Friday, February 13, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Slave
October 16, 1788
London, England
Upon hearing about Parliament’s debate over the slave trade, I felt compelled to do my part to help bring about an end to this barbaric practice. I was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Africa at age eleven. Eventually I found my way onto a slave ship to the West Indies. As much as 50% of my fellow passengers die on these ships each horrific trip that they make across the Atlantic and the brutality suffered by those who actually arrive at their destination is beyond belief. While in the West Indies, I witnessed countless acts of viciousness, and I found it hard to tolerate and well as understand the behavior of these purported “god-fearing” Christian men. All of their behavior seemed to contradict their religious teaching, yet it was although to them there was no conflict between the two because of their view that we were somehow not like them and did not deserve to be treated as a fellow human-being.
Next, I spent a short time in Virginia, and was sold to British Naval Officer and served as a crewman on his ship for many years, traveling all over the world. Yet, although I traveled from the Caribbean to Nova Scotia, and North Carolina to Scotland, I was never free until I purchased my freedom on July 10, 1766. Afterwards, I remained on the ship for a time, enjoying my freedom and exploring my new found independence. I then felt compelled to return to England where I married and started a family. Here, as a survivor of the slave trade and one of the fortunate few who was able to escape its stranglehold, I have focused my efforts on the Abolitionist Movement.
This movement seems to naturally relate to the ideas of democracy and equality among all men that the Americans only recently expressed in The Declaration of Independence and Constitution. These documents express the ideas that “all men are endowed by their creator by certain inalienable rights” and that it is the government’s job to protect these rights and “establish justice” for all men. Although the Americans preach these ideals, I have not seen them extended to African Americans, Native Americans, or even women. It is strange that they can so fervently desire freedom and independence, yet cannot appreciate the pain and suffering that they are causing to those that they have enslaved. Although the American government has failed up to this point to extend the same rights to African Americans, that we fought and died for alongside those that enjoy them because of our sacrifice, you can right that wrong. Acknowledge the cruelty and depravity of the slave trade and bring an end to it in England.
-Olaudah Equiano
London, England
Upon hearing about Parliament’s debate over the slave trade, I felt compelled to do my part to help bring about an end to this barbaric practice. I was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Africa at age eleven. Eventually I found my way onto a slave ship to the West Indies. As much as 50% of my fellow passengers die on these ships each horrific trip that they make across the Atlantic and the brutality suffered by those who actually arrive at their destination is beyond belief. While in the West Indies, I witnessed countless acts of viciousness, and I found it hard to tolerate and well as understand the behavior of these purported “god-fearing” Christian men. All of their behavior seemed to contradict their religious teaching, yet it was although to them there was no conflict between the two because of their view that we were somehow not like them and did not deserve to be treated as a fellow human-being.
Next, I spent a short time in Virginia, and was sold to British Naval Officer and served as a crewman on his ship for many years, traveling all over the world. Yet, although I traveled from the Caribbean to Nova Scotia, and North Carolina to Scotland, I was never free until I purchased my freedom on July 10, 1766. Afterwards, I remained on the ship for a time, enjoying my freedom and exploring my new found independence. I then felt compelled to return to England where I married and started a family. Here, as a survivor of the slave trade and one of the fortunate few who was able to escape its stranglehold, I have focused my efforts on the Abolitionist Movement.
This movement seems to naturally relate to the ideas of democracy and equality among all men that the Americans only recently expressed in The Declaration of Independence and Constitution. These documents express the ideas that “all men are endowed by their creator by certain inalienable rights” and that it is the government’s job to protect these rights and “establish justice” for all men. Although the Americans preach these ideals, I have not seen them extended to African Americans, Native Americans, or even women. It is strange that they can so fervently desire freedom and independence, yet cannot appreciate the pain and suffering that they are causing to those that they have enslaved. Although the American government has failed up to this point to extend the same rights to African Americans, that we fought and died for alongside those that enjoy them because of our sacrifice, you can right that wrong. Acknowledge the cruelty and depravity of the slave trade and bring an end to it in England.
-Olaudah Equiano
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
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