Olauda Equiano
It been said that Olauda Equiano may have actually been born in South Carolina rather than Africa as is suggested in his writings. This is a bold statement especially because Equiano was and continues to be a very widely read author. "Arguments that Equiano was born in Africa. Equiano's baptismal record at St Margarets Church, Westminster, dated 9 February 1759, records that he was born in 'Carolina'. A Royal Navy muster roll from Constantine Phipps Arctic expedition of 1773 says that Equiano was born in 'South Carolina'." (Where was Olauda Equiano Born? 2013) Many people believe these statements and others don't, this causes alot of controversey. I cant imagine how hard it would be to track down the truth of this matter, but if it is true that Equiano was indeed born of South Carolina and not Africa his writings would be completely discredited as truth. If one part of his story is a lie then the entire thing may …show more content…
As for the reliability as a source on slavery and the slave trade it would still be of some use, but not as much as it is now and has been in the past. It could be argued that even if part of the story was a lie, the majority of the story did shed light on the way some slaves were treated. That being said, it could still be used to illistrate the conditions for some slaves, but it couldnt all be taken as fact which makes it very hard to use in any educational setting. Some of the things in Equiano's writings are truely terrible and I wish those things had never happened to anyone. I hope that Eqiano's story was a fiction for him. But the things that he wrote about whether they were true for him or not, actually happened to some people in that time period. If Eqiano lied about being taken from Africa his stories still tell a terrible truth that people should still read about, true or
It been said that Olauda Equiano may have actually been born in South Carolina rather than Africa as is suggested in his writings. This is a bold statement especially because Equiano was and continues to be a very widely read author. "Arguments that Equiano was born in Africa. Equiano's baptismal record at St Margarets Church, Westminster, dated 9 February 1759, records that he was born in 'Carolina'. A Royal Navy muster roll from Constantine Phipps Arctic expedition of 1773 says that Equiano was born in 'South Carolina'." (Where was Olauda Equiano Born? 2013) Many people believe these statements and others don't, this causes alot of controversey. I cant imagine how hard it would be to track down the truth of this matter, but if it is true that Equiano was indeed born of South Carolina and not Africa his writings would be completely discredited as truth. If one part of his story is a lie then the entire thing may …show more content…
As for the reliability as a source on slavery and the slave trade it would still be of some use, but not as much as it is now and has been in the past. It could be argued that even if part of the story was a lie, the majority of the story did shed light on the way some slaves were treated. That being said, it could still be used to illistrate the conditions for some slaves, but it couldnt all be taken as fact which makes it very hard to use in any educational setting. Some of the things in Equiano's writings are truely terrible and I wish those things had never happened to anyone. I hope that Eqiano's story was a fiction for him. But the things that he wrote about whether they were true for him or not, actually happened to some people in that time period. If Eqiano lied about being taken from Africa his stories still tell a terrible truth that people should still read about, true or