Equiano So Far

Reversing the Stereotype

Something that I've found very interesting about Equiano's narrative is how he reverses the European idea of non-Western cultures being "uncultured." When describing his perceptions of Europeans, most of what he sees he deems to be uncivilized. From their immodesty to their lack of hygiene, Equiano definitely sees the Europeans and white Americans as more "savage" than he, which I found interesting. This reversing of typical European ideas shows how terms like "cultured" or "civilized" are constructs. No one group of people is more civilized than another, as they have different definitions of what "civilized" looks like.

What I've Learned

So far, I don't think that I've learned anything large about the slave trade, as I've spent a good amount of time in history classes focused on this topic. However, this book is giving me a more personal understanding of the trade. Most primary sources I've encountered have been written by white men, so obviously they would have no understanding of what it's like to be a slave. This is the largest work I've read by a former slave, and it's already given me a more vivid description of the slave ships than I've gotten in years of learning about slavery from secondary sources. I'm looking forward to continuing with this book and expanding my knowledge of slavery from a former slave's perspective