From Slave, to Activist
In 1789 Equiano wrote an autobiography called; “The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano”
Having experienced slavery in his very own home, his father a chief, owned many salves. In Africa slaves were treated as family members, for they were both under the family patriarchy. In Africa the slaves do no more work than the other members of the community. |
In his autobiography Olaudah illuminates the inaccuracy of the depiction of the white man’s relationship with the Indigenous to be peaceful and bloodless.
There were also many art forms of Native Americans skinning the scalps of white women, depicting Indigenous people as bloodthirsty and their savage ways of warfare, all of these conceptions and ideas about Indigenous peoples is counteracted by Olaudah Equiano then toured Britain and Ireland selling and signing copies of his autobiography. He traveled in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland |
“Transition from literary sympathy to political activism.”
-Olaudah
Olaudah was himself ensalved at a very young age taken away from his family. His story is so special because he was the first slave to record his experiences. He was taught on the voyage to the Americas.
Works Cited
Bugg, John. "The Other Interesting Narrative: Olaudah Equiano's Public Book Tour." PMLAVol. 121, No. 5 (Oct., 2006), pp. 1424-1442,JSTOR,https://jstorjac.orc.scoolaid.net/stable/2739439
Field, Donaldson, Emily. “Excepting Himself.”MELUSVol. 34, No. 4, Translation and Alternative Forms of Literacy (Winter, 2009), pp. 15-38, JSTOR, https://jstor-jac.orc.scoolaid.net/stable/20618098
Hall, Jennifer and Sabino, Robin. “The Path Not Taken: clutural Identity in the Interesting Life of Olaudah Equiano.” MELUS Vol. 24, No. 1, African American Literature (Spring, 1999), pp. 5-19, JSTOR, https://jstor-jac.orc.scoolaid.net/stable/467904
Murphy, Geraldine. "Olaudah Equiano, Accidental Tourist." Eighteenth-Century Studies
Vol. 27, No. 4, African-American Culture in the Eighteenth-Century (Summer, 1994), pp. 551-568, JSTOR, https://jstor-jac.orc.scoolaid.net/stable/2739439
Rolingher, Louise. "A Metaphor for Freedom: Olaudah Equiano and Slavery in Africa"
Canadian Journal of African Studies / Revue Canadienne des Études Africaines
Vol. 38, No. 1 (2004), pp. 88-122,JSTOR, https://jstor-jac.orc.scoolaid.net/stable/4107269
Bugg, John. "The Other Interesting Narrative: Olaudah Equiano's Public Book Tour." PMLAVol. 121, No. 5 (Oct., 2006), pp. 1424-1442,JSTOR,https://jstorjac.orc.scoolaid.net/stable/2739439
Field, Donaldson, Emily. “Excepting Himself.”MELUSVol. 34, No. 4, Translation and Alternative Forms of Literacy (Winter, 2009), pp. 15-38, JSTOR, https://jstor-jac.orc.scoolaid.net/stable/20618098
Hall, Jennifer and Sabino, Robin. “The Path Not Taken: clutural Identity in the Interesting Life of Olaudah Equiano.” MELUS Vol. 24, No. 1, African American Literature (Spring, 1999), pp. 5-19, JSTOR, https://jstor-jac.orc.scoolaid.net/stable/467904
Murphy, Geraldine. "Olaudah Equiano, Accidental Tourist." Eighteenth-Century Studies
Vol. 27, No. 4, African-American Culture in the Eighteenth-Century (Summer, 1994), pp. 551-568, JSTOR, https://jstor-jac.orc.scoolaid.net/stable/2739439
Rolingher, Louise. "A Metaphor for Freedom: Olaudah Equiano and Slavery in Africa"
Canadian Journal of African Studies / Revue Canadienne des Études Africaines
Vol. 38, No. 1 (2004), pp. 88-122,JSTOR, https://jstor-jac.orc.scoolaid.net/stable/4107269