1. Olaudah Equiano

2. Olaudah Equiano Son of a tribal leader
In the Ibo language, his name means “well-spoken leader”
Kidnapped at 11 years old; sold to British slave traders
15 million Africans were captured between and shipped to the Western Hemisphere
Many died en route

3. The Middle Passage Conditions on the Atlantic voyage were atrocious
Crammed below decks less than 5 feet high
Families were split apart
Men were often shackled
Equiano was so young and allowed to remain above deck
He observed the mariners use of a compass
A British captain purchased him and employed him at sea

4. Saving to Buy Liberty Equiano : Was renamed Gustavus Vassa
Enslaved for nearly 10 years
Managed his master’s finances and saved his own money
Bought his freedom
Devoted his life to the abolition of slavery
Established a settlement of more than 500 freed slaves in Freetown, Sierra Leone (1787)

5. The Interesting Life of Olaudah Equiano
Published in 1789
Created a sensation
Eventually contributed to the banning of the slave trade in the United States (1808) and England
Slave narratives played an important role in documenting history

6. Rhetorical Appeals (Aristotilian)
Ethos: the source's credibility, the speaker's/author's authority
Logos: the logic used to support a claim (induction and deduction); can also be the facts and statistics used to help support the argument.
Pathos: the emotional or motivational appeals; vivid language, emotional language and numerous sensory details.

7. 3 Examples of Pathos _________________________________
Effect on the reader: _________________________