The impact Olaudah Equiano’s narrative had on the British abolishing slavery in 1807
Discuss:
How much impact do you believe that Olaudah Equiano’s narrative had on the British abolishing slavery in 1807? Or was it even that important at all?
Reference: “The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano”
Sample Solution
Olaudah Equiano’s narrative had a significant impact on the British abolishing slavery in 1807. His story of being kidnapped and sold into slavery at age 11 was widely read in the late 1700s, appealing to both abolitionists and those who still supported slavery. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano provided a vivid firsthand account of what it meant to be enslaved, which resonated with many readers.(Equiano 2009) By sharing his personal experiences as well as broader cultural details about African peoples, he successfully highlighted the realities for slaves across Europe and America at that time. This helped people to gain a better understanding of what was happening internationally, motivating them to become involved through petitions or other channels.(Carretta 2017).
Additionally, Equianos book also served an educational purpose by introducing readers to different African civilizations that were often overlooked or excluded from textbooks during this period (Weeks 2008). For example, Few Europeans knew about indigenous villages such as Whydah before reading his narrative. Therefore, it is likely that his work increased public knowledge about Africa making them more aware of its people’s struggles which could have partially influenced why Britain decided to abolish slave trading in 1807 even though they had been participating since 1698.(Weeks 2008).
In conclusion, Olaudah Equiano’s narrative played an important role in raising awareness about the evils of slavery among British citizens prior to abolition. While there may have been other factors contributing towards this milestone decision including political considerations, economic motivations etc., all evidence suggests that his text was also key in convincing people that something had to be done and ultimately leading up to Britain’s ultimate decision (Carretta 2017).
