slave narratives

SLAVE NARRATIVE

-Autobiography of a slave-Exposes horrors of human bondage-Slave’s experiences from his/her point of view

The Middle Passage

Enslaved Africans crossing Atlantic Americas

Approx. 15 million from 1500-1800 1 in 8 Almost no firsthand accounts

Education Reliving

Olaudah Equiano

1745-1797 Kingdom of Benin, West Africa Son of tribal leader 11 years old = kidnapped, sold to

British slave traders 2-volume autobiography

Olaudah Equiano

6-10 week Atlantic voyage on slave ship Anchors in Barbados

Separated from sister, taken to Virginia Purchased by British captain Works at sea

Renamed Gustavus Vassa Enslaved for 10 years

Olaudah Equiano

Philadelphia Manages master’s finances Makes own money, buys freedom

England Devoted to abolition of slavery

1787- commissary of slave ship Vernon 500 freed slaves Freetown, Sierra Leone settlement

The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano Written for white English/American

reader Details journey

Virtual tour of slave ship Cruelty of whites to Africans

Published 1989- very popular By 1794 8 editions in England, 1 in

U.S. Made society face cruelties of

slavery

Emotional Appeals

Evocative words Trigger feelings of sympathy or

outrage

Shriek rather than yell appeals to people who have heard someone scream in pain

Descriptions of Africans begging for food appeals to people who have felt hunger