Olaudoh+Equiano



Olaudah Equiano was an upper class native of Nigeria before the slave traders raided his West African village. He endured an incredible life journey that included being bought and sold a number of times. Often, his 'masters' promised him freedom, but it wasn't until he bought his own freedom that he was able to write about the horror of slavery. Many historians believe that it was his autobiography that ultimately put an end to slavery in Europe. (The abolition of slavery in America would take many more years.) In fact, his autobiography remains one of the most famous and influential works of literature in the entire world. One of the most important reasons is because of Equiano's recollection of his childhood in Africa. His story shed light on a much different version of the 'Dark Continent' and is often compared to Conrad's Heart of Darkness.

Read chapter one of [|Equiano's Autobiography] and for your wikipost, identify your own reaction in the form of a thesis and support this thesis in a well developed and high interest paragraph. Consider the following: 1. Is there evidence of a culture in his home country? 2. What aspects of his home are the most different from our culture? 3. Identify the tone that he uses in describing his home. 4. Why, oh why, do American public schools not discuss this man and his writing...or the fact that he put an end to slavery in England and other European countries LONG before American would see the forward motion of slavery abolition?