The Middle Passage Slavery in the early colonial

The Middle Passage Slavery in the early colonial period

Crossing Over § Middle Passage—The Atlantic crossing of enslaved Africans to the Americas. § Between 1500 and 1800, about 15 million Africans were captured and shipped to the Western Hemisphere. § Nearly 2 million slaves died before reaching their destination. § “The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano, ” by Equiano, confronted readers with the hideous truth about life aboard a slave ship. § Slave Narrative—An autobiographical account of life as a slave.

Equiano § When he was 11 years old, Equiano and his sister were captured from their home in West Africa and sold to British slave traders. § After 10 years of slavery, Equiano bought his freedom and devoted his life to the abolition of slavery. § The importance of Equiano’s narrative is that it serves as one of the few first-hand accounts of slavery aboard a ship from the slave’s perspective.

Phillis Wheatley (1753 -1784) § Wheatley was brought to America on a slave ship from her native West Africa. § Wheatley’s “owners” converted her to Christianity. § At the age of 17, Wheatley became a well-known and respected published poet. § Wheatley was the first female writer of African origin to gain a voice in the United States. § Personification—A figure of speech that attributes human powers or qualities to something that is not human. Example: The wind roared; The screaming river