Primary Source Review Olaudah Equiano

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Primary Source Review #1 In The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, an African-American slave recalls a particular auction that stirred in him many questions regarding the moral values of these “Christians” that were purchasing slaves and ripping families apart. Even in this short excerpt from Olaudah’s autobiography, the reader is able to feel the great confusion and anger that Olaudah feels toward the white Christians that are participating in this, according to Christian values, morally corrupt practice of owning slaves. Olaudah Equiano retells the stories of this and many other auctions in his autobiography not only to document the events, but also to raise the question of how this practice is in any way humane or civil; Olaudah intends to question the moral values of these “nominal Christians” (Equiano 135) and why they are able to escape their Christian beliefs long enough to purchase and enslave human beings. Olaudah’s tone in this document is frustrated and accusatory at …show more content…

Although he was a slave, he was able to read and write; very few slaves were educated, and sometimes even white men were illiterate. Equiano’s academic abilities show that he was a smart and respected slave, giving his words and thoughts more authority and, therefore, making them easier for the reader to believe. Had this document been the words of an uneducated slave, the reader would be warier to believe the events described; but, since Equiano wrote this first-hand experience himself, it is easier to believe that the events are real and accurate. Because of his education, Equiano’s ideas hold value and aren’t just emotionally driven accusations made by an angry, uneducated slave. His ideas are wise and thought out, and even though they may have hints of emotion and opinion threaded into them, the events and ideas presented in this document are

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