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Olaudah Equiano Research Paper

1614 Words7 Pages

The Endeavors of Olaudah Equiano

Fiorella Ronchi

Advanced American Literature

Mrs. Deborah Phillips

14 May 2018

Not all slavery consists of working in agriculture or sweatshops. Olaudah Equiano is one of the many and first Africans to board a slave ship for trade. He was born in what is now Isseke, Nigeria in 1745. Olaudah was a son to a mother and chief, and a brother to five other siblings. He was exposed to slavery at a young age. Africans who owned slaves were at risk of becoming slaves themselves. At the age of eleven, he was kidnapped along with his sister by Nigerian criminals, and sold to European traders. It was not long until him and his sister were separated. He exchanged masters …show more content…

He was asked by Doran if he knew him and he did not. He then told him he is now his slave. Olaudah told him his master could not sell him to anyone else. Doran questioned him because he knew Pascal had purchased him. Doran replied saying he spoke “too much” English, and if he did not follow orders and quiet down, he would suppress him. Equiano began to think his new circumstances were God's punishments for his sins.
He was taken back to the West Indies, where he was frightened at the glimpse of Montserrat. The thought of fear arose in his mind displaying nothing but misery, stripes, and chains. He did not know what to expect with his new master, considering his first conversation with him, and he was not eager to experience more of his cruelty and arrogance. Following Pascal’s orders, Doran sold Olaudah to Mr. Robert King, a "generous and sympathetic" Quaker trader who hired him to work a variety of occupations. These included packing boats to accounting and assisting as a personal servant. In addition, King often hired out Equiano’s favors to other merchants. Thomas Farmer, a captain of King’s, counted on Equiano for voyages to North America from the West …show more content…

Although there is still forced labor in different parts around the world, there are more ways to help victims, and incarcerate those responsible. Today’s modern slavery consists of sexual exploitation and forced labor in drug cartels. We are lucky enough that we are not auctioned, and traded for goods we can get today at a grocery store. Olaudah’s journey to the New World, is one of the many stories that we have available to us today through the click of a button. Slavery in the British colonies could have still been a possibly if it weren’t for Olaudah

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Both Mary and Equiano suffered greatly upon their being taken. They both endured mental, physical, and emotional distress at being torn from their families and friends. Equiano was only a child when he was taken from his village, away from everything and everyone he had ever known, so the natural fear of parental separation would be terrifying in itself. Many years later, as he was being shipped overseas, he witnessed the cruel and inhumane treatment of innocent people. In describing the living conditions of the slave ship, Equiano states, “The shrieks of the women, and the groans of the dying, rendered the whole a scene of horror almost inconceivable” (Equiano 1279).

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Olaudah’s Autobiography states. ”;on my refusing to eat, one of them held me fast by the hands, and laid me across I think the windlass, and tied my feet, while the other flogged me severely. I had never experienced anything of this kind before. . . . The crew used to watch us very closely chained down to the decks, in case we would ever leap into the water: and I have seen some of these poor African prisoners, most severely cut for attempting to do so.” This is evident that slaves were treated tempestuously because if he is a slave and sees other slaves being cut for trying to escape and knowing what happens to slaves when they refuse to eat and going through all the punishment.

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Although the slaves were never released, the conditions on board the ship were uncomfortable. Equiano narrates the horrifying event as follows: "The proximity of the location, coupled with the warm temperature and a packed ship that left little space for people to turn around, nearly caused asphyxia" (Equiano 171). Equiano's story is that of a journey from ignorance to wisdom, another sees it as a journey from freedom into captivity and back

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