Blog 3(b)

The Validity of Olaudah Equiano 

by William Weston Brown

Olaudah Equiano or Gustavusg Vassa as he would later become known, is an interesting and important figure to say the least. After reading his account of being kidnapped and sold into slavery during his childhood, I couldn't help but feel disgusted. Especially horrific were the scenes Equiano depicted of life aboard the slaves ships. The short video below gives some visual representation of this awful time in history.

How could anyone not be sickened by the terrible treatment of the African Americans during this time? Now, you may have noticed the title of this blog and you might be asking yourself if I am questioning if these events even took place at all. There is no doubt whatsoever that the African American slave trade was very real and the brutal treatment of the slaves is well documented. I simply find it interesting that there is some controversy as to whether or not Equiano was in fact born in the region he claimed, which is now known as Nigeria, and as to whether or not he endured passage on one of these slaves ships. But why would he falsify these accounts? There is certainly no controversy that the man actually existed and played a major role in fighting slavery. Perhaps he embellished the story to gain more notoriety and further advance the movement of abolitionism. Or what if he is just did it to gain more notoriety in order to sell more books? We made mention of a instance like this in class in which James Frey, author of A Million Little Pieces , fabricated of the events in his National Bestseller in order to perhaps boost sales and shed himself in a heroic light. Perhaps we should ask ourselves if it really even matters whether or not Equiano made the events up or not. Would his actions not be justifiable  in order to bring attention the indecency of the inhumane business of the slave trade? If you ask me, I certainly think the means justify the end in this case.