Equiano Olauduh's autobiography, The Interesting Narrative Life of Equiano Olauduah is an extraordinary story which includes vivid descriptions of the author's life both as a slave and a free black man. Throughout Equiano's life he has encountered many hardships and sorrows. He has come in contact with many people of different races and religions. Equiano Olauduh was a well-rounded intelligent black male in which many people came to love and admire. Equiano was granted his freedom on July 11, 1766. I was astonished at the fact that there was little if any change in the way he was treated upon becoming a free man. Equiano had many opinions and arguments about slavery, racism, interracial marriages, and religion. Two particular arguments brought forth by Equiano against slavery was the moral (sinful) argument and the economic (industrial) argument. I believe Equiano's Narrative was intended to educate all men and women on the cruel reality of slavery ;however the narrative did indeed set out to target the British Parliament.
Equiano argued that slavery was immoral and t
Equiano also argued his case from an economic stand point. He understood that slavery was a lucrative business, and that Englishmen would not stop doing something that made them so rich just because it was a sin. With this in mind Equiano argued that freedom for slaves would speed up the transition of the nation to an industrial economy. He explained this by saying that Africa would be a lucrative market for European goods. Equiano thought that if slaves were free then they would then purchase goods from Europe, making Europe a wealthier nation. "Equiano thus appealed to both the British soul and the British purse"(16).
hat all men regardless of race or color should be treated equally. Some immoral acts that backed up Equiano's moral argument were acts of extortion, torture, kidnapping ,and even rape. Equiano spoke of times when he himself experienced these unjust acts first hand. As a free man Equiano would often work long laborious hours on ships; but when he would go to collect the money promised to him he was many times denied. Another example was when Equiano was trying to sell his fruit in Montserrat a
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