The Life of Equiano Olaudah
Equiano Olauduh's autobiography, The Interesting Narrative Life of Equiano Olauduah is an extraordinary story which includes vivid descriptions of the author's life both as a slave and a free black man. Throughout Equiano's life he has encountered many hardships and sorrows. He has come in contact with many people of different races and religions. Equiano Olauduh was a well-rounded intelligent black male in which many people came to love and admire. Equiano was granted his freedom on July 11, 1766. I was astonished at the fact that there was little if any change in the way he was treated upon becoming a free man. Equiano had many opinions and arguments about slavery, racism, interracial marriages, and religion. Two particular arguments brought forth by Equiano against slavery was the moral (sinful) argument and the economic (industrial) argument. I believe Equiano's Narrative was intended to educate all men and women on the cruel reality of slavery ;however the narrative did indeed set out to target the British Parliament. Equiano argued that slavery was immoral and t
As a free man Equiano would often work long laborious hours on ships; but when he would go to collect the money promised to him he was many times denied. "Equiano encouraged open, free, and generous loves upon Nature's own wide and extensive plain, subservient only to moral rectitude, without distinction of the color of a skin"(13). He believed this solution was a natural solution and that it would strenghthen the British nation. After reading this book I personally am surprised at how very little I actually knew about slavery. He understood that slavery was a lucrative business, and that Englishmen would not stop doing something that made them so rich just because it was a sin. Equiano Olauduh's, The Interesting Narrative Life of Equiano Olauduh was a abolitionist tool and today is also used as an important tool in helping students and others better understand the immoral acts of slavery. For example, even though he was free he was still not paid many times for work, often stolen from, and even almost kidnapped. These are just a few of the many examples of immoral treatment encountered by Equiano, which is why he found it important to argue his point of immorality to these supposed Christians. Some immoral acts that backed up Equiano's moral argument were acts of extortion, torture, kidnapping ,and even rape. Equiano helped organize the Sons of Africa which spoke out on issues important to the black community. Another example was when Equiano was trying to sell his fruit in Montserrat and two white men took it from him and when he asked that they return it they threatened to flog him. Equiano Olauduh or Gustavus Vasa worked hard and strived everyday not only for his own freedom, but for the freedom of all men and women. I have always known slavery was immoral and wrong but I never realized how cruel and degrading it really was. So even though I found many parts of the book very informative, I also found many parts unbearable to read because of the explicit details. With this in mind Equiano argued that freedom for slaves would speed up the transition of the nation to an industrial economy.
Common topics in this essay:
Equiano Olauduh,
Christians Equiano,
Parliament Equiano,
Europe Europe,
Equiano Olauduah,
Equiano's Narrative,
Gustavus Vasa,
Throughout Equiano's,
Sons Africa,
European Equiano,
equiano olauduh,
equiano argued,
life equiano,
narrative life equiano,
interracial marriages,
immoral acts,
equiano's narrative,
free equiano,
slavery immoral,
equiano olauduh's,
nation equiano,
|
Acceptance Essays
