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Olaudah Equiano is born in 1745. 11-year-old Equiano was kidnapped and sold to slavers. Equiano was a captain's slave. Henry Pascal renamed Equiano, Gustavas Vassa. Equiano suggests that the people of Africa seek to argue against slavery as an insult to all living things -"Let the polished and haughty European recollect that his ancestors were once, like the Africans, uncivilized, and even barbarous." African Prince Broteer Furro (1729–1805) was kidnapped in West Africa when he was 6 1/2 and sold into slavery in Anomabo, Ghana. His slave master Oliver Smith renamed him Venture Smith. Smith's report is one of few published on slavery in Colonial New England. It's one of the few records of enslaved people who told of their lives in Africa. East Haddam, Connecticut, near the property where Smith lived after earning his freedom

There is no indication in the reading that Equiano had homesickness; furthermore, there is no indication that he experienced any comfort. Enslaved people are too preoccupied with ensuring their survival to cultivate a feeling of community. In his autobiography, he depicts the incomprehensible circumstances that prevailed in the hold of enslaved people, including the "shrieks of the women," the "groans of the dying," the floggings, the craving to end one's own life, and how individuals who somehow drowned themselves were sought after (Smith). Olaudah Equiano describes the dances, ceremonies, and other social customs of his community to give his British readers a sense of the richness of life in his African country as he recounts his life from boyhood to the present. He accomplishes this by narrating the events of his life from his childhood to the present.

This is a very unusual description of slavery in Colonial New England, and Smith's is one of only a handful of such accounts that have ever been published. In addition, it is one of the scarce accounts of enslaved people who told of their lives in Africa, so its significance cannot be overstated. The story told by Smith elucidates not just how the institution of slavery reshaped countries and regions like Ghana and New England by challenging the conventional wisdom of the inhabitants of those areas. The circumstances of his existence emphasized the brutality and unfairness of slavery and the power he obtained through the cultivation of his physical strength and self-discipline.

Venture Smith and Olaudah Equiano attempt to familiarize their readers with the complexity of life in his African home by describing the performances, ceremonies, and other social conventions of his community to relate the story of their existence from his boyhood to the present. They tell the story in reverse chronological order, beginning with his childhood and working to the present day. The literary reading audience was predominantly composed of secessionists from Europe and the United States. His priority was to convince British political figures to discuss the slave trade in Parliament in the summer of 1789s. -Samuel Theron

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The Souls of Black Folk, W.E.B DuBois, especially in chapter one, tries to clarify his own experience incorporated in it, the consequences, and the history of emancipation. DuBois talks of how the Negros had the power in both the mind and the body to emancipate themselves from the strangle; unfortunately, it has been dispersed and forgotten. This failure has hitherto been considered weak, an issue that should be demystified to the contrary as a “contradiction of double aims.” One side, trying to escape the White man’s contempt, and on the other hand, nailing, digging, and ploughing for poverty-stricken people.

The poem "We Wear the Mask" by Paul Dunbar discusses what it's like to belong to an oppressed community. The speaker belongs to a group of people who are forced to hide their genuine emotions all the time to appear joyful to the outside world. In the first stanza, 'We wear the mask that grins and lies,' Dunbar shows how they have drawn back their sadness and misery inside the mask and instead presenting only his teeth to be seen, to depict a happy soul and smile that is never genuine.

This is a rection that depicts an African American in the 19th century after the civil war; life seemed to have been better as shown outwardly by others. Still, inwardly the colored was experiencing hardships and racism. Surviving racism and hardship is compared to wearing a mask by showing a happy face to the universe. The speaker of "We Wear the Mask" portrays intense and protracted anguish throughout the song. In this poem, the victims are described as having "torn and bleeding hearts," expressing "tears and sighs," and being "tortured souls" who are forced to maintain a perpetual façade of composure. But the poem also has a strong undercurrent of resiliency.

In line 5, the poet states, ' and mouth with myriad subtleties. He suggests that even though oppression and racism may be experienced, the Blacks have a high degree of deceit, if not the highest. They may not seem to enjoy the predicaments they are going through, but they are happy and feels the pride of accomplishment whenever they do and perform their crafts successfully. The mask cannot be optional or forced on them, but it is inevitable as long as you are a black living amid another color. Not that removing the mask is impossible; doing so would only be translated to not surviving; it is a requirement.

In lines 6 and 7, it is realized that the oppressed are unwilling to show the world their tears, nor are they doing so, but the world is over-wise to analyze their mystery. Later, the speaker says, "We sing," even though "the clay is vile / Beneath our feet" and the distances they must go in it are "long," showing that even if the voyage is challenging, they can and will keep a brave face while going through it. This indicates that the group is resilient both as a result of and despite its pain. Additionally, this poem's phrasing implies that wearing the mask is a decision.

The speaker tries to dispel the preconception and reveal it as nothing more than a survival tactic. The speaker makes several allusions to their suffering throughout the poem, most frequently coupling it with the representation of the mask. The speaker reveals to the reader that, despite their outward look and how sincere it may seem, there is a perpetual state of anguish beneath their smile by saying, "We smile, but." In the end, the poem points out that being compelled to tell a falsehood also contributes to the suffering of tyranny. This cliche was used to defend slavery: if chained, individuals are handled well by their owners and can feel happiness, then slavery can't be so horrible, the argument went. -Samuel Theron

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Hello everyone, and sorry for the delay in my postings: I ended up contracting Covid and ended up sicker than I feel like I’ve ever felt. I will have my postings uploaded for the past two weeks by tomorrow. For our week two discussion, I wanted to focus on how both Venture Smith and Olaudah Equiano were both authors who had been ripped from their homes in Africa at young ages and had to fight for their eventual freedoms. Both authors recounted their time before enslavement in Africa, as well as their time spent in captivity.

Both authors wrote a lot about their time in Africa. Venture Smith’s writings tended to focus on the harshness of Africa. He wrote about the many deaths he witnessed, as well as the hardship of his father’s multiple marriages. He wrote about how his mother fled when he was five due to his father’s third marriage. Smith’s father’s death was particularly hard to read, as he wrote how his father’s captors tortured and beat him, gradually increasing the pain until he expired (99). He wrote honestly about how awful the boat was, including details about how the air was unbreathable, which led to many diseases that killed the captive people before their potential slave masters could even start. Upon his freedom, Smith pooled his resources and wealth to free not only himself but his wife, family, and other slaves, as well. Throughout his writing, Smith primarily focused on his family and the ideals that made him who he was, many of which were passed on to him through his father. Smith’s eventual wealth led to him being seen as nearly equal to his white counterparts, striving towards equal rights decades before any civil rights movements were in effect, thereby also making his work progressive in terms to other authors at the time, like Equiano.
Equiano’s accounts of Africa reminded me of Disney and the way they whitewash history. Rather than focusing on the negative aspects as Smith had, Equiano remembered Africa fondly, using his words to celebrate the culture, which had, up until his capture, not included any white men or Europeans, isolating his culture from the rest of the world. Part of the reason his writings may have leaned toward the positive side in Africa can likely be attributed to the fact that his experiences up until he got on the ship really weren’t that bad. The most interesting part of Equiano’s writings were the way he acknowledged that Native Americans existed and were a part of the American culture, albeit in the distance, though they played a part in trade. He also wrote of the differences in religious between his own culture and the American Christianity that he later embraced.

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In Venture Smith’s A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture, A Native of Africa: But Resident above Sixty Years in the United States of America and in Olaudah Equiano, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olauduah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, Written by Himself both authors speak about their journeys in fighting for their freedom from slavery. Venture Smith was first sold into slavery at a very young age but still had formative memories of Africa. He was sold to a master in Rhode Island after witnessing his father’s death by torture. “Seven year old Broteer, renamed Venture by his first master, ended up in Narragansett, Rhode Island, where he lived and worked as a slave, married and at the age of twenty-two made a failed attempt at escape. Smith’s punishment was sale, which separated him from his wife and daughter, to a white man with whom Smith quarreled violently. Defiant, Smith refused to work until he was purchased by another white man, who promised a chance to buy his freedom. When this master’s word proved worthless, Smith arranged to have himself sold again, to a man who allowed Smith to hire his time as a wood cutter, farmer and fisherman so he could raise the money for his purchase price. At the age of 36, Smith finally was allowed to buy himself.  (Smith 94-95)” Many slaves would encounter masters who promised them their chance to buy their freedom just as Venture encountered, but many fooled slaves with a mask of empathy which tended to be short lived. Smith was sold many times as a slave before ending up in New England through Africa. Equiano’s autobiography was considered “the most influential work of English prose by an African American in the 18th century (Equiano 112).” Equiano “made clear his dedication to social change by venting his moral outrage toward slavery and by structuring hi story so that freedom, not the consolations of religion, emerges as the top priority of his life in slavery. Equiano’s twin desires at the end of the Life- to become a Christian missionary to Africa and to lobby for an end to the African slave trade-suggest that Christianity and abolitionism, the pursuit of individual and social perfection, go hand in hand. This mating of the spiritual and the secular in the Life was prophetic of the ideological orientation of most nineteenth-century African American protest literature (Equiano 113).” Through both authors pushing themselves to become literate as a weapon, they were able to be Knight in shining armor to the people. They could not leave the part of themselves that experienced all of the hardship to gain freedom and the terror they experienced. Merging their old selves with a more literate version with a new understanding of the world, they saw the chance to try to try to find the words to gain everyone’s freedom. Along with their voices and many others it did, in moving the nation to a civil war.

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This week’s discussion post displays the difference between Venture Smith and Olaudah Equiano’s viewpoint of Africa and on slavery. They each have their backstories and even if people tend to disagree with some aspects. It is not deniable that their decisions would still have to be respectable based on what they went through. Venture Smith or Broteer Furro was born from royalty and sold into slavery at a very young age. He mostly discusses his experiences of being captured as a slave and his interactions with other slaves in a gloomier mood as compared to Olaudah. He was also gifted with the ability to read and write, which most slaves were not but this does not mean life was all fair to him. He had lost his father at a young age and on top of that he was sold as a slave very early in his life. Smith did everything he could to get his freedom and save enough money for not just himself but other slaves as well. This shows the type of person Smith is, in hard times he was able to think about how he could help himself but also others. Because Venture was sold as a slave at a very young age, the experiences that Venture included from Africa were prior to his capture at six years old. Where he mostly talks about his family and the scenery in Africa. Equiano was born as “the son of a “prince of the tribe of Dukandara'' around 1729” (94). He on the other hand wrote his narratives in much more detail and had a pessimistic tone. His writing was more based around the horrors of slavery and his individual experiences with it. After getting his freedom, Equiano moved to England and there he worked with the movement to abolish slavery. Equiano and Venture were also similar in many ways. They were both the sons of African Princes, they were sold into slavery at an early age, and they both did what they could to make life easier for themselves and others. Their writings serve as evidence that they were no less than the white man. They both used their experiences of Africa to show the people, they lived like they did. Their civilization was no different from theirs, there were rules, leaders, and most importantly they were just trying to live a happy life with their families. -Muhammad Chaudhry

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For this weeks discussion I will be comparing the perspectives of Venture Smith and Olaudah Equiano, who both wrote about their time growing up in Africa before they were captured and sold into slavery. Both of these authors perspectives come from what they remember about their home countries, however the tones of their account of Arica  differ quite greatly. Both men talk of being the sons of important men in their tribe/province, Smith being the son of a prince and Equiano being the son of an important elder, however after establishing this detail of their past lives, their tones and experiences begin to differ. I feel this is because while they were both children when they became slaves, Smith was only but 6 and a half years old while Equiano was a bit old at around 10 or 11 years old. Because of this, I think Equiano's accounts of his home in Africa are much more detailed since he could remember more.

Smith talked about how when he was 5 years old him, his mother, and 2 siblings fled their village due to a rift between his parents involving his father taking a third wife. He reflects on their journey as one that his mother was ill prepared for, and had to walk extreme distances, in beast ridden environments, without proper sustenance. His mother than left him with a wealthy farmer they stumbled upon on their travels, where he worked to herd cattle and goats. He eventually is brought home by men sent by his father, but this happy reunion does not last long. He accounts the betrayal made by men his father chose to trust thinking it would be in the best interest of his people, only to be blindsided and his village to be attacked by them. Smiths account in Africa ends on a tragic note, having to see his father beaten, tortured, and killed by their captures. "The shocking scene is to this day fresh in my mind, and I have often been overcome while thinking on it." After this is when he is marched to the sea where he is then sold to Robertson Mumford for the price of 4 gallons of rum and a piece of calico.

In contrast to this melancholy account of his time in Africa, Olaudah Equiano speaks of his time in his homeland much more fondly, even when he was in situations that didn't seem particularly worthy of that outlook. Equiano speaks a lot about the culture and traditions of his people, going into in depth detail. He explains marriage customs, the inner working of law and judgment, the set up of a typical family household, and other cultural customs his people practiced, such as their affinity for cleanliness and how their men are circumcised. Even after he is kidnapped and taken from his home and becomes a slave for different families within Africa, his outlook is still mostly positive and, dare I say, cheery? Perhaps it's the difference in writing style and his heavy used of exclamation marks that give me this impression, but one thing I do know for sure is that once he is boarded on to a European slave ship it is clear that he has never faced this kind of brutality and mistreatment from previous masters. This may be why he looks at his time before leaving Africa's shores with rose-colored glasses, since hardships he experienced before paled in comparison.

Overall, both men suffered imaginable tragedy and hardship. For Smith, he seemed to be too young and experienced too much adversity to consider his time in Africa to be something he remembers too fondly. Equiano, however, remembers so much of his culture, customs, and overall happy times that his account is much more positive.

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Hello class and Professor Shaw,
Both Olaudah Equiano and Venture Smith were both were both writers who were turned slaves. In these pieces they describe and discuss  what life was like before enslavement and what they experienced in Africa before becoming slaves. Both Olaudah and Venture were both turned slaves at a relatively young age and had to fight there own way out to become free. Which quickly lead to them realizing they had fallen into a country that included capitalism and racial discrimination amongst other overlying issues. These autobiography gives us just a small look into what slavery did and how it affected peoples lives in every way shape and form.
Olaudahs autobiography included a lot of information about African culture when he was there. He even states that he "had never heard of white men or Europeans", so  hey was fully surrounded by African culture with no other understanding of the rest of the world. He said that Africa was "almost a nation of dancers, musicians, and poets" and that "every great event is celebrated in public dances."  One thing that really stuck out to me about his autobiography was that his attitude seemed more personable/relatable as he explained his homeland in simple terms and making a point by stating that there wasn't much to brag about. Stating that his land was very rich in crops and very fruitful. Olaudah shares an experience about the " Oye-Eboe" which are the "red men living from the distance" and how they would visit them every so often and give them fire arms, gunpowder, beads, etc. Olaudah also explains several times how against he and his religion are against the idea of slavery and especially the act of slavery even though when he was younger he witnessed it at some occasions due to adultery. By Olaudah going so in-depth and being open to taking about his experiences it shows the reader that he using his emotions as he writes and what exactly he felt at these times.
Venture Smith had a very different attitude toward Africa and it was noticeable in his writing. Venture described the harsh living environments he had in Africa. From the deaths he had seen to his father having three wives and being tortured to death in front of him. Venture also recounted what the boat was like and how the air was unbreathable thus leading to many diseases that killed off many slaves. Unlike Olaudah, Smith when he had become free he purchased his wife, kids, and other slaves and a good amount of resources. Such as land and boats that he could use. Venture, like his father always had the right idea at heart but couldn't always help everyone. That's why I see his tone as different from Olaudahs, Ventures is more about himself, family, and the loyalty to one another, an ideal that his father had instilled in him. Venture eventually became free and became quite rich which made him more "equal" than any other black man in the country. He had to work extremely hard to become free and wealthy so he could be seen as one of the whites.
Both of these writers have similar backgrounds and have there own experiences with their home country. There messages to persuade the white audiences to join the abolitionist cause are quite different though. Smith became popular and wealthy by working hard and he believes that that is a way to make the people like him, hard, honest working men, to join the cause because he had done everything and completed the task of becoming "equal". While Oluadah wanted nothing to do with slavery and was very passionate about this. He wanted to persuade people that slaves are humans too and grew up and have had experiences just like every other free person. His writing is to almost show them the other side of the slave, the human side.

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Venture Smith and Olaudah Equiano, lived through many of the same experiences. They both were both brought into slavery at very young age. Venture smith was abandoned by his mother, because of a failed marriage she had with Smith’s father (Saungm Furro). Equiano was brought into slavery because he was kidnapped by other Africans and sold. They both shared the same struggles while growing up, mostly because of age they had to deal with the mental, and physical suffering that comes with being a slave. Although they did deal with this type of suffering. They were still able to overcome and come out on top. These 2 men became influential writers. Their readings are still being used until this day.

Smith and Equiano autobiography were both written to persuade white people to be part of the abolition of slavery. Equiano autobiography included more shocking, and emotional depth than smith’s autobiography. Smith’s autobiography was sensor and the way it was written was like he was normalizing and felt indifferent of what has happened to him. I am sure that is not his intention, the point was to abolish slavery after all, but his autobiography did seem vague compared to Equiano’s autobiography.

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Hello everyone and Professor Shaw.

For this week’s discussion board, I will be highlighting the differences and similarities that both of the writers, Venture Smith and Olaudah Equiano, displayed while writing about their homeland in the past. Starting with their respective backgrounds, Venture Smith, whose African name is Broteer Furro, is originally from West Africa and was born as “the son of a “Prince of the tribe of Dukandarra'' (94). He was sold into slavery in exchange for “four gallons of rum, and a piece of calico” (100). On the other hand, Olaudah Equiano who was recognized as Essaka, his name before being ‘brought into’ slavery, was born in Eboe in 1745 as being the son of a an elder or chief. They were also recognized as people of high distinction or people of high power.

In essence, the similarities between the two African authors are that they both wrote about their lives before slavery, they both fought during and after slavery to create a better way of living, and they both had to face grave difficulties and hardship’s throughout their lives. Writing about their lives before they experienced the ‘enslavement life’ was very important not only since they’re childhood lives were carried out differently, but also to make aware that this is more of how life should be liven apart from the hindsight of slavery. By describing their way of living beforehand, they were able to endorse their caring, loving, and joyful experiences from their childhood into other people’s lives in an attempt to prohibit them from entering the extremely harsh and disturbing environment. For instance, Venture Smith’s narrative tends to talk more about the ‘harshness of slavery’ and keeps most of the tone anxious, gloomy, and grim. His childhood before being captured/sold into slavery may depict the reasoning for this as the book states, “Family separation, marauding invaders, and his father’s death by torture” (94). This is an extremely harsh environment that Smith has gone through even before slavery. In addition, the way he describes seeing his father’s death before him and how it affected him later in life. Smith describes it by, “I saw him while he was thus tortured to death. The shocking scene is to this day fresh to my mind, and I have often been overcome while thinking on it” (99). Personally, I do not know how I would be able to carry out the remainder of life witnessing such a thing at the age of only 7 or if I could even carry on the way Venture Smith. This shows how the tone displayed goes hand in hand with his narrative. On the other hand, Olaudah Equiano exhibited a more upbeat tone that goes with his story of assimilation and success. Equiano is even recognized as “a master of self-promotion” viewing the story of his narrative. Both of their efforts are not in vain as they were able to make the world aware and create a great impact on the ‘slavery’ world. Since they had already seen ‘the humane’ way of living, they pursued a way to change the false environment that was being upheld on an incredibly large scale.

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Smith and Equiano differed in their depictions of Africa in terms of what they shared about their homeland and the tone in which they presented their native land. I found Equiano’s tone of presenting Africa to be more positive than Smith’s. For refence Equiano says, “Our land is uncommonly rich and fruitful, and produces all kinds of vegetables in great abundance.” Equiano also goes into detail about his homeland. He speaks about the people, houses, religion, and spices. Smith did not have the same pleasant tone and rightfully so. I found his tone to be unemotional and impersonal. I think that is because he was very young when he was captured.

However, Smith and Equiano related in their struggles. They were both bought and sold multiple times throughout their lives. They both lost their biological family from their home country. The difference is that Smith assisted in freeing himself, wife, children, and other slaves from slavery. Smith was also brought to the United States rather than the Barbados like Equiano. Smith and Equiano are also similar in which they were separated from their families. Smith was separated from his father, mother, and siblings at the young age of five years old. But was later and briefly reunited with his family. Equiano and his sister were kidnapped from their family but had his sister. They were later separated and then brought together. Then permanently disconnected from each other. I think that is important to note their separation from their families because. The deliberate separation of families was a form of control. Which made slaves live in a constant fear. Equiano says, “Why are parents to lose their children, brothers their sisters, or husbands their wives? Surely this is a new refinement in cruelty, which, while it had no advantage to atone for it, thus aggravates distress, and adds fresh horrors even to the wretchedness of slavery.”

I think the overall goal of Smith’s and Equiano’s are similar. Smith’s autobiography is to persuade white abolitionists join his cause. Since he successfully freed himself, family, other slaves from slavery. Despite his constant battles between salve masters and dying loved ones. He was ultimately successful in gaining freedom from slavery. Equiano’s descriptions of his kidnapping to being aboard the salve ship to arriving in the Barbados was done to provide a first-hand account of the horrors he had to endure. And it was done from a slave’s perspective. Which would be an advantage for white abolitionists to join his cause as well.

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When reading about Olaudah Equiano and Venture Smith life and how they grew up I could see both similarities and differences. Venture Smith was born at Dukandarra, in Guinea and his father Saungm Furro was a Prince of the Tribe of Dukandarra. Smith had a caring father and mother. Smith was captured at a young age and had to see his father get tortured to death. He describes a lot about when he sailed for Rhode Island and his experience with his first master. Smith was very hardworking since he was sold off, he was very obedient toward his master. After his long loyalty to his master, he got married to a women named Meg who is another fellow slave of his master. Smith get sold off three times meaning he been through 3 different masters. I could feel his pain of having to switch master and be distant from your family again . To get out of slavery Smith needed to earn more money and later on after saving a lot of his hard-earned money he was able to buy out freedom for him and his family. After being free He buys a house and many acres of land.

exOlaudah Equiano was also captured when he was young and similarly his father was leader of his own tribes. While Smith do talk about his hometown and family it looks like Equiano had more to say about his culture and lifestyle. Equiano seem to care a lot more about his past life and culture. He mentioned how Jews are very similar to them. Equiano refers to white people as cruel and greedy. The big difference I noticed between Smith and Equiano was that after being free from slavery Smith himself bought a salve. When Equiano was able to buy his freedom, he stayed true to himself and his belief. He didn’t buy into slavery market he stays loyal to his culture and stated how he saw the ugly side of salve tradin when white people started

Both Equiano and Smith shared their experience as a salve and how much of a hardship it was from them. Both have been robbed of their money few times as a salve and they worked very hard to achieve freedom. While both of their story could persuade white audiences to join the abolitionist arguable, I believe that Equiano might have more of an impact because he shared more detailed version of his past life and love for his culture. He mentioned how evil and barbaric the white people were and never like anything about slavery. He stays true to himself and wasn’t part of salve trading even after achieving freedom. He showed us difficult side of being a salve and how salve trading made white people even more nasty.

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Hello Class and Professor Shaw,

Venture Smith and Olaudah Equiano lives experience. Venture Smith was also known as Broteer Furro at birth. He was a son of a “Prince of the tribe of Dukandarra”. On the other hand, Olaudah Equiano was son of a chief. They both got deprived of their youthful days because they were kidnapped at an early age. Smith worked as craftsman and a farmer. While Equiano worked as a deckhand. They both had a difficult time growing up. Their pain and struggles make their situation twice as hard. What was most fascinating about their stories? Despite everything that they were going through they still learned how to read and write under that hostile environment. Venture’s life seems to have more uneventful adventures and a lot more obstacles. Meanwhile, Equiano, was shortly taken under the wings of Robert King where he gained talent as a well-trained seaman and knowledge of seagoing commercial.

Smith had a beautiful priceless vision of Africa the way he describes Africa I can vividly picture Africa as I read his words. He states, “A large river runs through this country in the westerly course. The land for a great way on each side is flat and level, hedged in by a considerable rise of the country at a great distance from it. It scarce ever rains there, yet the land is fertile, great dews fall in the night which refresh the soil. About the latter end of June or first of July, the river begins to rise and gradually increases until it has inundated the country for a great distance, to the height of seven or eight feet” (Smith 97). He had so much compassion and love for his country. The way he took his sweet time to describe Africa in so much detail, shows that he appreciated everything, and he take nothing for granted.

Equiano also painted a vivid image of Africa. This part of Africa was known as Guinea where Africans were enslavement along the coast for about 3400 miles. There was also a lot of different Kingdoms with wealth and riches. The way he describes Africa, it’s clear that he didn’t like what was going on.

One experience that really stood out for venture smith is when he was attacked by the dogs. He stated “two large dogs sallied out of a certain house and set upon me. One of them took me by the arm, and the other by the thigh, and before their master could come and relieve me, they lacerated my flesh to such a degree that the scars are very visible to the present day” (Smith 97). This event was a game changer for him because he was unable to work on the farm. Therefore, His father sent for him to return home; his mother and father worked out their differences upon his return. This event brought his family back together again at least for a while.

Olaudah Equiano’s experience that changed his life and molded him into an author. He served as, “a personal servant to a lieutenant in the English navy and later as a ship’s steward during campaigns in the Mediterranean and off the coat of France the slave youth make the most of his maritime opportunities” (Equiano 113). This event led to Equiano meeting Robert King which then changed his life forever.

Venture Smith and Olaudah Equiano deserve more credits and acknowledgement then they are given. They took charge of their lives and created their own destiny. In a time where there was no education system for African American these two gentlemen became authors. Despite the racial discrimination and enslavement battles these gentlemen defeated the odds. Nevertheless, their writing also educates the world and help the abolished of slave trade.

By Hugh Richards

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“Some of these slaves have slaves under them as their own property, and for their own use” (120).  I was appalled when I read this. Slaves owing slaves while living as a slave and treating each other with respect. But if you respect someone why enslave them.  One major different between the lives of these two young African men was that one grew up in area in Guinea that captured their neighbors and sold them for European goods. Venture Smith and Olaudah Equiano both grew up privileged. Their fathers were leaders among their people, they grew up in rich, polygyny communities. Before being kidnapped they both had a good life.

They each described growing up in bountiful communities and lived with their parents. However, Olaudah had a closer relationship with his mother. Venture’s mother took him away from his community because of a disagreement with her husband and left him in the care of someone else. On the other hand, Olaudah’s community often has children and adults from neighboring villages that they kidnap. Women in this community was also sold into slavery or put to death for committing adultery.

Olaudah described in detail his religious upbringing as it seemed to be important to him. He also mentioned that his peoples dedication to cleanliness and the importance of washing your hands before eating meals.  He also mentioned that women slept separate from the men and had to be purified after their menstrual cycle.

They readers descried their country in a manner that speaks of great love.  Venture has less to say about his country because he was taken from his country at such a young age. Olaudah had more to say about his country and spoke about it with great respect. He described how artistic his community was and that they were trained warriors.  Which was different from Venture’s community that had to flee from Olaudah’s people after they raided his village for sales to sell. Although they did not mistreat the slaves, many people died fighting to defend their freedom.

Although Olaudah’s community treated sales with respect and did not mistreat them, they were slaves none the same. Olaudah was always treated with respect by his African masters, but he did not receive the same treatment when he left Africa. Surprisingly, Ventura himself owned slaves after everything that he went through.

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Writers who had lived into slavery, Venture Smith and Olaudah Equiano's describe their experiences throughout their journeys of being taken into slavery. Venture Smith had been very young when he got sold into slavery. Throughout this time he had learned how to write and read being treated differently. He was even given the name Venture with his original name being Brother Furro. When it comes to Olaudah Equiano's experience, he had truly been against the whole idea of slavery, and even set off different objectives to try and abolish it with other followers. Because Venture Smith had been so young, it's hard to tell exactly how he had felt throughout his process of working for a family he does not know. He does explain the loss of his father, which had been upsetting but it was interesting to see how he explained it. Olaudah explains the painful and scary experiences he had went through when it came to getting sold and moving overseas. He explains his experiences not of only of slavery but his family as well. He tries and reminds us that slaves are not just property to serve, but people who have culture and meaning. When he had been separated by his family members it had truly made him sad, and the amount of emotion and detail he gets into being taken from his sisters as well as being trained to be violent had really taken a toll on him both physically and mentally. Although Venture Smith had explained his experience throughout being sold to slavery as well as his buy-out back out of it. Both come from different point of views and experiences, with Olaudah being older and Venture being very young.

Tyler Chita

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After reading both Venture Smith and Olaudah Equiano, there are some major similarities and some differences. Both were African princes entangled in slavery. Smith was young at the time of his enslavement. Venture Smith was the name given to him by his enslaver Oliver Smith. Smith learned to read and write despite others no having the same privileges. Smith lived a hard life, he had felt with the loss of his father at a young age. But despite his tough upbringing he did what he had to do for the time being, stay loyal to his owner. While with his owner, he developed an escape plan. He took what life had thrown at him and made the most of it until he was able to successfully escape and return home. He did what he could to earn money to buy his freedom, but he did not just think of himself. He was saving enough to free the other slaves as well. Smith could've been completely justified in his attempt to help himself and free himself and be done with that life, but he took what was thrown at him and still try to do things for others. He did what he could, worked his hardest, and worked tirelessly to not only help himself but others as well. He knew the privilege he was getting was not that of the others and he used that to help, many others would've gotten free and left others behind.

Olaudah Equiano was also captured at a young age. After his freedom, Equiano moved to England, joined the movement, and worked to abolish the triangular slave trade. Equiano traveled in his slavery. He went to South America, America, and moved to England. He ended up using his experiences in a way to help others understand and get them to help end slavery. He was part of a campaign that ignited a fire that caused a worldwide change for himself and many others.

The slave trade was the largest commercial trading of human beings in history. Both autobiographies give insight into the lives of slaves at the time, each with different experiences, each with different perspectives, and traumas. These autobiographies give us readers incredible insight into what life was really like and how different each experience was. It makes us appreciate those who suffered through the trauma and disrespect as human beings, and for those who survived. These two stories or two or many others that show incredible strength and courage.

Graciela Ross

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I found reading and comparing the experiences and thoughts of Venture Smith and Olaudah Equiano to be fascinating. Although based on similar themes and written by two men who lived and suffered through the same period, there are notable differences between the two pieces. Regarding his experiences in Africa, Smith appears to describe his experience of being captured and the journey with other captives to the port in Anamaboo with more sentiment than Equiano. I do not interpret Smith’s objective for writing this way as being political or sympathetically motivated, however, I do think he made it a point to exemplify the peaceful and noble nature of his decedents. Perhaps Smith recognized his ability to relate to others of a similar laboring, grass-roots background and felt he could use this to gain the respect of potential white sympathizers. For example, Smith mentions working for a “guardian” for a short period of time as a child when his mother was unable to care for him: “During my stay with him I was kindly used, and with as much tenderness, for what I saw, as his only son, although I was an entire stranger to him…” (p 97). Also in his story, Smith points out that one factor that made certain communities vulnerable to capture was being ill-prepared for conflict due to having been in such a long-standing peaceful state.

More than anything, I think it was important for Smith to recall and connect the strength and perseverance he witnessed of the African people from his childhood to its application in the tribulations throughout his own life. This piece starts by summarizing the sense of pride Smith felt for his heritage and ends with the pride he felt from the legacy he was able to create with his own strength and perseverance.

On the contrary, Olaudah Equiano’s intention to form a bridge for white audiences to create a sense of understanding and compassion is quite apparent. Equiano very specifically describes his Nigerian culture and lifestyle almost as if he is educating the reader. This was most likely helpful at the time to counteract misinformation and propaganda that had been spread about the African way of life in order to endorse slavery. I think Equiano’s goal was to educate white people by creating parallels between the traditional backgrounds of the slaves and their own to find common ground in order to create a sense of relatability and empathy. Using universal notions such as religion, hard work, consequence and punishment, and family dynamics he was able to assist in promoting the slave narrative and do his part to help propel the abolitionist movement forward.

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Both authors were born around the same period, and both have similar trajectories. They both were taken from their families who cared for them and taken to the United States as part of the slave trade. They both endured what is similar experiences of slavery with harsh punishments and expected obedience as beasts of burden. For both men to find a voice in writing at the time is incredible enough but their writing styles differ, and I think that in part to the message their memoirs try to give.

For Venture Smith, his writing is clear-cut and dry at a first read-through. His tone is very neutral even when describing anger and other emotions. These mostly coincide with the harrowing account of a few moments as a slave. However, when he eventually frees himself, there is a spark of that emotion that comes back. A second read-through might make it more seem like the audience is the one to place emotions into the events. Smith’s tone in describing Africa is not one of particular longing. It is relatively simple. Most of his memories would have come from his earliest age when he was just about 6 years old. He remembers the care of his parents and the benevolence and diplomacy amongst the African people when they sought refuge. He recalls the beautiful scenery, but these are the only glimpses we are privy to.

On the other hand, Olaudah Equiano’s writing is embellished and overflowing with emotion and weight in his depiction of Africa. It is not just farmlands but a culture of people with its own customs, order, and science. There is art, music, commerce, science, religion and more beyond what many depictions of Africa were like at the time. True it was a land of beauty and riches, but those tales used rhetoric to minimize the people into savages that would sell out their own people. However, in both Smith and Equiano’s writing, the Europeans are the ones who use trickery and do not follow their word. For both authors, Africa is a place that has governance and order, a culture that breathes with its people. These accounts do not tell a tale of savages but of people.

Olaudah’s rhetoric serves more to persuade that the people of Africa and those who are subject to slavery are intelligent people with culture and a semblance of class. The purpose of this is to persuade readers that the slave is not just a beast of burden on par with animals. They are a people whose homeland is like a civilization that mirrors the modern town/city. There is also much pride that can be read in his depictions. He is proud of his African heritage and roots. That pride can be fealt and also brings a human depth to the pride of one’s homeland.  Venture Smith’s rhetoric is more grounded and can be seen as more readily accepted as fact. The life of a slave was not an easy one and perhaps this could draw empathy from the audience if not at the very least sympathy. The sympathy that might have sparked the ideas of better treatment or gladness that Venture Smith bought himself out of that harsh life under his former masters. While Olaudah’s is more impassioned and what might be at the popular forefront of the abolitionist cause, Venture Smith’s is a little more commonplace and somewhat inspiring in the eyes of other Americans who also made it for themselves.

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After reading both Venture Smith’s and Olaudah Equiano’s accounts of their time in Africa I noticed distanced differences. Smith spent time running away from his home with his mother, working on a farm in a distant part of the continent and eventually returning home. Equiano’s time was more pleasant, with detailed explanations of his villages culture and customs, complete with moments of his life.

Beginning with looking into the experiences of Smith, when he was five years old his mother took him and his two other siblings away because his father married a third wife without his two other wives’ consent (Smith 96). This was not the standard practice in his village.

While Smith was away, his mother left him to a wealthy farm owner who treated him like a son. There, he learned how to care for sheep on a pasture. On these pastures, Smith reports fond memories of the vegetation that grew along the river after it flooded saying the river would rise seven or eight feed and leave a slime that would enrich the soil very well (Smith 97).  Smith’s time at this farm ended abruptly when his father sent a man to pick him up. Here he learned of Europeans coming to kidnap people for slavery and were going to strike the farm next, before coming for the village Smith is from.

Smiths time was about two years shorter than Olaudah’s time in Africa which, allowed for Olaudah to have more complex and pleasant memories. Olaudah had included information about the traditions customs and games he would play as a child. One item discussed by Olaudah that caught my attention was the mention that his village would “compute the year from the day on which the sun crossed the line” (Olaudah 121). Here, he is appealing to the Europeans through science, and showing that the society he came from is not too dissimilar to theirs using science. The level of detail he remembered was so great, he was able to compare his culture to that of Jewish Europeans.

The discussing the use of science and comparing his own culture to the large culture of Jewish Europeans was a great way to relate to the Europeans. As science is a tremendous part of Europe’s contribution to world and holds a level of prestige in the western world. Furthermore, comparing Olaudah’s culture to that of Jewish Europeans gives the Europeans a lens to which they can view Olaudah perspective and hopefully see him as the equal he is.

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Venture Smith and Olaudah Equiano both wrote about their lives before enslavement, describing in detail what each of them did in Africa and their perspectives. Smith, born in Dukandarra around 1729, spends much of the first chapter reflecting on his family in Africa and shedding light on some details of his parents lifestyle as well. His father had several wives which seemed to cause a rift between Smith’s mother and father. Smith’s father did not ask for consent to marry his third wife so Smith’s mother took him and the other children with her to escape his father. The two mended their relationship after a few months had passed, and the children came back still loving both parents. I think that the experiences outlined by Smith in the majority of the first chapter show that he does have a strong connection with Africa, not only because it is his homeland but also because of his family. His father being a Prince and having a mother that clearly cared deeply for them as evidenced by the overwhelming responsibilities she had to take as Smith explains in the first chapter show just how much he was connected with his homeland. His family enabled this greatly. For Olaudah Equiano, I noticed that his description of Africa itself was much more detailed and varied than the description that Venture Smith offered in his text. People, tradition, culture, buildings, landscape, agriculture, and much more are all described and reflected on in rich detail by Equiano. Family is another difference between the two of these writers. Smith was the son of a Prince and had a mother who cared for her children deeply, the whole family was quite close which had a large impact on Smith when he became a slave. Equiano on the other hand, when he begins talking about his mother and father the topic immediately becomes about violence and war. He remembers being trained in how to use throwing weapons and his mother giving him emblems from a young age. He doesn’t seem to be bitter about these experiences though. When he was separated from his family he still was obviously sad and emotional, especially when separated from his sisters. Of course each of their early life experiences shaped their writing and general feelings towards the whole situation being discussed. I personally found Equiano’s writing to be a more detailed and interesting read in terms of his own feelings.

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Hello professor Shaw and fellow classmates. We were tasked with reading the autobiographies of Venture Smith and Olaudah Equiano. Olaudah and Venture were two African princes trapped into slaves but would eventually gain their freedom through their own merit to eventually fall into the law of the land of capitalism and racial discrimination. The transatlantic slave trade and the plantation system which followed initiated the largest sustained commercial trading of human beings in history. These two slave narratives are not even a fraction of the narratives that could have been told by people who had the misfortune to toil under the harshness of slavery, each with a different heartbreak and survival story. These two narratives give us a brief glimpse into the lives of two slaves whose stories serve as a purpose to move the audience and give an insight to the ways in which lives were affected by slavery.

The experiences which the two writers include in their stories tells a story of each of their individual upbringing to their becoming because it will help a reader understand what it was like living under those conditions and why it is important to appreciate how far we have come as black people. It was never easy. The sad thing is these are only just a minute fraction of stories which could have been told by slaves. Venture Much like Equiano, as young boys, were kidnapped along with the men and women, sold into slavery by their own people. Venture saw his father, a chief, and an honorable man be tortured to death than to give up his wealth. His captures would go onto destroy everything everywhere they went until they got to the point where he was sold for four gallons of rum and a piece of calico. After being sold over three times and switching hands many more, by the age of 36 he came upon a master who offered him a chance to earn his freedom through hard work and payment. Much like Equiano he sorts after the idea of earning his freedom, but this didn’t come easy. After being cheated out of large sums of money and overpaying, he finally earned his freedom. Through hard work and dedication, he was also able to purchase his wife, three children and other slaves. He then went onto be a very successful slave in my eyes as he acquired large acres of land, properties, boats, canoes, sail vessels. This tells me that he was very resourceful, hardworking and business minded. He tried treating everyone fairly but was always dealt the short end of the stick, much like his father did try to treat everyone fairly but was too ignorant to see people for what they were. Maybe he was too much like his father. Even the slaves he tried to help ran away and stole from him much like his white captors and enslavers. The two narratives have very similar experiences, but I relate to Venture the most as he is fair and just and very much sees that the only way to true freedom in America is attaining a mass amount of wealth to help free the burden. Although the two narratives have similar experiences, they each told their stories in two different tones I picked up as the reader. Equiano was much more purposeful in terms of getting his message across no matter how it sounded as to sway the reader on his side, whereas Venture’s story was more based around family and loyalty. Both stories are a tragedy regardless of tone and way they choose to tell it and hit very close to home. I myself am west Indian and the impact of the slave trade is still felt today in my homeland of the west Indies.

Written by Dudley Stanislas.

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Unit 2: The Literature of Slavery and Freedom

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Unit 2: The Literature of Slavery and Freedom

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While both Venture Smith and Olaudah Equiano speak of their homelands with a certain amount of fondness, the latter dedicates a much larger portion of his autobiography to describe both his country and fellow people. Venture mostly speaks of the events surrounding his capture and what lead him to be enslaved, while Equiano takes great pains to recount his previous life and people’s customs in precise detail, often noting the advanced or pleasant aspects of his people. Indeed, his account is “near-utopian” and “almost unreservedly positive, stressing the simplicity of his people’s manners, the justice of their moral values, and the harmony of their society” (Gates 113). Equiano stresses his people’s cleanliness and comeliness, as well as citing cheerfulness and affability to be “two of the leading characteristics of [his] nation” (Equiano 119). When speaking of their religion and related customs, Equiano compares it to Jewish culture, even positing that he believes one must have “sprung from the other”, so similar were they (123).

Even when discussing the slave system present in his country, Equiano treats it as something much preferable than the type of enslavement he was put into by white people. He cites that many slaves are either prisoners of war or criminals serving their sentence, and that they are treated humanely: “With us they do no more work than other members of the community, even their masters; their food, clothing, and lodging were nearly the same…and there was scarce any other difference between them” (120). Equiano speaks favorably of his own time as a slave to a black chieftain, saying that he was “used extremely well” and comforted in times of duress, bonding with the family enough that he considered the chieftain’s wife to be a motherly figure to him (126). This, compared to his later account of his treatment while being carted across the sea to white masters, is leagues different. He was flogged, starved, and overall treated like sub-human chattel by the white slave traders, all at the tender age of eleven. “Every circumstance I met with served only to render my state more painful, and heighten my apprehensions, and my opinion of the cruelty of the whites” (132).

Equiano’s pointedly positive depiction of his land serves a very specific goal, which is to show to his white audience that while foreign, his nation and people were no less civilized or inhuman than they themselves were, and that in some respects, they might even be superior. He makes sure to point out where their customs and traditions are similar, creating a sense of camaraderie and familiarity, which is an important part of attaining his actual goal with the memoir: to persuade readers into joining the abolitionist cause.

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Venture Smith and Olaudah Equiano are African authors whose narratives were used to advocate for the abolition of slavery. They both discuss their lives as young boys growing up in Africa. In many ways they are different, but in many ways, they are the same. It seemed to me that both authors had the same experience of growing up in their native land in a loving and nurturing atmosphere. They both were close with their parents and siblings, which made it difficult to understand why Venture or Broteer was just left at a stranger’s house by his mother when she was running away from her husband. Despite Broteer’s abandonment by his mother and later being reclaimed by his father, the fact that both boys were brought up in a cultivating environment, where they were adored and cared for shows that being taken away by force is an extremely traumatic experience no matter where you come from.

In contrast to Olaudah Equiano’s specifically detailed retelling of his upbringing in Africa, Venture Smith’s portrayal lacks any emotion. The only occurrence of sentiment in Venture’s account of his childhood would happen when he describes his family and the people he came into close contact with. The reader never fully was able to feel what Venture felt while he was going through his experiences. On the flip side, Olaudah Equiano’s story makes the reader feel as though they are experiencing everything that is happening to him through his emotions. By explaining how it feels to be terrified, at his mother’s side while they are mourning at the gravesite of his grandmother all through the night. Also, how he describes the noxious fumes of the slave ship and the fear of being eaten by the white men, the reader can get a sense of the archaic and beyond inhumane treatment that Olaudah and other slaves experienced while being taken away from their homeland.

Even though both men had to fight for a humane existence, they both had extremely different narratives. Venture’s description of his life seems to be only about Venture’s constant struggle to exist and Olaudah’s description of his life was more about living and exactly how it felt to experience everything, the good and the horrific. Where Venture Smith wrote an account of his life before and after slavery, Olaudah Equiano wrote a humble plea to the world that demonstrated that Africans, or any other slaves brought to a foreign land, were human beings that had human emotions and experiences.

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Hello Class and Professor Shaw,

For this week’s discussion, I will cover the difference between Venture Smith’s and Olaudah Equiano’s viewpoint on life on their homeland before slavery. They both have heartbreaking stories that inspire us to keep moving forward no matter what life throws at you.

Venture Smith was the son of a prince and was very young at the time when he was sold into slavery. I learned that his real name was Broteer Furro.  Venture was given the new name by his slave master Oliver Smith. He was lucky enough to learn how to read and write whereas many others did not have that privilege. It was sad to learn how he writes about his father who was murdered. Despite a hard life he stayed loyal to his owner and then worked towards an escape plan. He worked tirelessly to earn enough money not only to buy his own freedom but the freedom of other slaves as well including his wife and children.

Olaudah Equiano was also captured in slavery very young just like Venture Smith. Equiano then moved to England and joined the movement to abolish slavery, more specifically the triangular slave trade. After years of pursuit and hard work he was able to become a very rich man. I would say Venture Smith had a much calmer tone when telling his story, he spoke about his family life, marriage and his childhood. whereas Olaudah Equiano was much more vigilant from what I gathered from the readings. He traveled to areas in south America, America and England and worked several jobs as a slave. And then Equiano was able to move back to England, converted to Christianity and use his life experience to persuade others to end the slave trade.  He used his past experience to fuel the fire and campaigned that caused worldwide change not only for himself but for many others.

We can all agree that they both had a horrible past where they struggled for freedom but despite everything, they still did the best that they could with the resources and information at the time. It’s an inspiration

I also found it surprising to learn that Venture was actually sold close to us right here in Rhode Island since we live in Connecticut. Often times when people think about slavery they automatically think of southern states, forgetting that slavery was also happening in the north as well.

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Venture Smith and Olaudah Equiano were both writers that discussed their lives in Africa before enslavement. They had exceedingly different tones throughout the text. Venture smith discussed the harsh aspects of slavery in Africa. He emphasized the worthiness of “what could have been”. Essentially, He believed that without racial disparities African Americans could have offered more to society than slavery. This includes education, hard work, and good sense. He discussed how slavery impacted individuals and left them feeling uncultivated and depressed. He expressed the pain and loss that he went through during slavery. He believed that slavery was a disadvantage that set back individuals that had considerable potential. This potential could have established many significant things. Olaudah Equiano discussed culture primarily throughout the text. He went into detail of the civilization and humanity that partook in Africa. He discussed his family and traditions that were important to him. Equiano had value for himself and lived up to his expectations regarding staying honest to himself. Equiano didn’t believe in slavery and wanted to master the white individual’s technology instead. He remained positive in hopes of freedom. Overall, both individuals had a strenuous journey to freedom. Both stories were different but ultimately led to the same goal of freedom.

Some experiences that Venture Smith endured was his journey of Coming from Africa and getting sold as a slave in America. Venture was sold when he was of a young age. It was discussed that his father was brutally murdered. This cruel scene showed the disrespect African Americans received. Venture stayed loyal to his master before switching up and making everything money focused. He eventually bought his wife and kids, but he started to buy slaves when he was wealthy enough. He worked extremely hard to earn money to reach freedom and obtain independence, security, and somewhat equality.

Some experiences that Equiano endured was the obedience he had towards his master. He listened to his commands. This obedience served to benefit his self-interest. If he was loyal to his master his hope of being freed eventually would come true. He includes many horrific scenes that he experienced leading up to his freedom. He particularly focused on his culture. He discussed the faith and beliefs of many individuals in Africa. Equiano used his African name opposed to the slavery slang names that were assigned to him. This was very original and showed that he was very true to himself. Equiano wanted to do better and make something out of himself.

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Hi Professor Shaw, And Everyone.
A little history of Venture Smith. He was a farmer and Craftsman in African-american Venture Smith became a West African who became captured as a boy and bought into slavery in New England. He finally bought his personal freedom, the liberty of numerous slaves, and in his vintage age he wrote the earliest autobiography through an African American. Here I am writing about Olaudah, Equiano. It changed into the first influential slave narrative of what have become a huge literary genre. But Equiano's revel in slavery changed into pretty exceptional from that of most slaves; he did now no longer participate in subject work, he served his proprietors in my opinion and went to sea, changed into taught to examine and write, and labored in trading. In so doing, Equiano guidelines that Africans can be the oblique loved ones of Christian Europeans through their Jewish ancestry and argues in opposition to slavery as an affront to all humans, Let the polished and haughty European consider that his ancestors have been once, just like the Africans, uncivilized, or even barbarous. Equiano became taken through different Africans and offered into slavery, however he became a slave in Africa for some years earlier than he went to America. He became traded all round Africa and noticed many elements of the U.S. Earlier, the white guy sold him. Venture Smith’s tale became specific from the fact that he was sent off to the US quickly after being captured, he became in no way owned through a fellow African. A distinction among their biographies became when Equiano spent extra time speaking about his adolescence in Africa and the traditions and existence in his tribe. Equiano wrote in element approximately his family, their faith and beliefs, and whilst he became captured and offered into slavery. He talked little about being in America and summarized his existence after shifting to England in some paragraphs. Smith talked extra about his lifestyles in America than his existence in Africa. He gave an element of his journey from the day he arrived in Rhode Island to his existence after he had sold his freedom and his family’s freedom. The ideals and traditions Equiano found out had a little significance to him due to the fact he saved them through his existence. He stored his African name, instead of using the call, Gustavus Vassa, given to him through a captain. Which isn't like Ventures, who used the call given to him via the means of a white man, in place of maintaining the call his own circle of relatives gave him. Equiano’s person had now no longer modified through the quit of his story, favored Smith’s did. But they each found out to study and write, they wrote approximately their lifestyles and reviews to get their tales heard. Smith’s person modified as time went through, while he turned into a slave. He first commenced out as a difficult and trusting employee that obeyed his master. But after some years as a slave, he began out to behave out towards his master. He commenced to obsess over cash and objects. When he offered his freedom he began out to buy slaves, he might have them work for him for a sure quantity of years, after which they may be free. When they might run away, he might get disappointed due to the fact he lost cash. While Equiano stayed authentic to himself and his ideals. He turned into in no way keen on slavery, by no means owned any slaves while he could, and he labored difficult and revered his master. But they each suffered the hardships of being separated from their families, being sent to an overseas United States and pressured into slavery at a younger age.

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In this unit, only two African American writers discuss their lives in Africa before enslavement, Venture Smith and Olaudah Equiano. However, their depictions of Africa are markedly different. In this Discussion, compare and contrast the ways both writers portray their homeland to readers. Consider the following questions:

How do the writers' tones differ when describing Africa? In other words, what are their attitudes toward Africa, and how are those attitudes revealed through the language of the narratives?

Which experiences do they include from Africa in their texts, and why?

What might be the rhetorical function of such descriptions? Put another way, what purpose might they serve in fulfilling one of the ultimate goals of the slave narrative, which is to persuade white audiences to join the abolitionist cause?

Like all Discussion posts, your response may be informal and include first person. Please refer to specific moments or details in the texts. Must be 400 words to receive full credit.