Actions Taking in Forming a Blueprint of Freedom
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Many African Americans were unwillingly bound in a life of servitude as the property of a slaveholder or household which inhibited their opportunity to escape the unforeseen hazards that would come from the grasp of slavery. Becoming a slave limited African American’s ability to become educated and produced a life of captivity that many did not escape due to the trials and tribulations from their new life-styles. Olaudah Equiano was amongst the few who were able to contrive a plan of action to overcome the torments of slavery and experience a life of freedom, out of slavery. Equiano’s sensible and psychological methods supply the means for him to earn his freedom. Equiano’s “Interesting Narrative” illustrates his fight with slavery and his achievement in over-coming slavery and his victory in earning freedom.
Without Equiano’s sensible strategies, he would never have lived to be able to purchase his freedom. The most sensible plan that Equiano develop was the ability and wanting in learning the English language. By learning the English language, he was able to communicate with his owners, as well as other whites. This ability allowed him to overcome the obstacle of not being able to understand or communicate with his new environment and allowed him to be recognized amongst common slaves. This allowed Equiano to escape his slaveholder’s unjust idea that the enslavement was justified due to the fact that slaves were unequal. If this opportunity did not present itself, the opportunity for him to be able to communicate with those who helped him escape slavery who have never been experience. Thus, the achievement of learning a new language allowed Equiano to overcome his fear of the white man.
After Equiano overcomes the fear that his owners are of a supernatural force that may kill and eat him, he begins to try to befriend his masters and act in ways to please them. On his venture to London, he becomes acquainted with Richard Baker. They become close on their trip and are viewed as brothers. His fondness of the white culture sets him apart from the other slaves; therefore, Baker furthers Equiano’s studies of English which allows him to become a favorite above all slaves. He states, “I not only felt myself quite easy with these new countrymen, but relished their society and manners” (792). Equiano aims to please the white man. If Equiano viewed whites as oppressors and began to view all whites with hate, he would have inhibited himself from the necessities of earning freedom. By Equiano striving to please his masters and earning their respect, he escaped many hardships and adversities that all other slaves underwent. Thus, with his hard working ethics, Equiano became viewed as being equal to whites.
Equiano’s work ethic was a main factor in his ability to purchase his freedom. He worked hard at his studies, his duties as a slave, and at developing an occupation as a merchant. His set principles of right of conduct in the life he was thrown into pleased and impressed his owners. Thus, his owners believed he was more valuable than their white workers. Equiano states, “I was better to him on board than any three white men he had” (770). Thus, Equiano’s ability to overcome the stereotype of a slave, allows him not only overcome his physical restraint, but also better his psychological assessment of his prevailing obstacle.
Equiano’s achievement of freedom was truly gained due to his psychological strategies. The development of religion gave Equiano a psychological edge that most slaves did not achieve. From Equiano having a spiritual side and viewing that God is by his side during his hardships, Equiano was able to overcome his prevailing obstacles. Religion gave Equiano a mental strength over other slaves and ultimately allowed him to escape slavery completely. He begins to attain knowledge of how individuals who were not baptized could not enter the kingdom of heaven. Understanding that he was going to travel the path to heaven as a slave, he viewed baptism as a way to be equal to whites in his next life. Thus, Equiano becomes baptized and truly achieves a pride for himself that is seen in his actions and his words.
Equiano begins