Olaudah Equiano Dishonesty

A Sum of All His Parts Olaudah Equiano has long been known as an inspiration, a creative genius, and as a daring abolitionist. However, in recent years, he has also been known by some slightly more derogatory terms, such as liar and fraud. In 1999, certain findings by Vincent Carretta suggest that Equiano may not have been born in Africa, as he claims to in his autobiography The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, Written by Himself, but actually may have been born in South Carolina. These findings have opened up a controversial debate among many literary critics and historians, not only about whether or not Equiano misrepresented his place of birth, but also about whether his fabrication
of the truth makes his story any less credible. It is reasonable to believe that Equiano was truthful while writing his narrative. However, even if Equiano did falsely represent his place of birth and journey across the Middle Passage, he should not be chastised for his falsities, but instead hailed for his creative genius and remarkable accomplishments later in life. There is very little reason to believe Equiano misconstrued the events of his early life.
Carrata 's findings, a 1759 baptismal record and a 1773 ship 's muster roll, are not nearly enough evidence to prove Equiano 's dishonesty. While this may seem convincing to some, there are many ways to explain these misgivings. Although Equiano claims he could “smatter a little imperfect English (369)” some time after being enslaved, this in no way made him a fluent speaker of the English language at the time. When Equiano was baptized in 1759, he had only been away from his home and his native language for 3 years, and was just beginning to get a grasp of the English tongue. When asked “Where are you from?” most fluent speakers would understand the question to mean “Where were you born?” However, with Equiano 's limited knowledge at the time, he may have understood the question to mean “Where did you just come from?” This question most likely caused him to respond that he was from the Carolinas, his previous location. Another possible explanation could be that Equiano was already attempting to assimilate into the European culture. After spending nearly three years working alongside the Englishmen at sea, Equiano began to “relish[ed] their society and manners (370).” He no longer feared them, and the more time he spent with them, the more he actually wanted to be them. Perhaps his growing “desire to resemble them, to imbibe their spirit, and imitate their manners (371),” led him to
lie about his African beginnings in order to appear more European. Although he could not possibly change the color of his skin, Equiano took every other liberty to shed his African background and become more European. He dressed like a European, converted to Christianity, learned to read, write, and speak fluent English, and even ended his slavery by using his skills to buy his own freedom. Is it not plausible that in his quest to assimilate he attempted to drop his African heritage and adopt a more westernized one? Unfortunately, not everyone can be convinced by such logic, and still suspect Equiano was dishonest while writing his narrative. Whether he was born in Africa or not, Equiano 's possible fabrications should not detract from the legacy he has left behind. A former slave himself, Equiano knew all about the toils and strifes of slavery, the horrors of the middle passage, and the unfair perspective of slaves as closer to animals than humans. It is only logical that in his new state of freedom, he make an effort to change the injustices brought upon his fellow man and embrace a new position as an abolitionist. Equiano 's autobiography was perfectly timed with the rising opposition towards the slave trade. According to Vincent Carretta, the finder of Equiano 's controversial documents, the narrative was published “just after people have been calling for a black voice, a victim 's voice. Whether [Equiano] invented his African birth or no, he knew that what that moment needed was a first person account. And because they were going after the slave trade, it had to be an account of someone who had been born in Africa and was brought across the Middle Passage. An African-American voice wouldn 't have done it (Howard).” Whether Equiano 's experiences across the Middle Passage were a first hand account or not, the story they told all closely relate to many other slave 's accounts during the same time period. As long as the story was an accurate representation of what crossing the Atlantic was truly like at that time, why does it matter if Equiano directly experienced it or not? The autobiography 's key role in the debate over ending the slave trade is what really matters, as well as the example Equiano sets and the inspiration he creates in the African American culture. African Americans view him as an example of excellence and accomplishment, despite diversity. How many men at that time could say that “[They], who had been a slave in the morning, trembling at the will of another, was become [their] own master, and completely free (389)?” Equiano 's place of birth does not alter the great strides he took towards ending slavery and encouraging equality between the black man and the white man. Olaudah Equiano was a remarkable person.
He was an accomplished businessman, a world traveler, an able sea hand, a former slave, a powerful abolitionist, a best-selling author, the husband of a British woman, and even the father of three daughters. Yet the debate of whether or not he is a credible, reliable source lives on. Even if Equiano did create a false childhood in The Interesting Narrative, the effects of what he created were tremendous. There is much more to Equiano than where he was born. Literary critics and historians alike should hail Equiano for the positive effect he had on African history, instead of tearing him apart for using falsehoods to end the slave
trade.

Works Cited

Howard, Jennifer. "Unraveling the Narrative." Chronicle of Higher Education 9 Sept. 2005. 17 Feb. 2008 .

Equiano, Olaudah. "American Literature." The Norton Anthology. Ed. Julia Reidhead. 7th ed. Vol. 1.New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2008. 1253. Rpt. of The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, Written by Himself. London, 1789.