Olaudah Equiano Script
Olaudah Equiano was a prominent African involved in the British movement for the abolition of the slave trade. But this is a very long way to come from just being a lowly slave. This video will cover how such a thing happened and how he became educated and also what he became educated in. Firstly Olaudah Equiano was born in the Essaka region, northeast of the Niger River, in the interior of Nigeria. This is in Africa, and most of their communication was through verbal talk and rituals passed down through generations. They didn’t really have much sense of written languages at all. So in a way you could say becoming a slave enabled him the chance to become a smart educated man and help start and promote the abolishment campaign. But then again this is almost like a typical western response, similar to the stolen generation where they believed they were doing good.
After being captured and sent over to the Americas as a slave, he was eventually sold to a officer in the British Navy, Michael Pascal. This is one very important factor that could be the sole reason he was able to achieve such a high status later on in society (for a black man that is). Since Pascal purchased him as a present for his relatives back in London, he was spared a life of hard work in the fields. Mind you he was only eleven years of age at this time and so was unfit for manual labour unlike most other adult slaves.
On his trip to London he encountered one Richard Baker, a teenage American sailor. Baker became his friend and tutor, slightly easing his trauma of being enslaved and transported all around the globe. He also helped Olaudah became acquainted with western civilization. He also became quite confused since Baker had no prejudice and was not ashamed to befriend a pure stranger, one of different colour and language. With Bakers help, he managed to develop a basic understanding of English and Western society.
Once they arrived in England in 1757, Equiano was extremely confused as what he was supposed to feel, although he had been enslaved, his owners were treating him with such kindness that he had no idea what he was supposed to do. While in England he also was fascinated with the phenomenon of snow, since in Africa this was extremely rare if not non-existent. After enquiring about it, his master told him that it came from God “a great man in the heavens” and from there on he attended church and became a devote Christian. He also gained a desire for literacy since when he saw his friend reading from the books, he believed he was talking to the books. Although he still spent a lot of time sailing around following his master Pascal
While not sailing he also spent most of his time in England. He managed to grow very accustomed to this situation. He also spoke very good English and he desired to adjust his manners, spirit and movement to match those of the Europeans. He also reinstated his desire to read and write. This was promoted by Pascals cousins who supported him with his literacy. He even became baptised at his own request during this time. Showing how much he had become part of the Christian faith.
After his stay in England he then spent many of his years as the right hand man of Michael Pascal who quickly moved up the ranks. He quickly learnt to become a sailor and also developed his English speaking skills even more. He also lived quite an easy life compared to many other slaves and was almost treated like an equal. Surprisingly, he dreamed of fighting and this he did; he was involved in many naval battles. He also learnt how to ride and care for a horse. During his travels he came across a highly-educated man named Daniel Queen and he further expanded his knowledge with him. He learn to shave, dress hair and read the bible. He also deepened his faith in Christianity after reading the bible since he was quote “wonderfully surprised to see the laws and rules of my country written almost exactly here; a circumstance which I believe tended to impress our manners and customs more deeply on my memory.”
What happened next was rather surprising but Pascal dumped and sold him off to another slave owner. However he still had some sense of kindness and made sure that he was sold off then to the best possible owner he could find. And thus olaudah found himself in the care of a Quaker merchant named Robert King. King was a kind patient slave owner who did not beat his slaves. He took a liking to Equiano and he promised to teach him how to gauge on a ship, and he allowed also allowed him to use his nautical skills in managing his boats during the sugar season. He also allowed his slaves to keep some of the wages that they earned. This was also another important thing as he was then allowed to collect some savings and he eventually saved up enough to earn his freedom later on.
During his work under King, he came across a captain of one of Kings ships, Thomas farmer, who was so pleased with Equiano that he begged King to give Equiano to him. Under Thomas, after some time he tried his hand in a bit of commerce and slowly through trading between different islands began to accumulate some more savings. During this time he was a sailor/captain on many ships and also earned a fair amount of wages through this work. Later on Equiano was summoned to King's house. He was then accused of planning to escape once in Philadelphia. King was saddened by this report, and explained that he might have to sell Equiano to the brother-in-law of Captain Doran, who was a severe master. Equiano, aghast at this lie tried to defend himself; he explained that he had no intention to escape because he had been treated well. Once King had rid himself of his fears he even offered to lend Equiano money when it came time for him to buy his freedom. He then spent a few more years earning wages to buy his freedom.
As you can see he has gone from a young boy of 11 and to now becoming an accomplished sailor and trader and is now a freeman. He then spent most of his next years working around as a sailor and freeman, while still keeping ties with King. After viewing more scenes of extreme cruelty and injustice he vowed to go to London and to become an abolitionist. When he went back to England, he visited his previous masters and they set him up working as a hairdresser and so Equiano learned that profession and also greatly improved his arithmetic. However his wages were scanty and he was forced to go back to sailing to earn more wages. On his next return to London he also learnt the French horn and kept up with hairdressing. Over the course since he first was introduced into Christianity, he was faced with many trials and other people challenged his beliefs, but he somehow managed to get through all of these and did nothing but deepen his faith in god.
Olaudah Equiano was a prominent African involved in the British movement for the abolition of the slave trade. But this is a very long way to come from just being a lowly slave. This video will cover how such a thing happened and how he became educated and also what he became educated in. Firstly Olaudah Equiano was born in the Essaka region, northeast of the Niger River, in the interior of Nigeria. This is in Africa, and most of their communication was through verbal talk and rituals passed down through generations. They didn’t really have much sense of written languages at all. So in a way you could say becoming a slave enabled him the chance to become a smart educated man and help start and promote the abolishment campaign. But then again this is almost like a typical western response, similar to the stolen generation where they believed they were doing good.
After being captured and sent over to the Americas as a slave, he was eventually sold to a officer in the British Navy, Michael Pascal. This is one very important factor that could be the sole reason he was able to achieve such a high status later on in society (for a black man that is). Since Pascal purchased him as a present for his relatives back in London, he was spared a life of hard work in the fields. Mind you he was only eleven years of age at this time and so was unfit for manual labour unlike most other adult slaves.
On his trip to London he encountered one Richard Baker, a teenage American sailor. Baker became his friend and tutor, slightly easing his trauma of being enslaved and transported all around the globe. He also helped Olaudah became acquainted with western civilization. He also became quite confused since Baker had no prejudice and was not ashamed to befriend a pure stranger, one of different colour and language. With Bakers help, he managed to develop a basic understanding of English and Western society.
Once they arrived in England in 1757, Equiano was extremely confused as what he was supposed to feel, although he had been enslaved, his owners were treating him with such kindness that he had no idea what he was supposed to do. While in England he also was fascinated with the phenomenon of snow, since in Africa this was extremely rare if not non-existent. After enquiring about it, his master told him that it came from God “a great man in the heavens” and from there on he attended church and became a devote Christian. He also gained a desire for literacy since when he saw his friend reading from the books, he believed he was talking to the books. Although he still spent a lot of time sailing around following his master Pascal
While not sailing he also spent most of his time in England. He managed to grow very accustomed to this situation. He also spoke very good English and he desired to adjust his manners, spirit and movement to match those of the Europeans. He also reinstated his desire to read and write. This was promoted by Pascals cousins who supported him with his literacy. He even became baptised at his own request during this time. Showing how much he had become part of the Christian faith.
After his stay in England he then spent many of his years as the right hand man of Michael Pascal who quickly moved up the ranks. He quickly learnt to become a sailor and also developed his English speaking skills even more. He also lived quite an easy life compared to many other slaves and was almost treated like an equal. Surprisingly, he dreamed of fighting and this he did; he was involved in many naval battles. He also learnt how to ride and care for a horse. During his travels he came across a highly-educated man named Daniel Queen and he further expanded his knowledge with him. He learn to shave, dress hair and read the bible. He also deepened his faith in Christianity after reading the bible since he was quote “wonderfully surprised to see the laws and rules of my country written almost exactly here; a circumstance which I believe tended to impress our manners and customs more deeply on my memory.”
What happened next was rather surprising but Pascal dumped and sold him off to another slave owner. However he still had some sense of kindness and made sure that he was sold off then to the best possible owner he could find. And thus olaudah found himself in the care of a Quaker merchant named Robert King. King was a kind patient slave owner who did not beat his slaves. He took a liking to Equiano and he promised to teach him how to gauge on a ship, and he allowed also allowed him to use his nautical skills in managing his boats during the sugar season. He also allowed his slaves to keep some of the wages that they earned. This was also another important thing as he was then allowed to collect some savings and he eventually saved up enough to earn his freedom later on.
During his work under King, he came across a captain of one of Kings ships, Thomas farmer, who was so pleased with Equiano that he begged King to give Equiano to him. Under Thomas, after some time he tried his hand in a bit of commerce and slowly through trading between different islands began to accumulate some more savings. During this time he was a sailor/captain on many ships and also earned a fair amount of wages through this work. Later on Equiano was summoned to King's house. He was then accused of planning to escape once in Philadelphia. King was saddened by this report, and explained that he might have to sell Equiano to the brother-in-law of Captain Doran, who was a severe master. Equiano, aghast at this lie tried to defend himself; he explained that he had no intention to escape because he had been treated well. Once King had rid himself of his fears he even offered to lend Equiano money when it came time for him to buy his freedom. He then spent a few more years earning wages to buy his freedom.
As you can see he has gone from a young boy of 11 and to now becoming an accomplished sailor and trader and is now a freeman. He then spent most of his next years working around as a sailor and freeman, while still keeping ties with King. After viewing more scenes of extreme cruelty and injustice he vowed to go to London and to become an abolitionist. When he went back to England, he visited his previous masters and they set him up working as a hairdresser and so Equiano learned that profession and also greatly improved his arithmetic. However his wages were scanty and he was forced to go back to sailing to earn more wages. On his next return to London he also learnt the French horn and kept up with hairdressing. Over the course since he first was introduced into Christianity, he was faced with many trials and other people challenged his beliefs, but he somehow managed to get through all of these and did nothing but deepen his faith in god.