Olaudah Equiano

Backround Information

• Olaudah was born in west Africa, which is now formally known as Nigeria.
• He was part of a tribe, and was 11 years old when he was captured with his sister.
• He was captured for slave trade and spent 6-7 months traveling to the coast.
• He Became a free, educated slave and was eventually able to write an autobiography.

Slave Labor

• Olaudah was demanded in Bardabos to work on sugar plantations.
• He was placed on an infamous slave ship and wrote about his horrifying
• Experiences.

My Personal views

• I I think that Olaudah should not have had to go through those terrible
• And Life-scaring experiences among the infamous ship. Things were so
• So bad, that many of the slaves on the ship refused to eat and some even jumped overboard in
• An attempt to commit suicide. Many slaves were very mistreated, abused, tortured
• Heavy punishment and treated more like animals rate her than humans.

First Owner

• Olaudah was first purchased by a British military officer, and served on a ship and gained skills as a seamen.
• I think this was beneficial to Olaudah because he gained skills as a seamen that he wouldn't have gotten
• Otherwise and he was able to use these skills later in life, leading expeditions to the Artic and Central Amercia

Owned by Wealthy Widow

• Olaudah was eventually owned by a wealthy widow and her son, and was treated with respect.
• He was very surprised that he was treated with actual respect and that he was very nearly treated as if he
• Was a human being. Olaudah was surprised he was allowed to eat with his "masters," but eventually was sold.
• I think that his owners treated him very well and that it was a nice break from all the difficult labor he
• Was used to and a taste of what being free was like.

Freedom

• After working for one if his owners and making a small wage, he eventually bought his own freedom.
• I think this is really cool how he was able to work and make a very small wage, save it all, and
• Eventually buy his own freedom, leading him to accomplish great things such as the expeditions to
• The Artic and Central Amercia.