1. Olaudah Equiano Grew up in Eastern Nigeria
Father was a tribal leader in village
Kidnapped by African slave traders at age 11
Family owned slaves too; constant fear of kidnapping and enslavement
Enslaved first in Africa for approx. 7 months before taken to the coast and sold to New World slave traders
First taken to Barbados, then to Virginia
Purchased his freedom after 7 years in slavery
Moved to England and became an active abolitionist

2. Olaudah Equiano The Middle Passage
Two month voyage from African West Coast to North America
Overcrowding
Lack of food
Harsh treatment
Disease
Despair
Amistad—The Middle Passage

3. Slave Narratives Purpose in writing a slave narrative?
To persuade the reader to join the cause for the abolition of slavery
6,000+ former slaves in North America and the Caribbean shared their stories150 published in books and pamphlets
First published in England in 1700s
Main form of literature by African Americans before the 20th century
Other purposes?
To show religious redemption
To illustrate progress of people of African descent
Equiano’s primary purpose was to inspire others to join the abolitionist movement, but he also wrote to show his religious redemption as a Christian.