From a small tribal society in West Africa to the various hands of different masters and to places as far as the North Pole, Equiano got over his cultural shock rather quickly. Though his situation is an unfortunate one, he is treated better than most slaves he meets. For this, he begins his book by stating, “I regard myself as a particular favourite of Heaven” (31). He is purchased by an officer of the British royal navy who shows him kindness and a willingness to educate him. However, after many years of service and just before he is able to purchase his freedom, his master takes his wages and sells him to a man leaving for the West Indies. His situation is greatly depreciated, but Equiano still thanks his master for giving him respectable
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He witnesses firsthand the fate the slaves were up against in the region when he is put to good use of fan his master as he sleeps. A poor slave girl is in the kitchen in an iron muzzle to prevent her from eating as she cooked. When he is brought back, he goes further into detail of the conditions the laborer slaves met. He says that many of the slaves were branded with their master’s initials, underfeed, under clothed, and over worked. As a result, they sometimes were “reduced so low, that they are turned out as unfit for service, and left to perish in the woods, or expire on a dunghill” (103). Their living condition were just as unfit. They were only provided huts that failed to keep them dry causing health issues and decreasing the population, so more slaves had to be brought …show more content…
Equiano goes to the man to request payment, but he is beaten severely. His captain then asks a lawyer for advice, but he said there was nothing that could be done since he was black. While in London, his experience is far superior. He is able to dress hair and further improve his education. Yet, he is witness to some similar mistreatment. He is hired onto a ship leaving for Turkey and recommends a black cook, but the man is kidnapped back by his former master. Equiano tries to obtain the man’s liberty, but his attorney was incompetent and a waste of money. The man was tried down and beaten before returned to his master. Soon after, Equiano becomes very depressed and has suicidal thoughts, but his faith saves him. His faith also lands him a job for the Governor in London who sends him on a missionary trip to Africa. Later on he takes part in a terribly mismanaged mission to take Africans back to Sierra Leone. He writes a letter to the Commissioners, and to his surprise, they generously reimburse him “more than a free negro would have had in the western colonies!!!”
He witnesses firsthand the fate the slaves were up against in the region when he is put to good use of fan his master as he sleeps. A poor slave girl is in the kitchen in an iron muzzle to prevent her from eating as she cooked. When he is brought back, he goes further into detail of the conditions the laborer slaves met. He says that many of the slaves were branded with their master’s initials, underfeed, under clothed, and over worked. As a result, they sometimes were “reduced so low, that they are turned out as unfit for service, and left to perish in the woods, or expire on a dunghill” (103). Their living condition were just as unfit. They were only provided huts that failed to keep them dry causing health issues and decreasing the population, so more slaves had to be brought …show more content…
Equiano goes to the man to request payment, but he is beaten severely. His captain then asks a lawyer for advice, but he said there was nothing that could be done since he was black. While in London, his experience is far superior. He is able to dress hair and further improve his education. Yet, he is witness to some similar mistreatment. He is hired onto a ship leaving for Turkey and recommends a black cook, but the man is kidnapped back by his former master. Equiano tries to obtain the man’s liberty, but his attorney was incompetent and a waste of money. The man was tried down and beaten before returned to his master. Soon after, Equiano becomes very depressed and has suicidal thoughts, but his faith saves him. His faith also lands him a job for the Governor in London who sends him on a missionary trip to Africa. Later on he takes part in a terribly mismanaged mission to take Africans back to Sierra Leone. He writes a letter to the Commissioners, and to his surprise, they generously reimburse him “more than a free negro would have had in the western colonies!!!”