Browse Exhibits (1 total)

Arguably one of the most important locations in The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano is the slave ship from which Equiano’s journey as a slave outside of Africa begins. In his narrative, Equiano speaks his thoughts on one ship: “a slave ship…filled me with astonishment, which was soon converted into terror… When I looked round the ship too and saw a large furnace of copper boiling, and a multitude of black people of every description chained together, every one of their countenances, expressing dejection and sorrow, I no longer doubted my fate; and quite overpowered with horror and anguish, I fell motionless on the deck and fainted,” (Equiano, 70). While the vessels themselves may have been astonishing as Equiano notes, the experiences on board were nothing to be impressed by. Learn more about the conditions of slave ships, evidence of suicide, and slave rebellions on board by exploring this exhibit, starting with "The Experience" and ending with "The Freedom." 

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