Olaudah Equiano

Spencer Lambert
ENGL 48A
Journal for Olaudah Equiano
November 2, 2009

"We thought by this, we should be eaten by these ugly men, as they appeared to us; and, when soon after we were all put down under the deck again, there was much dread and trembling among us..."

Internet Quotation: "However, while it is true that Equiano relies to some extent on various sources that he acknowledges in his narrative, his work comes forth as the lively portrayal of a deeply spiritual and sincerely humanitarian person." - Heath Anthology of American Literature

Summary: The quotation from Equiano is from his first time being corralled onto a ship after having been kidnapped. I find this passage particularly interesting and a good starting point for discussion because it shows the antithesis to the European view of the slaves. Whites saw the African slaves as savage and in need of civilization. The funny thing is, apparently, that the African slaves saw whites in much the same way. Equiano and his shipmates sees the whites as cannibalistic brutes, constantly fearing being eaten. It is fascinating to see the opposite viewpoint, especially one as strange as this.

The second quotation comes from an American literature anthology, not unlike our own. I like this quotation mostly because of how spiritual and humanitarian Equiano feels to me. He is a kind person throughout the narrative, never exhibiting the ferocity of Douglass. Instead, he keeps within the bounds set forth by society and still manages to make it out of his bonds.

My Ideas: While I very much enjoyed the previous portraits of slavery, this one may be my favorite due to one often overlooked aspect of African slaves: how they actually became slaves. I cannot recall reading anything this year quite so disturbing as Equiano's kidnapping and subsequent travel to the New World. It is easy to forget when reading about slaves on a plantation that they must have gotten there somehow. Many times, it involves the same type of path that Equiano followed. He was outright taken from his home by greedy white brutes, never to see his homeland again. The pure terror of the moment is harrowingly presented by Equiano.



It is from this part of the story that I think the quotation I selected above is so true. The Africans were long seen by Europeans as the savages, with their strange and different customs. Whites long sought to bring civilization to these people, apparently by enslaving them. But how can civilization be civilized when it is run by slaves who were taken from their homes? Is that really the civilization these people were attempting to bestow upon the Africans, the Native Americans, and all other non-white peoples? The delusion that runs through colonialist and imperialist thought is utterly perplexing.

The little instances of inhumanity are perhaps what get me the most: the way the whites throw food away instead of giving it to the starving slaves on the ship. The false hope of freedom granted by masters. The remarks about the inferiority of the slaves. All of these culminate in a hateful groupthink of white racism and prejudice. Instead of realizing that slavery is one of the most atrocious things a person can do to another person, these people instead give into these small transgressions against the slaves, that ultimately lead the continued enslavement of an entire race. It doesn't end, even in the face of an intelligent, respectable slave like Equiano. He's well-traveled, smart, and assiduous, by all accounts a great addition to any nation. And yet he isn't because he looks different. Therefore, the whites believe they can enslave and beat him. It just boggles the mind.

I understand the profit motive behind slavery. Why should I work when I can force another to? Slavery is the epitome of American sloth. But even with this powerful incentive, I still don't understand how so many people could give into the idea of slavery instead of fighting against it. Sure, you can make money by exploiting others -- it's happening even as I write this, somewhere in the world -- but can't you see the inherent injustice in such a system? When I read things like Equiano's narrative, I wish I could go back and, for want of a better term, slap some sense into these moronic white people. It's cruel, it's despicable, and it's wrong.



This is all rather preachy. Perhaps I feel I need to make up for Equiano's deficiency of outright attacks against whites. He calls them brutes, he tells of his terror, he lucidly displays their cruelty. But he never really condemns them like, say, Douglass did. I miss that in this narrative because I think it offers valuable insight into the thoughts of the slave. I can't imagine a person like Equiano never had some sort of angered thought that blasted the whites all around him. I want to hear those! I like the details of his life, especially how he came around to capitalism to win his freedom (one of the few examples I know of capitalism being purely helpful). There isn't a whole lot of fire, though, which I think can be useful for getting a point across.