Equiano: from An Interesting Narrative

Molly Foltyn
Section 1G

"The Intersting Narrative" was published in 1789
Equiano is one of the first Africans to write in English
He became a major figure in the abolitionist movement

The narrative is of a man born in Nigeria, taken in the slave trade, shiped across the Atlantic, ultimately working to freedom by becoming an entrepreneur and then a best selling author
However, Equiano may have fabricated a large portion of his narrative. (May have been born in South Carolina)

but, does it make it any less true? should Equiano not be believed?
why do we privilege eye witness accounts?

In relation to the self:
our sense of self is merely a construction
(Like Pepys and Boswell)- we live as we are seen by other people
our identities are not just what we think of ourselves but constructions constituted by others

Important Passages:
"those white men with horrible looks, red faces, and loose hair" (2851)
"I even wished for my former slavery in preference to my present situation" (2852)
"the white people looked and acted, as I thought, in so savage a manner; for I had never seen among any people such instances of brutal cruelty" (2852)
"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 men should do unto you? Is it not enough that we are torn from our country and friends to toil for your luxury and lust of gain?" (2855)

(From Professor Makdisi's lecture on 2/5/08, and Norton Anthology, 2850-2859)