Equiano - My Thoughts

         So far, I've found Equiano to be very interesting, not just because of the way it is written but also because of the story it presents regarding the slave trade. As this is my first time reading about the slave trade from the perspective of a character that has endured its many injustices, I found it very interesting to see not only how brutal the lives of slaves were but also how unstable their relationships with those around them were (since slaves were often sold off to new owners). I also found it very impressive that Equiano was able to find the little joy in living, in the midst of constantly worrying about letting down his new owner or being threatened for not doing his work properly. The fact that Equiano does not completely assimilate into Western culture but chooses what he likes (for example, he does not prefer to dress the way those around him do, but does get baptized) made his judgment and determination very respectable.

        Equiano's story has shown me not just what has happened in the Atlantic regarding the slave trade, but described it from a different, more moving and engaging perspective. Reading about the slave trade from a much more personal and emotional perspective made it a lot easier to grasp the lives of the individuals that had to endure the unjust slave trade.