Olaudah Equinao was born in 1745 in Guinea, where most slaves African slaves were taken. He begins his story by describing where it is he came from. He goes into great detail about his homelands culture, discussing the women, the men, the children, including the slaves. He tells us that his father is a well respected elder who set policies for the area. Slavery was not uncommon in Africa, however, the idea of white men was. When the europeans, mainly the British founded the African Slave Trade, they set up forts on the coastline. Because of this people like Olaudah never actually encountered them in his normal everyday life. Olaudah is taught both agriculture and warfare up until the age of eleven, when he and his sister are kidnapped. He
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He begins with, “no written text is transparent rendering of “historical reality”, be that text composed by master or slave.” (i) Gates is telling the reader to appreciate the narratives for their literary value, not their historical accuracy. Almost suggesting that we should address the texts using practical criticism. Disregarding any possible bias or even motive for writing the narrative. Gates believed slaves yearned to write into order to gain humanity. I believe they desired literacy in order to fight slavery. For example The Interesting Narrative of olaudah Equiano is an example of someone who wrote this text in an attempt to aid the abolition of slavery. He is writing during the abolition era, and he begins on page V with, “ May the God of heaven inspire your hearts with peculiar benevolence on that important day when the question of Abolition is to be discused, when thousands, in consequence of your determination, are to look for happiness or misery.” In the first three chapters of his narrative, he is attempting to express the horror of slavery. The fear, the confusion, the out right cruelty that slavery is. He is talking directly to the White Male Capitalistic Patriarchal Society and saying that no matter who you are enslaved too, you are still enslaved. In the introduction to slave narrative, it opens with a supporting statement. “ There may be humane masters, as there certainly are inhuman ones [….] let them know the hearts of the poor slaves.” (
He begins with, “no written text is transparent rendering of “historical reality”, be that text composed by master or slave.” (i) Gates is telling the reader to appreciate the narratives for their literary value, not their historical accuracy. Almost suggesting that we should address the texts using practical criticism. Disregarding any possible bias or even motive for writing the narrative. Gates believed slaves yearned to write into order to gain humanity. I believe they desired literacy in order to fight slavery. For example The Interesting Narrative of olaudah Equiano is an example of someone who wrote this text in an attempt to aid the abolition of slavery. He is writing during the abolition era, and he begins on page V with, “ May the God of heaven inspire your hearts with peculiar benevolence on that important day when the question of Abolition is to be discused, when thousands, in consequence of your determination, are to look for happiness or misery.” In the first three chapters of his narrative, he is attempting to express the horror of slavery. The fear, the confusion, the out right cruelty that slavery is. He is talking directly to the White Male Capitalistic Patriarchal Society and saying that no matter who you are enslaved too, you are still enslaved. In the introduction to slave narrative, it opens with a supporting statement. “ There may be humane masters, as there certainly are inhuman ones [….] let them know the hearts of the poor slaves.” (