Paper Summary:

This paper gives a complete biography of Equiano and his journey to slavery. The paper explains in great detail who he was captured, the methods used, his shipment to the West, the manner in which he was bought, sold and abused. This bio then relates to the Middle Passage and why it is an important account in studying comparative slavery.

From the Paper:

"Olaudah Equiano was born in 1745 in the village of Essaka, which today is known as Isseke, Nigeria. He lived in this farming village until 1756 when he was kidnapped by the Aro people who sold him to various masters within Africa. Equiano was slowly moved through Africa until he reached its? coast later that year to board a slave ship headed to the Americas. Upon boarding the American slave ship, Equiano first experiences the cruelty of the slave world while traveling the Middle Passage. Equiano recalls that slavery was a part of the Ibo world. However, unlike the European exploitation of Africans, African slaves were acquired as prisoners or perpetrators of heinous crimes. Equiano's enslavement did not follow these unwritten rules. He nevertheless recalls his African masters as like second families to him. Many spoke the same language and had similar customs. As he was passed from master to master, gradually differences in language and culture began to impress upon him."

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