In the narrative of Equiano during the slave trade, we learned that slave were transported across the Atlantic in the most hellish conditions imaginable; they were taken from their homes and sold to merchants. The merchants then introduced them to the life of forced labor and a disease ridden environment. Slaves were tied together and beating when put on the ship, and many hungry people underneath the deck of the ship. The merchant behavior towards the slaves was rapacious, violent, and immoral. People die of hungrier while sailing from one place to another. According to Equiano, two white men offered him to eat, and when he refused to, one of them held by his hand and laid him across the windlass, and tied his feet, while the other whipped
Equiano is then sold to another master, a wealthy widow who had a son. Equiano then states, “The next day I was washed and perfumed, and when mealtime came, I was led into the presence of my mistress, and ate and drank before her and her son. This filled me with astonishment; and I could scarcely avoid expressing my surprise that the young gentlemen should suffer me, who was bound, to eat with him who was free; and not only so, but that he would not at any time either eat or drink till I had taken first, because I was the eldest, which was agreeable to our custom.” (Equiano 29) Up to this point, Equiano had it comparatively easy when compared to the experiences of others who had been enslaved. As The Slave Ship illustrated for us,
One of the most interesting arguments that modern apologists makes for the practice of race-based slavery in the Americas is the fact that slavery existed in Africa during that time period and that Africans were complicit in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. What is fascinating about Olaudah Equiano's discussion of the Middle Passage is that, as a man who had been enslaved in Africa prior to being shipped as a slave to the Americas, he was in a unique position to describe slavery in Africa with his introduction to European-influenced slavery in North America. His perception was that the immense brutality of the Middle Passage foreshadowed the dehumanization of slaves in the Americas, which was more inhumane than the treatment he had received as a slave while in Africa. Furthermore, he did not suggest that this brutality was linked to the race of the traders, though that seemed to have been his initial impression, but to the nature of the Trans-Atlantic trade. Therefore, Equiano's writings suggest that shipping Africans across the ocean for slavery was part of the dehumanizing process that helped fuel the practice of slavery in America.
Olaudah Equiano, the author of The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano was captured in Africa and sold into slavery. Later in life, he purchased his freedom and wrote his autobiography in 1789. Equiano experienced hardships beyond imaging in his years as a slave and oftentimes witnessed extensive cruelty by whites towards Africans. Equiano 's experience of the Atlantic slave trade and middle passage as we understand it today was typical of a regular captive. The Atlantic slave trade, more specifically the experience that Equiano had was horrific. The Atlantic slave trade stands as one of the greatest mistreatments towards other humans to have ever happened, for nearly 400 years this occurred. Equiano 's experience however
Life for Equiano was an emotional roller coaster. He was overwhelmed by turmoil and rejoice as he was separated and reunited with his family, anguish from constant voyages from master to master, satisfied regardless of his particular situation with regard to slavery, and most importantly determined to elucidate society as to what life as a slave was like. Equiano’s experience on African soil was filled with pleasantries and hardships while his experiences on American soil was Equiano’s opportunity for religion and education. Slave owners in Africa were far more accustomed to African ways of life in contrast to the slave owners in America, and although his voyage on the middle passage into European territories left him culture shocked and disgusted with European treatment of slaves, eventually he adjusted to European customs and way of life in America.
Equiano was able to utilize his life experiences and expose the true story behind a slaves journey (from the capturing to the day the slave is placed with an owner), which allowed him to be an influential opponent against the enslavement of Africans. Equiano stated that, “[t]ourtures, murder, and every other imaginable barbarity and iniquity are practiced
There was nothing special about him or his person that made him fit to be a slave, and, in fact, because he was a living, breathing human being with a soul and a mind, he was automatically unfit to be a slave for no other reason than people were never meant to be property. This argument, beyond a shadow of a doubt, is Equiano’s most profound, powerful, rudimentary, and rational argument he produced. In the end, Equiano asked nothing more from the reader than indulgence. Throughout his entire autobiography, he detailed the atrocities he saw and experienced first hand, he shared stories of friends he both made and lost, and he, after everything he had been through, found his final appeal in the basic human emotions of empathy, of understanding, and of compassion. After all the arguments he presented, all the logical steps he took to detail his reasons for supporting abolition, the only thing he had left to ask for was the understanding and agreement that people, human beings, no matter who they were, did not deserve to be enslaved.
Towards the end of the chapter, Equiano describes what it was like on the voyage across the Atlantic, as he recalls, “They put us in separate parcels, and examined us attentively … when soon after we were all put down under the deck again, there was much dread and trembling among us, and nothing but bitter cries to be heard all the night from these apprehensions” (Equiano 1789). Through this description, Equiano shows how he and the people around him were not treated as humans, but as cargo. He shows how, in order for someone to turn a profit, people were taken from their homes and eventually thrown into the lower decks of ships to be sent off to the Atlantic World. Through these descriptions, Equiano seems to be attempting to highlight the inhumane conditions that he and many others were subjected to; and the unjust nature of the trading of people as
Equiano, on a slave ship towards the West Indies, was on the verge of everlasting bondage. “In this manner we continued to undergo more hardships than I can now relate, hardships which are inseparable from this accursed trade. Many a time we were near suffocation from the want of fresh air, which was often without for whole days together.” (57) The conditions for slaves on these transport ships was horrendous, as those in charge cared little for the well being of these Africans. Equiano was unaware of what was to come, and fear lingered in his memory of this unforgiving experience. He explains the process of the transaction, “We were not many days in the merchant’s custody, before we were sold after their usual manner, which was: On a signal given (as the beat of a drum), the buyers rush at once into the yard where the slaves are confined, and make choice of that parcel they like best.” (58)
The narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano was quite an interesting selection to read. It had a lot of different ideas and views in the text that struck some thinking. Equiano was enslaved in both Africa and America. At which he compares the experience of both. Of course since Equiano was enslaved by Americans he at first had a bad viewpoint of Americans or his prior slave masters at which he referred them as mean and cruel. He has had times where his slave master was not as mean as he thought they would be in for example in chapter two. Equiano explains a time when he accidently killed one of the master’s chickens and hid from the master to prevent being punished. He eventually was told on by another slave but surprisingly was not punished, instead he was promised not to be ill-treated by his action. I believe that Equiano’s perception
Tragically, Equiano can't completely escape from the staggering force and rationale of the universal slave exchange. Indeed, even after he's liberated, he partakes in the slave exchange himself: as he gains a living and builds up his own particular individual fortune, he goes around the world over on ships conveying slaves to estates, similarly as he used to be conducted himself. He composes his autobiography with the explicit reason for consummation the slave exchange, however he just seldom recognizes the mystery of his own association in it.
Equiano conjured the horrors of slavery in ways that no one else would be able to. He had firsthand experience and was more educated on the occurrence. In the Narrative of Olaudah Equiano, it tells about his life and what he went through as a slave. A few things were trading between white slave owners, along with very harsh treatment. The people who transported the slaves ignored the fact that they were humans, too. The journey being labeled as horrific would be an understatement and would not give it justice.
Certain events are elaborated upon which further developed Equiano's character. Among them are the encounters that the author had aboard Captain Pascal's ship. As mentioned before, Equiano's life differed greatly from the typical slaves. Due to the fact that he spent most of his time traveling across the Atlantic, he and every other man, regardless of race, was under direct and clear orders. All had a function to fulfill aboard ship, and if a free man or a slave failed in his assigned task, they would be penalized. Furthermore, due to the fact that ships usually consisted of all-male groups, the sailors all shared the rough life of having to prove their masculinity and deal with everyday competition of strength and courage. Equiano was quick to learn this and before long he was called upon deck and paired with
Some Africans did not go without putting up a fight. For instance, Captain Tomba led many villagers “in burning huts and killing neighbors who cooperated with slave traders” (14). He was later captured and sent to the slave ship where he would be sold in the New World. The slaves also resisted by refusing to eat. Most of them decided they would rather have death than to live the lifestyle on the slave ships. The captains punished those who refused to eat by giving them lashes to the bare skin until they decided to eat. Olaudah Equiano could be considered one of the more fortunate Africans involved in the slave trade. Rediker uses Equiano to show how Africans were kidnapped and brought to the slave ship. Equiano was home alone with his sister when he was snatched by a neighboring enemy tribe. Tribes were kidnapping each other to sell to the slave traders for goods and even weapons. Equiano was separated from his sister and sold off to merchants before actually boarding the slave ship. He mentioned several times how he would rather die than be on the slave ship. He noticed right away that “the slave ship was equipped with nettings to prevent precisely such desperate rebellion” (109). Equiano went to the Americas and was left alone when none of the merchants purchased him. He was sold to a captain and boarded his ship back to England. On this slave ship, he was treated much better. He got to stay on the deck and eat better food than he had
Equiano described the cruelty of the crew who kept watch of the Africans. If an African refused to eat, they received an hour of whipping or, even if one preferred death to being a slave, they were brutally punished. Equiano even witnessed the crew hurting one another, to the point where some died and had to be thrown overboard into the sea. A few of the Africans could no longer handle the mistreatment of being a slave and jumped overboard in attempt of suicide. Some succeeded, but those who did not succeed were lifted back on board and beaten unmercifully. At some point, most of the Africans were placed in the basement of the ship and had to endure one another’s stench. There was lack of health assistance and they were not allowed to properly excuse themselves to use the restroom. Because there was lack of fresh air and they had to stay in the basement for days at a time, many of the Africans got sick (Equiano 58). Equiano pondered why the white men treated their slaves so poorly, because slaves in Africa were never treated so inhumane.
I never thought being a slave was as much as this. I knew they suffered, but not as much as them preferring death over being alive. I can picture the situation as a horror scene as many slaves shrieked, groaned, and cried as they died of diseases or maybe of hopelessness. After I read this article, I’ve been interested in other stories about slave ship. The fact that Equiano bought his own freedom makes me realize that slaves having a position in liberty was not easy or given to anybody easily. It came to the moment in their lives where they lost hope in being happy which at some point in their lives, life was not taken seriously. Like Equiano, many slaves did not fight back or tried to escape. There was no point in fighting for their lives. Either way, they would have to die and suffer. I believe that most of the slaves’ reason for their death was the loss of hope they had for their lives. This is a good article to get readers attention and open their eyes to be thankful for what they have which is freedom, food, and a family. None of the slaves could enjoy what we have. They spent most of their lives working and serving others than being close to their families. Overall, “The Horrors of a Slave Ship” have impacted readers and also me in a way that we can see more than just a daily workforce. I know there are millions of other slaves than just Olaudah Equiano. To