Olaudah Equiano, A Reliable Source For Historians, Educators, And Students

Douglass got his passion to promote freedom for all slaves after he escaped from slavery and ultimately had an end goal to “abolish slavery in all its forms and aspects, and promote the moral and intellectual improvement of the coloured people and hasten the day of freedom to the three million of enslaved fellow countrymen”. He also wrote several autobiographies describing his experiences as a slave. One of the autobiographies in particular, ‘Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave’ published in 1845 was a best-selling and was extremely influential for promoting the cause of abolition. The narrative shows a compelling argument to basic human rights thus making it extremely influential as the narrative clearly possesses features and linguistic skills, which for most white people, negated their common perception of black people being illiterate in the 19th century.

"I believe there are few events in my life which have not happened to many; it is true the incidents of it are numerous, and, did I consider myself an European, I might say my sufferings were great; but when I compare my lot with that of most of my countrymen, I regard myself as a particular favorite of heaven, and acknowledge the mercies of Providence in every occurrence of my life." Olaudah Equiano lived the life as a slave like many black people of the 18th century. He was born free but soon was forced into slavery which took him all around the world. From his accounts he has written down, he shows his life as a slave. Equiano had been bought and sold throughout the Americas and Europe; he showed the

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

If it were not for the stories past down from generation to generation or the documentations in historical books, the history of the twelve million African slaves that traveled the “Middle Passage” in miserable conditions would not exist. Olaudah Equiano contributes to this horrid history with The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano. Through this narrative, the appalling personal experience of each slave is depicted. He accomplishes his rhetorical purpose of informing the world of the slave experience in this narrative. His use of unique style and rhetorical devices in this conveying narrative portray his imperative rhetorical purpose.

Through the eyes of the white plantation owner in the eighteenth century, Equiano is less than credible. During the late eighteenth century, Europeans viewed the world through eurocentric eyes; this caused them to view all Africans as heathens despite their intricate and complex societies. Equiano was born in Africa; because of this, his credibility was greatly diminished. His reputation sunk further the minute he was taken aboard a slave ship. Although he is clearly capable of critical thinking and has mastered the written word, Equiano needed to prove himself more than a white writer would.

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

In Olaudah Equiano narrative discusses the many obstacles, struggles which he has to overcome for his path to freedom. Equiano had many difficult problems in his life which many people have taken a special role in. I will discuss about the countless people that had both positive and negative impact in Equiano’s life. Equiano’s life was not an easy one, I will argue despite the many obstacles that came across his life he always remained strong which is why he was able to gain his freedom. I will discuss the major transitions that were made in in his. The unexpected journeys that came in his life and changed it entirely.

Equiano’s luck soon shifted when he was once again kidnapped and sold as a slave, this time he would have to endure the notoriously dreadful journey across the sea to America. Knowing that this was a pivotal point in his life and that he would become a gudgeon to the harshness of slavery, Equiano attempted to prepare himself for what lay ahead. However, the sight of the inhumane acts he witnessed on the African coast, while being transported, were new to Equiano and instilled fear into his consciousness.

The Africans on the Trans-Atlantic slave trade had faced a myriad of threats and problems to their life on the voyage. One African who goes by the name of Olaudah Equiano was one of the people that were dragged into slavery and the slave trade, but Equiano would find a way to escape his captors and account his journey of what it was like to be held captive. Equiano would narrate his astonishment on seeing the slave ship for the first time and how it would soon become terror as he realized that he would spend the next few months of his life on the ship. At the same time Equiano was filled with astonishment to figure out how had the white man created a boat so big and

In 1745, Olaudah Equiano was born in Eboe, which is now Nigeria. When he was about eleven years old, he was kidnapped and sold to slave traders heading to the West Indies. Though he spent a short time in the state of Virginia, much of his time in slavery was spent serving the captains of slave ships and British navy vessels. One of his masters, Henry Pascal, the captain of a British trading vessel, gave him the name Gustavas Vassa, which he hardly used throughout his life. Paul Lovejoy, Canada Research Chair in African Diaspora History stated:

Olaudah Equiano was born in 1745 in the African country that is now Nigeria. He saw the traders hurrying onto the village and knew that there was no time for them to reach safety. He and his sister crouched in the corner of the hut and they began to hold their breath. Their hearts were pounding and their ears were strained for the sound of approaching. Both Olaudah and his sister were roughly seized and their mouths were stopped with dirty clothes to stop them from crying out. Sacks were placed over their heads and they were carried away from the village. After a while they were put down on the ground and their hands were tied behind their backs. The sacks were replaced over their heads and again they were carried until nightfall. They were

After watching that preview of Equiano experience of a young boy captured by traders and brought to a slave ship. I had to look up in my textbook more about Equiano’s life and the text states that, “Equiano described during the 1780s how horrible it was living around that time. Also, him describing the white slave traders, with their “horrible looks, red faces, and long hair,” appeared to be savages who acted with a “brutal cruelty” that went beyond anything their victims had previously

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.

The narrative by Olaudah Equiano gives an interesting perspective of slavery both within and outside of Africa in the eighteenth century. From these writings we can gain insight into the religion and customs of an African culture. We can also see how developed the system of trade was within Africa, and worldwide by this time. Finally, we hear an insider's view on being enslaved, how slaves were treated in Africa, and what the treatment of African slaves was like at the hands of the Europeans.

In The Interesting Narrative and Other Writings by Olaudah Equiano, Equiano gave interesting descriptions of his and others experience as a slave. He begins his novel by first explaining the place where he grew up, Nigeria, Africa. This part of Africa during that time was very fruitful and rich. Given this location, it can be understood that Equiano came from a family of wealth and power. He was the youngest and most favored of his siblings. Equiano explained the different African traditions and practices, i.e. honoring the dead, arranged marriages, dance ceremonies. Equiano loved Africa and his family but sadly one horrific day, he and his older sister were stolen from their home and later separated from each other. Not only was he