Equiano: "Sellout" or role model ?
Olaudah Equiano's narrative is indeed a very stirring, vivid, concrete, and picaresque tale, and Equiano himself seems to embody or epitomize the black man's struggle for meaning and wholeness in a world or time that denies him that right, or in essence, offers no fulfillment of that right. In his journey or quest for self-fulfillment and purpose, one can arrive at two distinct conclusions about his story. He is either a "sellout" to his culture, his people, and his self, or he is a hero (perhaps alienated), a role model, or a founding father of the antislavery/abolitionist movement. His narrative is one of a political, religious, and cultural perspective as he seeks to remove himself from social exile. Equiano is removed from his African culture and society at a very young age only to learn the methods and lifestyle of white men very foreign to him. It is through this transition that the reader can deduce certain conclusions about Equiano and his way of adapting to these sudden changes.
Between three or four years after Equiano is brought to England, he learns many things and even receives Christianity as religion. He is baptized and escapes may hardships. In chapter five of his narrative, about fifteen or so paragraphs (page 106 in Penguin version), Equiano states that, "I myself, as shall appear in the sequel, managed an estate, where, by those attentions, the negroes were uncommonly cheerful and healthy, and did more work by half than by the common mode of treatment they usually do." The significance of this passage is twofold. The first to be noted is the separation that he has clearly referenced here, and that has been referred to in many cases throughout the narrative. He has already separated himself from his own people, and in a sense adopted a nobility or chain of command/being. He knows he has prominence or superiority over these particular slaves, and writes in reference accordingly. The second significance to be noted is his apparent acceptance with the notion of slavery itself. Not to say he favors it, but that he almost accepts its role in this particular society, and he goes along with it. Equiano takes a role of superiority over his fellow black slaves, and as well notes how hard working they are as slaves.
To further strengthen this point, in chapter seven (page 133), Equiano states that while discharging cargo on his masters ship he "took in a live cargo (as we call a cargo of slaves.)" Equiano is now not only taking part in the sale of slaves, he remarks how lucrative indeed it is to him later on. He makes sure to note that this particular "live cargo" is in fact human beings and not animals such as cattle or foul. His abrupt and almost nonchalant remarks on the matter leave the reader to wonder what value he himself places on slaves. These two passages of Equiano's narrative set up an interesting dynamic that has evolved within Equiano's character ... at its core, what does he regard himself as? Slave, white man, European? Does Equiano accept himself as more valuable than the common slave?
These passages also have significance as they relate to aspects of Equiano's origin. He states in his narrative early on that his own people back in Africa took part in slavery. They took their enemies as slaves, and in some cases punished those that committed crimes with the penance of slavery. This concept of slavery thus, is not new to Equiano. He has some fundamental concept of slavery from a very young age and this plays a certain degree of significance in his future decisions. Perhaps he becomes slowly desensitized to the entire notion of slavery, or at least the degrees of slavery.
At some point it seems that Equiano has lost some sense of himself. He finds esteem and notoriety as he gains favor with his masters and as he progresses through his knowledge and quest for European concepts. He begins to dress, speak, read and write like them and he highly enjoys it. This in and of itself does not seem to hint at any disdain or betrayal of his people, but at what point can one say that he no longer holds his own culture as paramount, but instead trades one culture for another. He seems to give up what culture he had in exchange for the extravagance of European style and life. It is in this interpretation that I find most dynamic.
Equiano may be regarded as a vehicle for the abolitionist movement, and some may say that he did what he had to in order to get this work published. Some may say that this was his only choice and that his actions were justified given his circumstances. But one must wonder if in the exact moment while Equiano was signing off slaves to sale and giving orders for those he commanded...if he was truly thinking about the future and his strides towards equality, or if he was simply savoring his moments of dominance and significance over someone else after years of servitude.
I find that Equiano's choices were easy. It was easy to follow orders and serve as overseer of other slaves. It is easy to sell slaves and profit from those sales. It was easy to dress like the white man, talk like the white man, and read and write like the white man. It is hard to fight back. It is hard to refuse to object your own people to the confines of slavery. It is hard to maintain your own culture, method of dress, and dialogue. It is hard to be a martyr for your people. It is hard to stand up for what little cause or motivations you may have. Equiano in essence gave up his individuality for complacency. He conformed to the restrains he was given and thus succeeded in his endeavors. If his choices lead to this narrative and fueled the fire of equality than we are all better off for it. But one must analyze his choices and the motivations for those decisions.
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