Summary Of The Transatlantic Slave Trade By Olaudah Equiano

Although Olaudah Equiano was not directly involved in American slavery, several aspects of The Life of Olaudah Equiano can be used to understand why the institution lasted so long. A major part of the novel was dedicated to counter one of the major propagating ideas of slavery: the widespread myth that Africans were either not fully human or were of a less developed branch of humanity so enslaving them was moral. Equiano spends the first section of the book

In conclusion, Olaudah Equiano’s experiences of as a slave in the New World and knowledge of slavery in Africa proved that the institution varied depending on the people. In fact, the origins, development and facilitation of slave trade was of great economic benefit to the parties involved but inhumane acts such as slave trade led to their decline and finally their

The African Voices of the Atlantic Slave Trade by Anna C. Bailey takes a rather interesting approach into the history of the Atlantic slave trade. Bailey took a personal journey, and was determined to break the silence. Of course with that being said it would prove to be a difficult quest since so many of these people are shamed about slavery, and the discussion of slavery is a taboo topic in its own ways. It was time to break the silence. Through out the book she explores diverse groups, of distinct people who all share the prevalent history of slavery. Her central theme in unveiling the past is through oral stories. Bailey makes it known in the first chapter that most texts written about the slave trade primarily focus on the Europeans perspective, which is what sets her book apart. Bailey herself residing in Jamaica takes an intimate standpoint to slavery, herself being of African slave descent, and knowing very limited details about her extensive family history. “What is clear from my family history is that more is known about the relatively recent past than is known about the period when my family members were undoubtedly slaves) . Through the obstacles and difficulties Bailey was able to succeed, and gave those affected a voice. Her approach will be examined, and the strengths and weaknesses in her approach will be brought to light.

Olaudah Equiano’s “The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavas Vassa, the African” was first published in 1789 in London, England (687). Equiano’s narrative is informative; however, it is critical of the treatment of slaves and persuasive in its appeals to end the brutal treatment of African Americans. His intended audience was his friends and the public. Regarding the purpose of his narrative, Equiano wrote in Chapter I, “If it affords any satisfaction to my numerous friends … or in the smallest degree promotes the interests of humanity, the ends for which it was undertaken will be fully attained” (688). His narrative also offered a first-hand (first-person narrative) account of slavery and shared the story of his journey towards freedom. Equiano’s narrative is in chronological order after a brief introduction in Chapter I, which explained his purpose for writing his story along with providing background information on his childhood and the culture of his birthplace in Essaka, Africa. Furthermore, although much of Equiano’s story centered on his extensive sea travel, his harmonious mixture of formal and informal word choices along with the lack of the technical terminology commonly associated with sailors helps the general audience

The Life of Olaudah Equiano focuses on the various scenes to which Equiano or otherwise known as Gustavus Vassa was a witness too. Equiano’s story allows for an in depth perspective of slave trade and the way it functioned. Equiano takes the reader upon his journey as an African Slave beginning with his experiences in his native village, his numerous amounts of masters, cruelties and oppressions across the globe, and all the way to his success as a freeman. Equiano strongly focuses on the fact that almost every event in his life made an impression on his mind and influenced his conduct. Hence, making sense of the importance of his status and growth despite of his roots. Equiano always remained aware of his race and culture however he was in search of a freedom that no matter whom he was told to be his identity of obtaining this as well as soon gaining control of his own life always remained the same.

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

Within the 17th century time period, the many slaves that were captured and forced to succumb to the enduring and arduous labor in plantations, often times integrated into European culture. However, Olaudah Equiano not only adopted European lifestyles, but fully embraced himself in this new found culture, essentially abandoning his values that he inherited from his African origin. Equiano’s newly found passion for the European religion allowed Equiano to become a different man, one who accomplished the almost impossible for a slave, freedom. His motivation, God, allowed himself to strive to accomplish more with his life, but at what cost? Consequently, at times it seemed as if religion blinded Equiano from seeking justice for his fellow slaves. Although an effort was implemented, Equiano still failed to convince the Queen of abolishing the slave trade. Ultimately, Equiano’s journey through cultural assimilation lead him to overpower and drown out his roots and at times showed his hypocrisy, when partaking in the commerce of the slave trade.

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, is a personal autobiography of himself, Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, documenting the hardships of slavery throughout his lifetime. Equiano writes one of the best primary sources from a slave’s perspective and master’s perspective during slavery. Equiano does not hold back on the horrors of what traveling as a slave from West Indies to North America was really like. Olaudah Equiano shares his heart wrenching journey through the brutality of slavery experienced at such young age to him mastering economics and being able to free himself from slavery. Freedom and salvation are reoccurring parallel themes throughout this autobiography. Although Equiano’s story has been questioned

In the Bible, the book of Hebrews states, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen” (King James Bible, Hebrews. 11.1).The spiritual tones of “things hoped for”, plays a significant role throughout Olaudah Equiano autobiography, “The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano OR, Gustavus Vassa, The African”. His narrative was originally published in 1789 and went through a series of revisions throughout his lifetime, finally becoming a bestseller. Equiano’s treasured writings, depicts his personal accounts from childhood, holding the status of an African aristocrat in Benin West Africa, to being kidnapped and forced into slavery in the infamous Middle Passage slave trade. While slavery attempts to divest Equiano of his hope for freedom, his narrative asserts that spirituality and literary works produce its own liberty and identity in the world.

Olaudah Equiano, a former African slave in the sixteenth century who later became a slavery abolitionist, was a man of wisdom and experience. In Equiano’s autobiography, The Horrors of the Middle Passage, he explains the hardships that him and other enslaved Africans endured during the migration across the Atlantic to the Americas. During his time on the ship, Equiano’s first-person observations in his autobiography elaborate on the fear, torture, and sickness that Africans were faced with throughout the entire migration. Africans, such as Olaudah Equiano, dealt with getting brutally beaten for the slightest forms of disrespect. If a European offered an enslaved African food and they rejected it, they were “hourly whipped for not eating” (Equiano,

This introduction belongs to the most influential works of Britain’s Abolitionist movement: The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano. This autobiography brought the atrocities of the slave trade to life as Equiano described his kidnapping, service in the Royal Navy as a slave, the abuses and violence he witnessed and experienced in the Caribbean, and finally his coming to Christianity and freedom. This brief biography examines Equiano’s life to discern fact from fiction and probes his significance in the British Abolitionist movement.

In the memoir of abolitionist Olaudah Equiano, he describes the “enormous cruelties” committed by white slave traders on captured Africans during the eighteenth century transatlantic slave trade, which still flourished as he penned his 1784 narrative (Equiano, 5). While Equiano seeks to characterize the innocence and humanity of his African brethren and therefore justify the unethical nature of their

In The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Equiano voices the African American experience through his own life events and that of becoming a slave. He begins by reminiscing his childhood lived in Guinea, Africa, and how he was kidnapped into slavery. He later gets traded to Europeans and is shipped off to the island of Barbadoes. However, in this transition he discovers the contrasts of the practices of slavery in his homeland to the one of the Americas. Unlike in Africa, European slavery methods dehumanize the person and treat them as a lesser being.

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.

Their dancing was organized into four groups of people from the village, and individual group would “represent some interesting scene of real life, such a great achievement, domestic employment, a pathetic story, or some rural sport” (Equiano, 34). For that reason, provided more variety to the dances. In addition, instruments were also used to give the ritual a new liveliness. For example, musical instruments like drums, guitars, and xylophones were greatly played. Furthermore, Equiano found a commonality with the European customs. For instance, both valued somewhat similar religions, cleanliness, and unbroken family structures. All of the important and sacred values and traditions of these people were obliterated when they became slaves. As soon as the stepped onto the boats, they were immediately given a new identity. Throughout, Equiano’s life he obtained many names from Jacob, when he worked in Virginia, Michael, when he was aboard the African vessel, and Gustavus Vassa, during his time with his master, Michael Henry Pascal. By the changing names, slaveowners could directly reinforce to the slaves that they were property. Nonetheless, despite a shared commonality with the Europeans, and his courageous and moral brethren along countless others, were dehumanized by the Europeans through the treatment of the slaves.