Day 39 Virtual gALLERY wALK “oLAUDAH EQUIANO”

Olaudah Equiano was born in West Africa and sold into slavery to another village. He was later captured and sold to European slave dealers. His name was changed to Gustavus Vasa. Equiano was taken to the West Indies. He was later sold to a merchant who sent him up and down the coast of America selling goods. During this time he made some money for himself and saved it until he could buy his freedom. He wrote an autobiography, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vasa, Written by Himself, published in London in 1793. It became a best-seller in England and America. The following readings are taken from Equiano’s autobiography.

station #1

The first object which saluted my eyes when I arrived on the coast, was the sea, and a slave ship, which was then riding at anchor, and waiting for its cargo. These filled me with astonishment, which was soon converted into terror, when I was carried on board....

...I was soon put down under the decks, and there I received such a salutation in my nostrils as I had never experienced in my life: so that, with the loathsomeness of the stench, and crying together, I became so sick and low that I was not able to eat, nor had I the least desire to taste any thing. I now wished for the last friend, death, to relieve me; but soon, to my grief, two of the white men offered me eatables; and, on my refusing to eat, one of them held me fast by the hands ... and tied my feet, while the other flogged me severely....

station #2

One day [the crew] had taken a number of fishes; and when they had killed and satisfied themselves with as many as they thought fit, to our astonishment who were on deck, rather than give any of them to us to eat, as we expected, they tossed the remaining fish into the sea again, although we begged and prayed for...

One day, when we had a smooth sea and moderate wind, two of my wearied countrymen who were chained together, (I was near them at the time,) preferring death to such a life of misery, somehow made through the nettings and jumped into the sea: immediately, another quite dejected fellow, who, on account of his illness, was suffered to be out of irons, also followed their example; and I believe many more would very soon have done the same, if they had not been prevented by the ship’s crew, who were instantly alarmed.

Those of us that were the most active, were in a moment put down under the deck, and there was such a noise and confusion amongst the people of the ship as I never heard before, to stop her, and get the boat out to go after the slaves. However, two of the wretches were drowned, but they got the other, and after- wards flogged him unmercifully, for thus attempting to prefer death to slavery. In this manner we continued to undergo more hardships than I can now relate, hardships which are inseparable from this accursed trade. Many a time we were near suffocation from the want of fresh air, which we were often without for whole days together....

station #3

At last, we came in sight of the island of Barbados, at which the whites on board gave a great shout.... We did not know what to think of this; but as the vessel drew nearer, we plainly saw the harbor...Bridgetown. Many mer- chants and planters now came on board..... They put us in separate parcels, and examined us attentively. They also made us jump, and pointed to the land, signifying we were to go there. We thought by this, we should be eaten by these ugly men, ...when soon after we were all put down under the deck again, there was much dread and trembling among us, and nothing but bitter cries to be heard all the night from these apprehensions, insomuch, that at last the white people got some old slaves from the land to pacify us. They told us we were not to be eaten, but to work, and were soon to go on land, where we should see many of our country people. This report eased us much. And sure enough, soon after we were landed, there came to us Africans of all languages. We were con- ducted immediately to the merchant’s yard, where we were all pent up together, like so many sheep in a fold...

We were not many days in the merchant’s custody, before we were sold after their usual manner, which is this: On a signal given, (as the beat of a drum) the buyers rush at once into the yard where the slaves are confined, and make choice of that parcel they like best. ...In this manner, without scruple, are relations and friends separated, most of them never to see each other again....

O, ye nominal Christians! might not an African ask you, “Learned you this from your God, who says unto you, ‘Do unto all men as you would [have] men ... do unto you?’” ...Why are parents to lose their children, brothers their sisters, husbands their wives? Surely this is a new refinement in cruelty...