Assignment One: Banneker and Equiano (ENG 101)

       Benjamin Banneker, a free African American astronomer, mathematician, surveyor, author and farmer, expresses his views on slavery, and racial discrimination towards African Americans. In his letter, written to Thomas Jefferson, a United States secretary of State at the time, Banneker accused Jefferson of criminally and unfairly using his power straying away from the genuine meaning of “equality to all”. Banneker further more continued to accuse Jefferson in technical ways that by eye seemed very respectful, but had very deep meanings. An example of his accusation towards Jefferson is highlighted by; Banneker’s view of Christianity and his bold questioning of Jefferson interpretation of the meaning of it. This was Banneker’s major problem with his view of Thomas Jefferson’s actions.

       

       In the Narrative life of Equiano, there were many events where Equiano’s purpose and life were treated with disrespect, discrimination, and an indifferent view of equality between people. In particular the events of the Equiano’s experience on the slave ship, where he was forced onto, and where he spent several weeks under terrible conditions. Equiano’s personal feelings when on the ship were many, in particular astonishment, and his emotion of being frighten. Equaino expressed his feelings in the present time of how he was feeling with everything he saw and heard, it being the first time he witness such events.

      

·         How can we explain the horrors that Equiano witnessed on the slave ship?

·         If humans all felt the "same sensations," then wouldn't the slave-traders have been incapable of practing slavery, and enforcing it through such lethal methods?

       Identifying the horrors in which Equiano witnessed during his time on the slave ship can be identified to my view by the feelings Equiano expressed throughout each event he described. His views are based on astonishment, as well as my view of his “Emotional Knowledge”. Explaining the things Equaino saw and his feelings towards the European slave traders were all overwhelming to him. From the different complexion from himself and the other slaves compared to the slave traders, all their physical characteristics, the language they spoke, were all new to him, something he never saw or heard of. Equiano’s fear of his surroundings being in disarray, slaves dying in front of his eyes, not knowing his next step, or what they’ll do to him, constantly questioned his emotions. The general explanation of all the horrors Equiano witnessed on the slave ship can be summarized by his expressed feelings that were, astonishment, fear, overwhelming, and even to an extent his “solution” of hope.

       If all humans all felt the “same sensations”, said by Banneker in his letter to Thomas Jefferson, to some extent this can explain the decisions made by the European slave traders. My personal view of this belief of Banneker can be translated simply by, “We all have the goal of achieving happiness”. But an explanation of why it isn’t totally true is the reality of what having power can lead you to do. An example to justify this can be drawn even in today’s world with events happening. Simply, the power the European slave traders hold, it automatically made them superior to any slave, and this empowered them the privilege to do what they did.