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Equiano's chapter 12

In the last chapter, Equiano includes a series of letters written by various individuals who played a role in his journey to freedom. I think this one was of the most powerful parts of the book because it authenticated his stories and grounded them in empirical relaity.  

The letters serve to provide further verification and validation of Equiano's story, as they offer testimony from people who witnessed his experiences and can attest to the truth of his account. This is particularly important becasue in the research for my Research Excusion, I learned that during the time Equiano's narrative was published, a lot of people were skeptical of the stories of formerly enslaved people and believed they misconstrued/exaggerated the truth. The letters added validity and reality so that no one could discount Equinao's work. 

The inclusion of these letters also highlights the importance of community and support in the fight against slavery and the slave trade. Equiano's journey to freedom was not a solitary one, but rather it was made possible through the assistance of many individuals who were willing to help him. These individuals include both Europeans and Africans, and their support was crucial in enabling Equiano to gain his freedom.

Overall, the inclusion of these letters serves to provide further evidence of the truth of Equiano's story while also highlighting the importance of community and support in the fight against slavery and the slave trade. By acknowledging the role that others played in his journey to freedom, Equiano emphasizes the importance of working together to fight against injustice and oppression. 

Comments

  1. John SawyerFebruary 20, 2023 at 7:41 PM

    Hi Noah, I agree that the inclusion of letters was an effective appeal to ethos. It also connected back to the very beginning of the narrative when he thanked his supporters and subscribers before opening with the first chapter. I did not know about how the stories of former slaves were often thought to be exaggerated, it now can certainly be seen in my eyes why it was so important for him to include those letters. I like the way you brought the importance of community and teamwork in the abolition of slavery. Equiano certainly did what he could to get other voices in his narrative.

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  2. Gema Sanchez GamezFebruary 20, 2023 at 10:19 PM

    Hi Noah, I think it's super interesting to learn that Chapter 12 in Equiano serves to push the validity of the experiences of formerly enslaved people. I also agree that Equiano's journey to freedom was not solitary one. No man is an island, and I think that these letters serve to highlight the complexity of his experiences and those around him.

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  3. Andrew BautistaFebruary 20, 2023 at 11:53 PM

    Hi Noah! I completely agree that the letters help ground Equiano's narrative by giving it a real presence, showing the effects it has had on others. I never even considered that the letters help validate Equiano's story since some people possibly wouldn't have believed him if it was just his account.

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