Olaudah Equiano

This narrative really pulled me in. Although just like Tasia, I fould it much milder than other slave narratives that I've read. But it was very interesting to follow him along his experience with slavery. A few of the interesting points I found (that were not mentioned in class):

On page 361, he comments how up until now-reaching the sea coast-he had found people who understood him. It then continues to speak of language, but I wonder if it's something else too. In Africa they had slaves (as Equiano's father had) and it was understood: the kidnapping (as the boys watched out for it) and the service. They were all people and viewed as such even though some were viewed more highly. In Europe and especially America, however, slaves were not viewed even as human beings sometimes. They were thought to not have the same attachment to their children as their white owners had. Perhaps I'm reading too much into it, but that statement seems more than just language.

Also, page 370-1, "I no longer looked upon them as spirits, but as men superior to us; and therefore I had the stronger desire to resemble them, to imbibe their spirit, and imitate their manners." This passage bothered me greatly at first. I wanted to scream that they weren't superior, just different. Then I understood a bit of colonialization. I believe it was John Smith (though I could be mistaken) who pointed out that the Native Americans were just as eager to learn from and befriend the colonists. Perhaps this is a bit of what Equiano felt. Perhaps this is also why he never returned to his home village.