Reading Notes W7: Olaudah Equiano, Part A
Olaudah Equiano – First African (ex-slave) to write his autobiography. Told in his own words not through the interpretation of a ghost writer. · Equiano was destined to receive the honor of being a chief, a man of importance in his country. “My father was one of those elders or chiefs I have spoke of, and was styled Embrenche; a term, as I remember, importing the highest distinction, and signifying in our language a mark of grander” (page 78). · His people owned slaves, but it was different from European slavery. They were hose who were convicted of a crime or were a prisoner of war (87). Equiano makes a clear distinction of how slaves were treated on his land. “Those prisoners which were not sold or redeemed we kept as slaves in the West Indies! With us they do no more work than other members of the community, even their masters; their food, clothing and lodging were nearly the same as theirs, ( except that they were not permitted to eat with those who were ...