Olaudah Equiano: Olaudah Equiano: Narrative VoiceNarrative Voice

Slave Trade and the Middle Slave Trade and the Middle PassagePassage

Background: African SlaveryBackground: African Slavery

• Europeans first arrived Europeans first arrived in Africa in 1441in Africa in 1441

• Slavery existed in Africa Slavery existed in Africa prior to this periodprior to this period

• African slavery was African slavery was different from different from European/American European/American slaveryslavery

Background: African SlaveryBackground: African Slavery• African slavery lacked a African slavery lacked a

racial dimensionracial dimension

• In Africa, slaves could: In Africa, slaves could: marry, own property, and marry, own property, and own other slavesown other slaves

• African slavery ended after African slavery ended after a certain number of years a certain number of years of servitudeof servitude

• Slaves were not passed on Slaves were not passed on from generation to from generation to generationgeneration

Background: American Background: American SlaverySlavery • Initially, American slavery was Initially, American slavery was

a variation of indentured a variation of indentured servitude and slaves would be servitude and slaves would be freed after a certain number of freed after a certain number of years in serviceyears in service

• The English only enslaved The English only enslaved “non-Christian” people“non-Christian” people

• 1662: Virginia passes a law 1662: Virginia passes a law stating that the children of stating that the children of slaves would be slavesslaves would be slaves

• Slaves could not own property, Slaves could not own property, marry, vote, be educatedmarry, vote, be educated

• Slaves had no legal statusSlaves had no legal status

Background: The Slave Background: The Slave TradeTrade• 1641: Massachusetts becomes 1641: Massachusetts becomes

the first colony to recognize the first colony to recognize slavery as a legal institution.slavery as a legal institution.

• 1680: The Royal African 1680: The Royal African company transports 5000 company transports 5000 African captives annually. African captives annually.

• By the 18th century, 45,000 By the 18th century, 45,000 Africans are transported Africans are transported annually on British ships. annually on British ships.

• Slaves packed like cargo between Slaves packed like cargo between decks often had to lie in each decks often had to lie in each other's feces, urine, and blood.other's feces, urine, and blood.

Background: Life on ShipBackground: Life on Ship1781-90 Height of African slave trade: 88,800 Africans transported to New World each year.

In all 10-12 million people were taken from Africa and made slaves.

Barry Unsworth on the Middle Barry Unsworth on the Middle PassagesPassages

• Q: Can you describe the Middle Passage?Q: Can you describe the Middle Passage? A: There is the diagram of a slave ship, showing precisely how the slaves themselves were stowed, how they were placed for the voyage when they were below decks or between decks. Typically there were two levels, one above the other, on either side of the ship, with a central passageway. They had about 18 inches head room, less than 2 feet head room. They couldn't sit. And because they were manacled, they couldn't really change position very easily at all, without hurting themselves or their companions. When the weather was rough they were kept below for a long period. It must have been a nightmare. In the mornings, after the end of periods of bad weather, when they could finally get down there, they would find two manacled together, one dead and one living. It was quite a common experience. I think that in terms of hell on earth, that must have been as near as anyone ever comes, I think, to it.

Olaudah EquianoOlaudah Equiano

• Who are we looking for, who Who are we looking for, who are we looking for?are we looking for?It's Equiano we're looking It's Equiano we're looking for.for.Has he gone to the stream? Has he gone to the stream? Let him come back. Let him come back. Has he gone to the farm? Has he gone to the farm? Let him return.Let him return.It's Equiano we're looking It's Equiano we're looking for. for.     - Kwa chant about the - Kwa chant about the disappearance of an African disappearance of an African boy, Equiano boy, Equiano

                            

    

Three Part Structure of the Three Part Structure of the Slave NarrativeSlave Narrative

• EnslavementEnslavement

• EscapeEscape

• Freedom Freedom

Abolitionist Literature and Abolitionist Literature and AudienceAudience

• The tradition of Slave Autobiography The tradition of Slave Autobiography and Abolitionist Literature begins and Abolitionist Literature begins with Olaudah Equiano’s Narrative.with Olaudah Equiano’s Narrative.

• The specific reason these texts are The specific reason these texts are written is to bring about political written is to bring about political change.change.

Characteristics of Slave Characteristics of Slave NarrativesNarratives

• The Testimonial/Letter of Authenticity: The Testimonial/Letter of Authenticity: the text begins with a letter from a the text begins with a letter from a white editor or prominent person white editor or prominent person verifying that the former slave has verifying that the former slave has actually written the narrativeactually written the narrative

• Equiano’s narrative is different in that Equiano’s narrative is different in that he begins with an Epistle Dedicatoryhe begins with an Epistle Dedicatory

Author’s name included somewhere in Author’s name included somewhere in the title, the phrase “as written by the title, the phrase “as written by him/herself,” and an identification of him/herself,” and an identification of the author as a slave or Africanthe author as a slave or African

Simple forthright styleSimple forthright style•   "I believe it is difficult for those who publish their own "I believe it is difficult for those who publish their own

memoirs to escape the imputation of vanity. . . People memoirs to escape the imputation of vanity. . . People generally think those memoirs only worthy to be read generally think those memoirs only worthy to be read or remembered which abound in great striking events, or remembered which abound in great striking events, those, in short, which in a high degree excite either those, in short, which in a high degree excite either admiration or pity; all others they consign to contempt admiration or pity; all others they consign to contempt or oblivion. It is therefore, I confess, not a little or oblivion. It is therefore, I confess, not a little hazardous in a private and obscure individual, and a hazardous in a private and obscure individual, and a stranger too, thus to solicit the indulgent attention of stranger too, thus to solicit the indulgent attention of the public, especially when I own I offer here the the public, especially when I own I offer here the history of neither a saint, a hero, nor a tyrant. I history of neither a saint, a hero, nor a tyrant. I believe there are few events in my life which have not believe there are few events in my life which have not happened to many; it is true the incidents of it are happened to many; it is true the incidents of it are numerous, and, did I consider myself an European, I numerous, and, did I consider myself an European, I might say my sufferings were great; but when I might say my sufferings were great; but when I compare my lot with that of most of my countrymen, I compare my lot with that of most of my countrymen, I regard myself as a particular favorite of heaven, and regard myself as a particular favorite of heaven, and acknowledge the mercies of Providence in every acknowledge the mercies of Providence in every occurrence of my life. If, then, the following narrative occurrence of my life. If, then, the following narrative does not appear sufficiently interesting to engage does not appear sufficiently interesting to engage general attention, let my motive be some excuse for general attention, let my motive be some excuse for its publication." its publication."

Vivid Characters, Scenes of Vivid Characters, Scenes of Great Violence, and Harrowing Great Violence, and Harrowing EscapesEscapes

Patterned after Biblical story of Patterned after Biblical story of Moses and the Egyptian Moses and the Egyptian CaptivityCaptivity• Slave Narratives Slave Narratives

have a religious have a religious overtoneovertone

• The ultimate goal The ultimate goal of the slave is to of the slave is to escape to the escape to the “promised land” of “promised land” of freedomfreedom

Common Themes of the Slave Common Themes of the Slave NarrativeNarrative

• Quest for freedomQuest for freedom

• Search for homeSearch for home

• Redemption and SalvationRedemption and Salvation

• Search for the deliverance from evilSearch for the deliverance from evil

• Crossing of boundariesCrossing of boundaries

Themes in Equiano’s Themes in Equiano’s NarrativeNarrative

• Freedom and SalvationFreedom and Salvation

• The Symbolic Power of NamingThe Symbolic Power of Naming

• IdentityIdentity

• Racial EqualityRacial Equality

Influences on Equiano’s Influences on Equiano’s NarrativeNarrative

• Protestant Conversion NarrativeProtestant Conversion Narrative

• AnthropologyAnthropology

• Adventure NovelsAdventure Novels

• Enlightenment PhilosophyEnlightenment Philosophy

ActivityActivity

• Find an example of enslavement in Find an example of enslavement in the Equiano text.the Equiano text.

• Find an example of escape.Find an example of escape.

• Find an example of freedom.Find an example of freedom.

• Find an example of sentimentality.Find an example of sentimentality.

• Fin an example of each of the Fin an example of each of the characteristics of slave narratives.characteristics of slave narratives.