Today in class we discussed the repercussions on if Equiano was really from North Carolina, would it affect his credibility on his views of slavery. We discussed these repercussions in great length in class and by the end of it I feel like a finally made a decision. I believe that Equiano is still a credible source on the affects slavery had on the African people but, I believe that if he was really born in North Carolina is is no longer a primary source.
If Equiano was really born in North Carolina it does take a lot away from his work because readers now might think that he is a liar. I believe that his doesn't necessarily take everything away from his credibility. Equiano was a well educated African man in a time where there were none and if there were none of the Africans were willing to speak out against slavery. I think that his tiny lie was for a greater good to help get his point across. Equiano was willing to risk a lot to write about the ill affects that slavery had on the African people to help them achieve a better life.
I think that not saying that the world should end slavery also makes Equiano more credible. If Equiano gave an ultimatum that the world should end slavery tomorrow, every reader at that time would just throw his book away. Slavery was a big part of the world's economy and work force during the time of Equiano and the world wasn't in the right place to end it right then. By not giving an ultimatum, Uquiano, gets more people to listen to his theories on how to fix slavery and ultimatley end it. Equiano was really smart in not giving this ultimatum and the first strides in human rights began to start.
In the end I believe that if Equiano was really born in North Carolina it only takes a little away from his work. The readers can call him a liar but, his point still gets across that all humans are created equal. By lying about his orgins, Equiano, only becomes a secondary source instead of a primary one. But, at the time of his writings, people would only listen to a primary source. I believe this is why he lied. Now, it doesn't matter where Equiano is from, his message is the only thing that is studied. By not being a primary source Equiano's credability is only discredited a little in the end. This small lie in the whole sceme of things doesn't mean anything. People should only pay attention to his message, not his personal background.
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I agree with your statement that if Equiano was really born in South Carolina he would no longer be a credible source other than that of the effects of slavery on the African people. To me, his possible lie taints the entire book because if he can lie about where he is from, what else is fabricated? Your statement "People should only pay attention to his message, not his personal background," shows the way the book can be taken seriously without the place of his birth having any consequences on what the reader takes away.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I am interested in your remarks branching off from class on Equiano’s roots, I feel that for me personally there is no black and white in this case. For me, there is only a gray area of speculation--I see merit in both sides of the argument. What I am more interested in is your statements about Equiano and the slave trade. Slavery as we moderns think of it was not totally set in stone in Equiano’s time. There were harsh conditions in most cases, but some slaveholders practiced something almost difficult to align with slavery, a system under which the slaves were treated humanely and were almost simply part of a workforce. I would take your comments slightly further and say that not only did Equiano make a smart move by not presenting an ultimatum, but he also seemed to be aware that while the all-out ending of the system was inconceivable at the time, if nothing else, at least the cruel, harsh system of slavery should be gradually abolished for a system with a humane foundation that might eventually branch into a brand of employment with no strings attached rather than a system of subjugation and devaluing of human worth.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that if Equiano was in fact born in America it's not a deal breaker. It does take away from his credibility a little but, regardless of where he was born, his story is still an important part of history. I think that he approached the issues discussed in his book in a very respectable manner as to not directly attack any specific group of people at the time. I don't necessarily believe everything in the book now that I know he may have lied about where he was born, but the story is still a good one either way.
ReplyDeleteThe impact of the new evidence of Equiano's birth place remains a subject of controversy, especially regarding how it affects his work. I agree with you that it certainly changes how we as historians must look at the work since, as you point out, his account no longer constitutes a primary source description of life in Africa or the Middle Passage. I also believe that you are correct in arguing that the truth would have influenced the reception and impact of his work at the time as well, allowing enemies to attack and discredit his claims. For me, the question of his birthplace leads to the question of how to use the first chapter, an important part of the book in which he asserts his moral claims in favor of African society (comparing it to a less advanced version of Europe and offering 'evidence' to contradict the claims made in defense of slavery) and offers an implicit condemnation of the slave trade as a degrading institution that strips away the humanity of both its victims and its perpetrators. If this chapter is no longer a first hand account, is it written based on the stories and memories of other slaves or is it more a product of Equiano's imagination?
ReplyDeleteI too agree that the Equiano's birthplace greatly effects his credibility. That being said, his purpose in writing this narrative was to do as what most non-fictional written documents aim to achieve; record and describe a certain time and place so as to inform about people/cultures and or push a certain agenda. Equiano's "claim" may have been necessary for his story to be seriously taken in to account. His goal was to notify early America of the struggles of his people, and the ability to overcome them. If he needed to make a certain little lie for people to really take notice and legitimize his writings, then so be it...
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