The Importance And Influence In The Literature Of Equiano

Equiano was the embodiment of politicized transition from oral to literature culture. After a forceful removal from Africa, Equiano found himself in West indie as a slave, he then had to adapt to the new culture and system of expression. Having come from a society where information and power was associated with oral expression, he quickly found out that in this new land reading and writing are the empowering tool with which an African can free himself. The conflict between the two cultures is depicted in Equiano’s first contact with a book, where he wrote of how he was often curious whenever he saw his master reading a book, and he was eager to talk to the book as he thought the books were eager to talk to him (Equiano 69)
Equiano gradually started to gain literacy when he arrived in England, and realizes that literacy is inextricably linked

The fact that he gained his literacy while still acting as a slave, adds authority and authenticity to his narrative. The literature of Equiano considered the social conditions of the time therefore empowering his insight on the history he had. His book focuses majorly on the social structure during the slave trade period. As a result his narrative an abolition movement is revealed in which it was well described through his personal experience (Equiano 104).
Equiano’s literacy greatly contributed to the abolition movement because of his elite participation in it. Although his narrative was not the first to be released, it was significant because of his status as a former black slave and the fact that he wrote his book without any assistance from a white editor. This shows proof that Africans have the ability to be literate and the intelligence to use it politically. This has proved wrong the assumption that Africans cannot receive instructions. It further shows that the intellectual ability between the white and black people is the