During Olaudah Equiano’s time there was debate on Britain’s involvement in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Being a former slave that came from Eboe, part of the kingdom of Benin, Equiano’s stance on the slave trade was abolishing it, having to experience the atrocities personally. His views and desire to end slavery for his countrymen were supported by many abolitionist writers like himself but there were those who opposed his stance. For example, James Tobin, a onetime West India planter and member of the Council of Nevis, attacked abolitionist James Ramsay, a friend of Equiano’s. Tobin being a defender of slavery, responded to Reverend Mr. James Ramsay’s Essay in 1785. His attack would be refuting to certain pages in Ramsay’s Essay on the
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Is he more of a conservative writer or does he lean more to the liberal side? To answer that question, you must first observe the period and the views of the people of that time. Equiano lived during a time when the discussion of abolishing the slave trade was a mainstream topic. Although this was true, slavery was being practiced by numerous countries and was legal. In Equiano’s writings he uses many scriptures from the Bible to justify his stance against slavery. He uses this method because he understands that a mass majority of his subscribers practice the religion of Christianity. Due to Christianity being important to many of his readers, Equiano uses this to his advantage to get his point across. The quoting of scriptures in his writings to appeal to followers of Christ can be looked at as conservative writing due to it being the religion of the majority of his subscribers and the citizens of Britain. While he uses conservative writing to argue his stance against slavery he also uses a liberal approach. The desire for his countrymen to be free, wanting equality, wanting freedom can be seen as liberal ideology during this time period and even now. An example of Equiano’s liberal standing would be in his letter responding to Samuel Jackson Pratt’s poem From Humanity; or the Rights of Nature. In this letter he quotes the biblical verse Isaiah 32.8, “The liberal devise liberal things, and by liberal things shall stand.” The word liberal means generosity, nobleness, being large-hearted, benevolent, and pursing equality for your country or people, in Equiano’s case. Being liberal also means to be willing to practice new behaviors or opinions that are different than traditional values. This defines Olaudah Equiano. As the slave trade was a heavily practiced atrocity and would go on for several more decades, it can be viewed as conservative practice. People like Equiano who opposed this and spoke out against
Is he more of a conservative writer or does he lean more to the liberal side? To answer that question, you must first observe the period and the views of the people of that time. Equiano lived during a time when the discussion of abolishing the slave trade was a mainstream topic. Although this was true, slavery was being practiced by numerous countries and was legal. In Equiano’s writings he uses many scriptures from the Bible to justify his stance against slavery. He uses this method because he understands that a mass majority of his subscribers practice the religion of Christianity. Due to Christianity being important to many of his readers, Equiano uses this to his advantage to get his point across. The quoting of scriptures in his writings to appeal to followers of Christ can be looked at as conservative writing due to it being the religion of the majority of his subscribers and the citizens of Britain. While he uses conservative writing to argue his stance against slavery he also uses a liberal approach. The desire for his countrymen to be free, wanting equality, wanting freedom can be seen as liberal ideology during this time period and even now. An example of Equiano’s liberal standing would be in his letter responding to Samuel Jackson Pratt’s poem From Humanity; or the Rights of Nature. In this letter he quotes the biblical verse Isaiah 32.8, “The liberal devise liberal things, and by liberal things shall stand.” The word liberal means generosity, nobleness, being large-hearted, benevolent, and pursing equality for your country or people, in Equiano’s case. Being liberal also means to be willing to practice new behaviors or opinions that are different than traditional values. This defines Olaudah Equiano. As the slave trade was a heavily practiced atrocity and would go on for several more decades, it can be viewed as conservative practice. People like Equiano who opposed this and spoke out against