ability to look past the horrors he faced and embrace the life he is in. After being sold into slavery he had the chance to learn to read, write, and speak multiple languages. He was able to gain his freedom unlike many of the slaves during his time. In addition to his education and freedom, while under the ownership of Captain Pascal, Equiano was able to advance his knowledge of the sea and his position as a worker on multiple ships. This love for the sea is something he carried on with him for many years. Which is something I also find ironic and honorable, Equiano loved the sea and the adventure it held for him but considering the revolting carnage he had seen and experienced he still embraced his
Before delving into the author’s identity’s struggle, one must understand his past. Born in Eboe in 1745, Olaudah Equiano was kidnapped and sold into slavery at the age of 11. After spending a brief period of time in Virginia, the author globetrotted on different slave and naval ships, as his voyages bring him to many different places such as England, the Caribbean, and the southern United States. Michael Henry Pascal, one of his masters during this period, gives the author the name of Gustavas Vassa, which he himself as for the rest of his life. During this time, he also converts to Christianity. After his travels with Pascal, Robert King, a Quaker from Philadelphia, purchases the author in 1763. Under King, he works as a clerk as well as on King’s trading sloops. Through minor exchanges permitted by King, he is able to earn and save enough money to purchase his freedom in 1766. Shortly after, the author settles in England in 1767, where he attends school and works as an assistant to scientist Dr. Charles Irving. As a freeman, the author travels extensively, including a 1773 expedition with Irving in search of a Northeast Passage between Europe and Asia, as well as to the Mediterranean and the West Indies. One of these voyages includes a trip to Africa in order to convert Africans to Chris...
There are several occurrences in which Equiano presents his belief that free blacks are worse off than slaves. Their freedom was only nominal and lived in constant fear of becoming recaptured as slaves or being constantly abused of their liberty. While in Georgia, Equiano engaged in a fight with Mr. Read’s slave. Mr. Read wanted punishment and Equiano was shocked and frightened that Mr. Read didn’t respect his title as a free man (page 276).
Equiano experienced first hand, the discrimination and hatred towards African slaves from Europeans while he was enslaved. For example, “a multitude of black people of every description chained together, every one of their countenances expressing dejection and sorrow, I no longer doubted of my fate; and, quite overpowered with horror and anguish” (Document 9). Equiano’s beliefs were the beginning of change in Africa because he also tried to prevent “evil to triumph”. By pushing people from their homes and obtaining natural resources which were property of the African nations. Other nations did not only us the continent for resources, but also as a hunting
More than anything else, this book is centered on the devastating slave trade. Equiano’s own life tells the truth perspective of how terribly the slave trade harmed everyone involved life. Africans, including children, were kidnapped from their homes and families. The families who had somebody kidnapped would be
He was a man who believed to be blessed from all events of his life and for which he hopes for his work to serve the purpose in helping his enslaved brethren. He wished to portrait a positive image on Ebobe people to whom he claims he descended from. The narrative provided a thorough indictment of the slave trade and to thereby compel the British government to abolish it. Although Equiano makes his point in relation to the events of his life by inciting consciences and raising the question to England on its commitment towards democracy, liberty, and equality. He then concludes with a striking rhetorical assault against slavery by stating that it is incompatible with virtue, morality and biblical
Equiano constantly sought out to purchase his freedom. When his master Robert King finally permitted him to raise enough money, he was overjoyed, “[He would] become . . . [his] own master” (105). At one point Equiano got into a fight with a black slave, and the slave’s master wanted to flog Equiano for beating his property, even though the slave hit Equiano first. Afterwards, Equiano met a free black man who was accused of being a slave and threatened with kidnapping. This shows that white men always had power over black men regardless if the black men was property or not. As a result, Equiano soon came to learn “there was little or no law for a free negro” (107). On another occasion Equiano was on a boat that wrecked on the coast of the Bahamas because of a strong current. During this tragic event, some of the white people started to drink their lives away, and none of them helped the others or themselves: “not one of the white men did anything to preserve their lives” (Equiano 114). It was up to Equiano to save them, and if he had not, the white men would have died. However, Equiano did not get the recognition like a white person would. To summarize, this goes to show that blacks were still not equivalent to whites no matter if free or
Equiano implements the construct of Christianity to convict, connect, and instruct his audience about the worth of African slaves outside of the realm of being someone’s property. Equiano argues through the lens of Christianity that the manner in which slavery and the slave trade is occurring stands in direct opposition to Christian morality and to approve one and reject the other is contradictory. In Equiano’s narrative, Christianity is laid as the foundation to the belief that African slaves and their white community are equally valuable and worthy. Works Cited for: Equiano, Olaudah. An interesting narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African.
...h Equaino, and he asked Equaino why the white men on board swear, lie, and get drunk when they know what Equaino knows, but Equaino is the only one to not participate in those activities. Equaino responds with, “the reason was that they did not fear God, and that if anyone of them died so, they could not go to, or be happy with God” (128-129). Equiano truly believed in leading a life that he preached so that he could one day be united with God.
The narrative of Olaudah Equiano is truly a magnificent one. Not only does the reader get to see the world through Equiano's own personal experiences, we get to read a major autobiography that combined the form of a slave narrative with that of a spiritual conversion autobiography. Religion may be viewed as at the heart of the matter in Equiano's long, remarkable journey. Through Equiano's own experiences, the reader uncovers just how massive a role religion played in the part of his Narrative and in that of his own life. More specifically, we learn of how his religious conversion meant a type of freedom as momentous as his own independence from slavery. As one reads his tale, one learns just how dedicated he his to that of his Christian faith; from his constant narration of the scriptures to the way that Equiano feels a growing sense of empowerment from the biblical texts for the oppressed community. However, at the same time, one may question Equiano's own Christian piety. Did Equiano really seek to tell the tale of his soul's spiritual journey, did he really believe God would set him free or was he simply using religion as a ways of manipulating British and American readers to accept him as a credible narrator. Regardless of which of these facts is true, religion is quite possibly the defining feature of his life story.
As a young boy, Olaudah Equiano was kidnapped from his home in Africa and forced into the infamous slave trade. Like many other slaves, he was physically and emotionally traumatized by a series of unfortunate events that occurred in his lifetime. He was traded often, served under numerous masters, shipped along with hundreds of other enslaved people, and had to bear witness to the deaths of several slaves. Equiano was among the few who were eventually able to gain freedom, and even more of a rarity, acquired an education and published his own book. His book was an original for this time period because his audience was primarily European people who had never been able to read about the slave trade from the perspective of an actual former slave.