so obvious. It is important to keep in mind that Equiano's perspective differs greatly from many other former slaves. Remember that he was a young boy when taken from his family; his few memories are supplemented in the text by Abolitionist Anthony Benezet's account of African traditions and customs. Equiano, too, admired and coveted British culture and society. Intermarriage was an easy solution for him, for he never had the opportunity to forge one strong identity. For both Englishmen and Africans, however, this solution was not quite so clear-cut.Equiano's modesty yet honesty, his diligence and faith without a preaching tone all appealed to the public. His narrative offers a uniquely personal, yet universal account of the degradations of slavery. Readers concluded on their own that the system needed to be changed. Equiano allowed his readers to conclude that he was "a decent person [who] did not deserve to be enslaved, and that therefore no African deserved to be enslaved." (14)After returning to Europe, Equiano's life followed a path of struggling for identity. During this period, Equiano struggled greatly with his religious beliefs. He wanted to be as perfect a faithful to God as possible and faced the guilt of breaking his commandments. He saw and participated in many debates between the Catholic and evangelical Protestant doctrine. Equiano even witnessed a sermon by the immensely popular leader of the Great Awakening in America, George Whitefield. On a voyage to Cadiz, Spain, Equiano had a vision of Christ and was converted to evangelicalism. Following this, he accompanied Dr. Irving on a voyage to cultivate a plantation at Jamaica and the Mosquito Coast, Nicaragua. There he attempted to Christianize some of the Indian population, to no avail.Yet Equiano's greatest addition to the cause would be his own story of oppression, which he announced with the publishing of his narrative in 1789.So Long A Letter Miriama BMotherhood -...
