Reference no: EM133707114

Assignment:

Excerpt from Olaudah Equiano's, "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African" Rationale or "Why Are We Teaching/Reading this"? Equiano's piece is a famous example of the slave narrative literary genre. Equiano provides a first-hand account of West African culture, describing foods, religion, and other aspects of his daily life. He also juxtaposes his treatment as a captive of a neighboring tribe with his treatment as a captive of European slavers. He relates in a great deal the horrors that he and his fellow captives endured. This piece addresses the Service Learning outcome of analyzing the experiences of African Americans from multiple perspectives. Specifically, Equiano's story includes elements of African culture and eyewitness details of the historical phenomenon of antebellum slavery. Finally, the literary genre of the slave narrative became a major political force in the growing abolitionist movement.

What students should learn

1. How slavery in West Africa differed from antebellum slavery in the U.S.

a. Enslaved had rights (could lodge a grievance against captors)

b. Enslaved had status (could eat ahead of captors)

2. Define "Middle Passage"

3. Describe the conditions of the Middle Passage

4. Recount horrors of antebellum slavery

a. Slave auctions and the separation of slavery.