Equiano was a slave who was kidnapped from his home when he was only 11 and brought to America to be sold as a slave, and later on bought his freedom. Equiano believed that the Americans were very hypocritical. They were very fond of the idea of freedom and liberty, yet they bought and sold the Africans and stripped them of their freedoms. It did not make sense to him how the Americans could not realize that what they were doing to the Africans is exactly what they were fighting against. He also could not understand how the Americans called themselves Christian and then bought and sold other people and treated them as objects. Equiano wrote, “O, ye nominal Christians! might not an African ask you, learned you this from your God? who says unto
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The first argument Sewall presented was that the African slaves were not helping the economy because they were taking away the jobs that low class white citizens could do because slaves could do it for free. He also talked about how slaves were too different from Americans, and they would not be able to be apart of the community and help in the government if given the opportunity. Another point Sewall brought up were the “temptations masters are under to connive at the fornication of their slaves,” meaning that the masters would have relations with their slaves and then have to pay for the child that may be born.
No matter the number of arguments Equiano and Sewall brought up, they were not able to convince the people that slavery should not be happening. The main reason for this, people wanted slaves. Many Americans wished to not pay people for labor and therefore make more money for themselves, even if it was at the expense of others. They did not really care whether or not they were going against the Bible, because they were making a profit and did not want to stop. They also did not want to end slavery because the Africans would stay in America, and they did not want Africans to have the opportunity or even the right to be at the same class as
The first argument Sewall presented was that the African slaves were not helping the economy because they were taking away the jobs that low class white citizens could do because slaves could do it for free. He also talked about how slaves were too different from Americans, and they would not be able to be apart of the community and help in the government if given the opportunity. Another point Sewall brought up were the “temptations masters are under to connive at the fornication of their slaves,” meaning that the masters would have relations with their slaves and then have to pay for the child that may be born.
No matter the number of arguments Equiano and Sewall brought up, they were not able to convince the people that slavery should not be happening. The main reason for this, people wanted slaves. Many Americans wished to not pay people for labor and therefore make more money for themselves, even if it was at the expense of others. They did not really care whether or not they were going against the Bible, because they were making a profit and did not want to stop. They also did not want to end slavery because the Africans would stay in America, and they did not want Africans to have the opportunity or even the right to be at the same class as