Essay On Abina And The Important Men

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Recommended: Introduction of the Abolitionist movement into American politics

Kristen McNamara
HIS 108
Essay #2
4/13/18

Slavery in Abina and the Important Men

One of the most important parts in our history involves the influence of slavery throughout Africa. In the graphic novel, Abina and the Important Men, by Getz and Clarke, the true story of a young girl, Abina who was wrongly enslaved in the Gold Coast Protectorate, present day Ghana.(116) In 1875, slavery was abolished there, and Abina goes on trial, suing her previous “master”. This story is particularly significant due to the fact that it is a true story. One theme that is present throughout this remarkable graphic novel is - What does it mean to be a slave? Many characters had their own specific perspectives on slavery, specifically by the “important men”, …show more content…

As the novel progresses, the reader learns more about what an “important man” refers to - a man who has some sort of influence, whether it be at the local level or all the way up to the level with the British. (122) The most significant of these men include William Melton, James Davis, James Hutton Brew, and Quamina Eddo. Firstly, William Melton is the acting judicial assessor during Abina’s trial. (128) Throughout the story, Melton is torn between sympathy between sympathy for Abina and the morality of slavery. (137) He seems to be an overall good person with morals, though at the start he does express to Davis, Abina’s attorney, that he feels that he has been put into a tough situation due to the British relying on these ‘important men’, Abina’s former “owners” to produce palm oil for them. (14) He also told them that they “do not want to start a legal battle with them”. (14) His overall views on slavery are very straightforward. (139) When he is assessing the case, he asks questions such as: “Did any money change …show more content…

These beliefs differ greatly from the “important men” in the novel, including Melton, Davis, Brew and Quamina Eddo. These men’s perceptions on slavery are similar, yet also slightly contradictory of each other. This can be seen through the important men’s influence with the British, and Abina’s own direct experiences with slavery. This story is tremendously important and hit upon some serious aspects that are extremely relevant within African

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