Olaudah Equiano exact origins are not accurately known however he was a very prominent figure in England speaking against and trying to abolish slavery. The first historically accurate location of Equiano in America was in Virginia where he was purchased by Henry Pascal an officer of the British Navy (). Pascal renamed him Gustav Vasa (). Under Pascal Equiano traveled to places like London, England. While in London England Pascal placed Equiano into the service of the army during the Seven Years war (). Pascal promised Equiano he would set him free after the war but ended up selling him to someone else (). Eventually in 1766 Equiano bought his freedom through a process called Redemption (). After purchasing his freedom Equiano still
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After Equiano purchased his freedom he helped a business partner start a plantation. However, considering he was so disgusted from the treatment of the slaves he decided to be against slavery. Along with being against slavery Equiano joined the Sons of Africa. The Sons of Africa was an abolitionist group in London aimed at ending slavery. Equiano also was a wealthy man of his time because of his travels and trades which probably made whites view him as a citizen. The second reason the success of Olaudah Equiano’s Interesting Narrative points to a larger transition in European views is because it was a firsthand view of some of the mistreatments slaves received during this time. Equiano spent his first years of slavery in other parts of Africa. When Equiano was first captured and taken into slavery he was separated from his sister. They were kidnapped in their home when their family was away. He was then placed in in several homes over his first years in slavery some of the families treated him like a slave and some treated him as if he were a family member. It wasn’t until he reached a town and was taken on to a slave ship did he get experience with slave ships. Equiano described his persuaded feeling of the slave ships as a place of bad spirits and a place he was doing to die (). He was surrounded by Africans of different skin tones and ones that spoke different languages. All these people he saw were chained up with their faces expressing
After Equiano purchased his freedom he helped a business partner start a plantation. However, considering he was so disgusted from the treatment of the slaves he decided to be against slavery. Along with being against slavery Equiano joined the Sons of Africa. The Sons of Africa was an abolitionist group in London aimed at ending slavery. Equiano also was a wealthy man of his time because of his travels and trades which probably made whites view him as a citizen. The second reason the success of Olaudah Equiano’s Interesting Narrative points to a larger transition in European views is because it was a firsthand view of some of the mistreatments slaves received during this time. Equiano spent his first years of slavery in other parts of Africa. When Equiano was first captured and taken into slavery he was separated from his sister. They were kidnapped in their home when their family was away. He was then placed in in several homes over his first years in slavery some of the families treated him like a slave and some treated him as if he were a family member. It wasn’t until he reached a town and was taken on to a slave ship did he get experience with slave ships. Equiano described his persuaded feeling of the slave ships as a place of bad spirits and a place he was doing to die (). He was surrounded by Africans of different skin tones and ones that spoke different languages. All these people he saw were chained up with their faces expressing