Olaudah Equiano, originally from West Africa, experienced the brutal reality of enslavement from a young age, enduring abduction and transport to the Americas. After obtaining his freedom, he settled in London and penned The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, a work that challenged European perceptions of Africans and critiqued the injustices of enslavement. His narrative, the authors argue, not only shed light on his diverse experiences, including battles and expeditions, but also highlighted the contradictions of a period marked by the simultaneous expansion of liberty and the trading of enslaved people in British North America.

Equiano’s narrative presents historical contradictions, complexities, and The Evolving Concept of American Freedom as he transitioned from a kidnapped enslaved person to a key voice challenging the injustices of enslavement. The authors use the example of Equiano’s life and work underscore the significant contributions of African voices in shaping the discourse around freedom and equality.

Slavery and Empire

The 18th-century Atlantic economy was intertwined with the slave trade, a cornerstone of British imperial wealth and a driver of its industrialization. Over half of the Africans transported to the Americas were carried on British ships, destined for labor in plantation economies from the West Indies to Brazil.