Brought From America By Olaudah Equiano And Phillis Wheatley

Oppression is a topic that was debated across the United States. The cruel treatment that African Americans were subjected to led to a civil war. Benjamin Banneker, Olaudah Equiano, and Phillis Wheatley played significant roles in the fight for equal rights for all. They all wrote about their experiences and oppression that they faced. This essay will discuss their writings and determine the significance of each writing. The first author that I chose to analyze is Olaudah Equiano. He wrote narratives about his experiences on the slave ship as well his experiences as a slave. He writes in first person narratives to describe his terrible memories as a slave. In his narrative, he states, “The stench of the hold, while we were on the coast, was so intolerably loathsome, that it was dangerous to remain there for any time.” This sentence is describing the harsh conditions on the boat from Africa to America. One can determine that he is speaking in first person by the words he writes such as, we. By him saying that he is involving himself in the situation.

She wrote poems describing her beliefs and feelings about the inequality. She often used religion and spiritual beliefs to relate to her situation. In her poem “On Being Brought From Africa To America” she states, ”Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land, taught my benighted soul to understand that there’s a god, that there’s a Savior too.” In this statement, she is saying that it was god’s plan that she came to America and she understands it is will. She also says, “some view or sable race with a scornful eye, their color is a diabolic die, remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain, May be refin’d, and join th’ angelic train.” She explaining that although people view their race as terrible people god still loves