Olaudah Equiano Describes the Middle Passage, 1789 In this harrowing description of the Middle Passage, Olaudah Equiano described the terror of the transatlantic slave trade. Equiano eventually purchased his freedom and lived in London where he advocated for abolition.
Full Answer
How is Equiano treated by European slave traders in the Middle Passage?
Equiano refers to his treatment by European slave traders in the Middle Passage as “a new refinement in cruelty” and paints a picture of a harrowing journey on board a slave ship.
What was the purpose of Equiano’s interesting narrative?
His Interesting Narrative served as the foremost abolitionist writing of the day because he was an African voice that described the violence and degradation of the slave trade and of slavery itself. Equiano’s narrative spurred nine English editions through 1794 and was published in Dutch, French, and Russian.
What did Olaudah Equiano do?
His work was published under his birth name: The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano. A resident of London during the 1780s, Equiano became involved in British abolitionism and was a vocal opponent of the slave trade and slavery until his death in 1797.
What is Equiano’s account of the ship ride like?
No other slave narrative offers an account of the ship ride as lengthy or descriptive as Equiano’s; he describes the filthy living conditions he and fellow Africans endured, the suicide of a couple of captives, and other types of cruelties hurled at him and his shipmates.
What did Olaudah Equiano say about the Middle Passage?
This wretched situation was again aggravated by the galling of the chains, now become insupportable; and the filth of the necessary tubs, into which the children often fell, and were almost suffocated. The shrieks of the women, and the groans of the dying, rendered the whole a scene of horror almost inconceivable.
What was Equiano's purpose?
In its introduction, Equiano states that the main purpose of the book is to "excite in [the reader's] august assemblies a sense of compassion of the miseries which the Slave-Trade has entailed on my unfortunate countrymen." The book succeeded dramatically in this regard, since it offered a vivid first-hand account of ...
How did Equiano treat his slaves?
As an upper class citizen, he was entitled to own slaves. Although a slave himself at one time, he looks back on his village's use of slavery as decent, not detestable like what he sees in the West Indies. The slaves are treated almost like everyone else in his eyes, with equal types of food, clothing, and housing.
What was Olaudah Equiano's message?
In this autobiography, the author, Olaudah Equiano, detailed his life journey from African captivity to Atlantic slavery to British freedom. In twelve chapters, Equiano presented a body of evidence that helped to support the cause of abolition and the end of transatlantic slaving by Britain and others.
What describes the Middle Passage?
The Middle Passage was the stage of the Atlantic slave trade in which millions of enslaved Africans were transported to the Americas as part of the triangular slave trade.
How does Equiano describe slavery in Africa?
In his autobiography he describes the inconceivable conditions of the slaves' hold: the "shrieks of the women," the "groans of the dying," the floggings, the wish to commit suicide, how those who somehow managed to drown themselves were envied.
Who was Olaudah Equiano what happened to him quizlet?
Who is Olaudah Equiano? Equiano became a slave at the age of 11, he was kidnapped and was seperated from his sister soon after the kidnapping.
Where did Equiano live?
Equiano eventually purchased his freedom and lived in London where he advocated for abolition. At last, when the ship we were in had got in all her cargo, they made ready with many fearful noises, and we were all put under deck, so that we could not see how they managed the vessel.
Who wrote the poem "At last we came in sight of the island of Barbadoes"?
At last we came in sight of the island of Barbadoes, at which the whites on board gave a great shout, and made many signs of joy to us. Olaudah Equiano, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equi ano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, written by Himself (London: 1790), 51-54. Available through the Internet Archive.
What happened to Equiano in 1773?
In 1773, Equiano returned to London after a harrowing voyage during which he almost died . His near-death drowning experience had turned his mind to his eternal destiny, and he later wrote that the voyage had “caused me to reflect deeply on my eternal state, and to seek the Lord with full purpose of heart ere it was too late.” He also explained that he “was determined to work out” his “own salvation, and in so doing procure a title to heaven.”
What was Olaudah Equiano's argument against slavery?
Olaudah Equiano’s Argument Against Slavery Was His Life Experience. The Igbo writer wrote honestly about the brutality of his experience—and of the Christian faith that sustained him. Eric Washington. Image: Painting by William Denton / Colorized by Rick Szuecs. Current Issue.
How old was Equiano when he was kidnapped?
Equiano was 11 years old when Igbo-speaking slave catchers stole him and his sister away from their home. But he wasn’t immediately shipped off to the British colonies. Instead, he worked as a slave in numerous households in what is now Nigeria before reaching the coast. While enslaved in his homeland, kidnappers kept Equiano separated from his sister. In his memoir, he writes that he grew to the point where he yearned for death. While he did not record any harsh thoughts he had about his African masters and mistresses, Equiano had choice words for African slave catchers and called them “uncircumcised.”
Why are Igbo and Jewish naming practices similar?
His writings also compare Igbo and ancient Israelite practices, noting Igbo circumcision, and suggest that Igbo and Jewish naming practices are similar because the two cultures name their children in light of an important event or a notable circumstance surrounding one’s birth. In fact, the text goes so far as to argue that Igbos—all Africans in fact—originated from the Jews.
Where was Equiano born?
According to his Interesting Narrative, the author was born in what is now eastern Nigeria, in Igboland, in 1745. (Note: While historians have questioned his account, after reading their arguments and doing my own assessment of the documents, I am inclined to trust the veracity of Equiano’s story.) Unlike accounts of enslaved people that begin in the Western Hemisphere, Equiano introduces his readers to his homeland and people and focuses on the type of government established in his Igbo village, as well as his community’s marriage customs, arts, and agriculture.
Who was the Quaker who enslaved people in the Caribbean?
After living on the confines of Navy vessels in the Atlantic during the Seven Years’ War, Equiano was sold to a Quaker who transported goods and enslaved people throughout the Caribbean and in North America. Equiano initially worked on his owner’s small ship, traveling to different Caribbean ports to sell fruit, tumblers, and other items to Europeans. While Europeans often sought to cheat him out of his money, Equiano nevertheless soon amassed enough money to purchase his freedom in 1766.
Did Equiano study Judaism?
Equiano began attending Anglican churches and Quaker meetings, he studied Roman Catholic teachings, and he even considered Judaism. He then consented to just read the four Gospels “and whatever sect or party I found adhering thereto such” he “would join.”
What are the disturbing things about Equiano's autobiography?
Many images in Equiano’s autobiography are disturbing such the separation of the writer and his sister, and the crew members whipping other members. However, the image of hundreds of slaves in the ship's cargo hold is the most disturbing in the account. Equiano stated, “The closeness of the place and the heat of the climate, added to the number in the ship, which was so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself, almost suffocated us” (Equiano 3). Hundreds of African men and women were fettered together in the hot cargo hold, were barely fed, and only had buckets to defecate in which were not regularly emptied. These conditions led to disease, illness and often death; horrendous conditions like these are cruel and inhumane.
What is the description of slavery in Equiano's travels?
Equiano’s Travels provides a wonderful description of enslavement in West Africa and also the Middle Passage to make it seem as if you are actually there. Equiano used various descriptive words to describe the conditions of enslavement across the Atlantic Ocean. In chapter one, Equiano explains his village, Elboe, in terms of what he experienced, the traditions, and he mentions a little about slavery domestically. The way slavery existed was generally by a punishment of a crime. Slaves were only “. . .prisoners of war, or such among us as had been convicted of kidnapping, or adultery, and some other crimes which we esteemed heinous.” (6) The people of Elboe were known for their employment in agriculture. The reason the Elboe slaves were preferred was because of their “. . hardiness, intelligence, integrity.” (7)
How did Europeans in the times of the slave trade from time to time vindicate enslavement of African?
Europeans in the times of the slave trade from time to time vindicated enslavement of Africans by indicating that slavery by that time occurred on that continent. African communities established many forms of slavery and confinement that mixed from a kind of labor position to something that is more like slavery in which human beings are measured as things. Slavery has been around since the beginning of time. The intentions of slavery is mainly financial, slaves were affordable and non- essential. They were often shipped form poverty- stricken areas with an outstanding source of labor at a low price.
What were the conditions under the deck where Equiano lived?
The conditions under the deck where Equiano lived were dreadful: people were packed together so tightly that they were fighting for breathing room. This compactness caused some people to die of sickness and disease. Once there were three slaves who committed suicide by drowning themselves in the sea even though
What were the challenges that Christopher Columbus faced?
Even after the voyage started, he still faced obstacles including starvation, mutiny, and the fact that the crew of his ships despised him and wanted him dead. On a small ship, disease spreads easily; oftentimes people would die on the ships from malnutrition, illness and violence. During the voyage, Columbus lost many ships, the majority of them in fact. This caused even more cramped quarters, which in turn, made the spread of disease easier (“Christopher Columbus's Challenges He Encountered.”). Both of the men faced challenges during their journeys, and that is what makes their feats even more surprising and
Why did Africans prefer death over slavery?
Slaves were introduced to unknown diseases and suffered from malnutrition long before they reached their destination. Many of the Africans preferred death over slavery. As Olaudah Equiano mentions, some men that were traveling with him jumped to the ocean to reach death, but did not succeed. The death of the Africans meant economic loss for the traders, so maintaining them alive before selling them, was a rough