Olaudah Equiano Research Paper

Olaudah Equiano and Slavery in the 18th Century Olaudah Equiano’s autobiography was, at its time of publication, an invaluable account of the dark realities of the slave trade. However, to a reader living in the 21st century, Equiano’s insight may seemingly lose some of its value. Olaudah, himself a free slave, helped to humanize the African slaves that many had never given a second thought to, but in a post-abolition and post-civil rights society, the equality between all humans, regardless of race, seems inherent. This account can no longer be read in the same context and with the same mindset as it was intended to be read. Sources of Making of the West includes an excerpt from Equiano’s autobiography, an account of the journey across

They would be punished for attempting suicide. Equiano recounts, “two of the white men offered me eatables, and 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.” (Sources, p 77). The slavers did not antagonize the Africans, but rather did not see them as humans. To them, the Africans were merchandise and they wanted to make sure they were healthy enough to sell. The goal was only for the slaves to make it across the middle passage to be sold. They were beaten to keep them in line and make it easier for the slavers to manage the cargo. The slavers only wanted a sufficient return on their investment and to avoid losing money. Equiano, as well as the other Africans made slaves, obviously hated this treatment. They rightfully resented their fate and their captors. They did not want to benefit those who partake in this cruelest of markets and would resist food and attempt to jump overboard, both to escape a future they deemed not worth living for and to spite the slavers. Suicidal tendencies were apparently very prevalent among the slaves, as Equiano mentions that he had “seen some of these poor African prisoners most severely cut for attempting to [jump off the boat].” (Sources, p