The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano Book Review

Compare the 18th century African buckle down trade wind to a plump for of checkers. Played on a checkered board of 64 opposing colors, the object of checkers is to capture or block solely the men of an opponent. Careful planning of attack and defense are grow elements to sweet. The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano does more than just detail the experiences of a source African slave, it sets forth the course sequence between the various players diligent in the slave trade, the emotions come to, the effects and consequences on the players, and the future of the game if it were whollyowed to continue. Equiano go through life as a slave on several continents.He endured the torment of the Middle Passage and the various physical and emotional insults and tortures, which came as a result of bondage to an other(a) individual. These descriptions are important in establishing the primary players in the slave game. The first is the African player and the other is the White player represented by both Europeans and Americans. The beginning descriptions of Equianos tribal life are instrumental in sagaciousness the character of the African player. Equiano perceives the difference in the African way of life versus that of the European as precisely one of time.The Africans have non had the time to experience and grow as the Europeans have. Equiano maintains the notion that existing in a varied state of being does not give the European the right to inject advantage of their situation in order to promote their own welfare. exclusivelyow the polished and haughty European recollect that his ancestors were once, like the African, uncivilized, and even barbarous. all(a)ow such reflections as these melt the pride of their superiority into sympathy for the wants and miseries of their sable brethren and compel them to acknowledge that understanding is not confined to feature or color. Equiano uses scripture to support his idea that all men were created th e same and merely existed in different states of progression. The majority of Europeans did not share Equianos views. As a result the rules of the game changed for the Europeans who viewed themselves as superior to that of the African. These views were responsible for the horrors, which more Africans faced in slavery. Even those Europeans who tried to treat slaves with respect could not escape the economic benefits slavery provided them.As a result the European was held captive by his own desire to win rather than to play fair. The European plan of attack was ruthless and he felt he had nothing to fear from the African. Equiano writes that these feelings on the part of the European ate forward at the salvation of the European soul. Slavery affected not scarcely the body of the African scarcely also their commit. Equiano describes men in his community who would rather jump off a ship and perish in the sea than endure the atrocities of the Middle Passage. Even those Africans who were granted freedom simmer down suffered the abuse of slavery.After a horrifying incident aboard the capital of the United Kingdom slave ship the Zong, Equiano, a free man at the time, wrote of the courts he saw no help in them, nor by the law. Not scarce was the incident aboard the Zong an example of the horrors that existed when people were case-hardened as station but served as an example of how the ideas of superiority on the part of the side served to strike a blow at the hope of the African. The recurring proposition of religion in Equianos narrative is important in understanding that ones actions cannot escape the judgment and eye of God.Equiano felt cheer and solace in the doctrines of Christianity. It was a force that comforted him when his duties of a slave almost destroyed him and his inability to be treated as an mates when free mystified him. In true Christianity Equiano also saw hope for the Europeans who were losing their souls to the slave trade. In an addr ess of thanks to the Quakers in Grace church service Court, Equiano states that by lifting the burdens of the Negroes there might be in some measure, be the possible means, under God, of saving the souls of many of the oppressors. In the checker game of the slave trade, the Europeans did not realize that their men were being lost. They felt they were winning the game in regards to economics. Equiano alerted the reader to the cost the European was paying for their admiration on wealth and prosperity. Equianos notion that men can just now be saved through a combination of faith, exploits and embroider is important in understanding the effects of the trade upon the future of the game. Equiano get it ond that there were no lasting winners in the slave trade.The Europeans were losing the game because they failed to determine the eternal consequences of their actions. Equiano believed that the European could still prosper economically without the slave trade if the right plan were to be put into effect. This plan would benefit all involved. Equiano fight for the abolishment of slavery was the tip of the iceberg in his quest. He called for a change of attitude in regards to race relations. He believed this would be the ultimate step in restoring the dignity of all involved.Equiano had seen first pile that many Europeans still viewed Africans as property even when they were free and treated them as such. Equiano knew that merely breaking the chains of slavery was not nice to make its effect disappear. Just as men needed all components of the faith grace equation to be saved, those involved in the slave trade needed a change in attitude to survive in order to restore hope and eternal relationships. Equiano wrote, After all what makes any event important, unless by its observation we become better and wiser, and learn to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before God? . Equianos narrative teaches us that in order for individuals to truly win they e ssential not compete against one another nor capture or subject based on the notion of race. Instead they should look for ways to work together to find and enjoy the treasures of wisdom and salvation Equiano believed were available to all. I believe in Equianos message. It was one of powerful humility and rather visionary for his time. He was no ordinary man as he claims. His insights into his experiences and encounters with both players of the slave trade reflected a depth of understanding no money could buy.His ability to shed light on the emotions of all players involved opened my eyes to the various sides of the slave trade of the time. His message is relevant not only to these aspects of slave trade of the 18th century but also to other concepts of World History past and present. It is important to recognize and understand the concept that when we fail to recognize the importance of others and try to control rather than cooperate the only winner of the game is disaster and heartache.