Olaudah Equiano

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• Equiano was born in west Africa, now known as Nigeria. When he was
• eleven years old, he and his sister were kidnapped by African Raiders
• that were involved in the slave trade. They traveled for seven months, only
• for Equiano to be separated from his sister.

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• Equiano was put on a slave ship. This ship was a very horrid
• and cruel place to be. People died, and wished to die to get away
• from the ship. Many attempted suicide. I feel sorry for the people that
• were forced on that ship. I think they just wanted to go home.
• I want to know why the slave traders were so cruel.

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• Equiano was bought by a British military officer.
• I didn't know British officers owned slaves, and I don't understand how they
• didn't think that it was wrong to own them, and they were people! You
• can't own people.

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• Equiano served in the seven years' war between France and England
• and gained skill as a seaman.
• I just want to know if he went to fight willingly, or was he ordered to? How
• was he treated? I think it's good that he learned some skills, though.

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• Equiano was bought by a Quaker merchant, and Equiano
• saved enough money to buy his own freedom. I am glad that he
• did, because no one deserves to be trapped into slavery.

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• Equiano traveled around the Arctic and Central America. Once he
• settled, he lived in England and worked as a musician and a barber.
• He published his autobiography in 1789 and married Susanna Cullen.