Olaudah Equiano Summary
Martin Luther King Jr. told thousands of people about his dream on August 28, 1963. He told them that one day every American citizen will walk hand-in-hand and be treated like one another disregarding gender, race, or religion. Did Martin Luther King feel the need to make this speech because America had lost its vision of the American Dream? For instance, the American Dream has been practiced since Pre-Colonial times; influencing citizens that America can always be improved and made better. The first settlers on the land expected America to be a perfect place to be, giving all people endless opportunities. America is seen as a place of hopefulness and moving forward. The New Land was where people could be distinguished for being who they were,
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and be seen as equal. To conclude, the American Dream informs Americans that there will be work to be done, because America is a country of progress.
In the beginning, the Native Americans were the first group of American citizens who sought to make the New Land a utopia for all who inhabited it. For example, In “The Story of the Creation”, the Creator of the world makes the landscape and provides for human needs before the creation of humans. The Pima creator did this for when humans are created they will have something to live off of, instead of having to work for basic needs. In the Pima creation story, the Earth is made into a perfect community and focuses on the good humanity should do in the New Land. Furthermore, the Native Americans valued equality and wanted all people to feel protected in The Iroquois Constitution. The leader of the Iroquois welcomes all people “to take shelter beneath the Tree of Long Leaves” if they follow the laws and beliefs of the Iroquois. The Iroquois Constitution invites Native Americans to unite and help develop America. Nevertheless, the creator in “The Iroquois Creation Story” intends on making humans reflect His perfect image. The Good Mind in the creation story wants humans to be flawless, preventing future damage or destruction if they were not made perfectly. In “The Iroquois Creation Story”, the Good Mind wants humanity to emulate his supernatural ways, because if humans are perfect, the world would be perfect. Finally, Native Americans wanted a utopian society so the New Land could give opportunities for the rest of its existence.
On the other hand, early European Explorers strove to convince their homelands that America offered opportunities that they will never have at home in their writings. In addition, in A Description of New England by John Smith, Smith repeatedly questions the English audience about their life in England. He makes them ponder whether they are making the right choice by staying in England instead of America where opportunities are endless. Smith wanted to convince Englishmen that jobs and work were better in America, when in reality, he asked the English to come to America to begin any kind of work force. Again, in Smith’s letter, he uses propaganda to encourage his fellow English citizens to make the move to America. He refuses to include the negativity that would come with building the New Land. He asks the people to come to put a start to the foundation of settlement and government in America, excluding the desolateness of the country. Likewise, in Christopher Columbus’ “Letter to Luis de Santagel Regarding the First Voyage”, he tries to lure the King and Queen of Spain to invest in another voyage to put up a settlement in America. He uses characteristics of the New Land being “very fertile to a limitless degree” and having no “king or great cities” to make them understand that Spain must claim America before any other country can. Columbus’ letter is a call to action to the Spanish government to consider the vast amount of wealth and prosperity that can come from the New Land. For this purpose, European Explorers wrote to persuade and control their people to act on the future their countries could have in America.
Without a doubt, the African Americans came to the New Land against their will, but that did not stop them from wanting acceptance in America.
In support, African Americans wrote that about the tortuous points in America. Olauda Equiano wrote about having “the least glimpse of hope” in his autobiography The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gusatavus Vassa the African. Equiano did not see anything good that would come from the Africans voyage to America, so he wrote to emphasize the pain that was felt. Also from The Interesting Narrative, Equiano stresses the depression that he felt in the inhumane conditions on the ship over to America. He repeatedly mentions how much he would rather die than live to see America. For Equiano, death was a relief from being mistreated and abused for his race and religion. In the same way, Mary Prince wrote about her horrible masters and working environment in The History of Mary Prince, a West Indian Slave (Related by Herself). Prince wrote that her masters’ hearts were cold and there was never time for rest, even during the night where it would be proper to sleep. Prince wrote to tell the truth about slavery and the atrocious conditions that she had to go through while working as a young slave. In brief, although Africans were coming to America by force, they would have liked to be presented with the same opportunities everyone else
had.
To conclude, the American Dream is described vividly throughout Pre-Colonial writings. To explain, Native Americans wished that humanity had all of its needs. The creators in Native American writing wanted to provide everything naturally to the first people of the earth. Additionally, the European explorers hoped to convince their citizens to claim America for their country. They sought after the fame and fortune instead of a new beginning. Nevertheless, the Africans had no hope in America. All they wished for was for their ancestors to live peacefully in the New Land; they did not want to be looked down upon. In summary, the American Dream runs through every sect of Pre-Colonial writings, with a focus on everyone being acknowledged as equal and helpful toward the progression of America. Does America still wish to strive to become better, or is the American Dream a dream of the past?
and be seen as equal. To conclude, the American Dream informs Americans that there will be work to be done, because America is a country of progress.
In the beginning, the Native Americans were the first group of American citizens who sought to make the New Land a utopia for all who inhabited it. For example, In “The Story of the Creation”, the Creator of the world makes the landscape and provides for human needs before the creation of humans. The Pima creator did this for when humans are created they will have something to live off of, instead of having to work for basic needs. In the Pima creation story, the Earth is made into a perfect community and focuses on the good humanity should do in the New Land. Furthermore, the Native Americans valued equality and wanted all people to feel protected in The Iroquois Constitution. The leader of the Iroquois welcomes all people “to take shelter beneath the Tree of Long Leaves” if they follow the laws and beliefs of the Iroquois. The Iroquois Constitution invites Native Americans to unite and help develop America. Nevertheless, the creator in “The Iroquois Creation Story” intends on making humans reflect His perfect image. The Good Mind in the creation story wants humans to be flawless, preventing future damage or destruction if they were not made perfectly. In “The Iroquois Creation Story”, the Good Mind wants humanity to emulate his supernatural ways, because if humans are perfect, the world would be perfect. Finally, Native Americans wanted a utopian society so the New Land could give opportunities for the rest of its existence.
On the other hand, early European Explorers strove to convince their homelands that America offered opportunities that they will never have at home in their writings. In addition, in A Description of New England by John Smith, Smith repeatedly questions the English audience about their life in England. He makes them ponder whether they are making the right choice by staying in England instead of America where opportunities are endless. Smith wanted to convince Englishmen that jobs and work were better in America, when in reality, he asked the English to come to America to begin any kind of work force. Again, in Smith’s letter, he uses propaganda to encourage his fellow English citizens to make the move to America. He refuses to include the negativity that would come with building the New Land. He asks the people to come to put a start to the foundation of settlement and government in America, excluding the desolateness of the country. Likewise, in Christopher Columbus’ “Letter to Luis de Santagel Regarding the First Voyage”, he tries to lure the King and Queen of Spain to invest in another voyage to put up a settlement in America. He uses characteristics of the New Land being “very fertile to a limitless degree” and having no “king or great cities” to make them understand that Spain must claim America before any other country can. Columbus’ letter is a call to action to the Spanish government to consider the vast amount of wealth and prosperity that can come from the New Land. For this purpose, European Explorers wrote to persuade and control their people to act on the future their countries could have in America.
Without a doubt, the African Americans came to the New Land against their will, but that did not stop them from wanting acceptance in America.
In support, African Americans wrote that about the tortuous points in America. Olauda Equiano wrote about having “the least glimpse of hope” in his autobiography The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gusatavus Vassa the African. Equiano did not see anything good that would come from the Africans voyage to America, so he wrote to emphasize the pain that was felt. Also from The Interesting Narrative, Equiano stresses the depression that he felt in the inhumane conditions on the ship over to America. He repeatedly mentions how much he would rather die than live to see America. For Equiano, death was a relief from being mistreated and abused for his race and religion. In the same way, Mary Prince wrote about her horrible masters and working environment in The History of Mary Prince, a West Indian Slave (Related by Herself). Prince wrote that her masters’ hearts were cold and there was never time for rest, even during the night where it would be proper to sleep. Prince wrote to tell the truth about slavery and the atrocious conditions that she had to go through while working as a young slave. In brief, although Africans were coming to America by force, they would have liked to be presented with the same opportunities everyone else
had.
To conclude, the American Dream is described vividly throughout Pre-Colonial writings. To explain, Native Americans wished that humanity had all of its needs. The creators in Native American writing wanted to provide everything naturally to the first people of the earth. Additionally, the European explorers hoped to convince their citizens to claim America for their country. They sought after the fame and fortune instead of a new beginning. Nevertheless, the Africans had no hope in America. All they wished for was for their ancestors to live peacefully in the New Land; they did not want to be looked down upon. In summary, the American Dream runs through every sect of Pre-Colonial writings, with a focus on everyone being acknowledged as equal and helpful toward the progression of America. Does America still wish to strive to become better, or is the American Dream a dream of the past?