Overall Impression
Olaudah Equiano and Ayuba Diallo are stunning examples of opportunities to change lives for the better in a strictly conservative 18th-century society. These personalities are outstanding because they show that people can achieve their goals despite prejudice and terrible attitude. Olaudah Equiano and Ayuba Diallo amaze with their exceptional will to live and ability to fight any difficulties. Their life paths prove that the impossible can become a reality if a person constantly makes efforts to achieve the goal.
Emphasizing the Freedom and Self-determination of the Africans
Olaudah Equiano became the first English-language writer of African descent to buy his own freedom. Ayuba Diallo has proven that, despite his African heritage, he deserves to be treated with dignity. Diallo was the first black person whose portrait was not drawn in a derogatory manner (OnePath Network, 2019, 00:00:10-00:03:00). By their example, these two great men emphasize the right to freedom, self-determination of people of African descent, worthy of equal rights and freedoms with the white population. Equiano and Diallo emphasize that black people should be free since they have the same personal and mental qualities. In addition, the self-determination of blacks is also proved since, even in captivity, these people showed perseverance and eventually achieved their goals. The life of these people shows that everyone should be treated with respect and accepted their importance.
Encouraging White Respect
The story of two people who went against the times encourages whites to respect Africans and African Americans. Both examples of complex but worthy lives influenced the decision to abolish slavery. Through their greatest accomplishments, these men have made conservative white society respect them. Overcoming all difficulties, Equiano and Diallo earned their freedom and a chance for a normal life for many blacks in America. Without their feat, the contemporary American quest for equality might not exist.
Work Cited
“The Incredible Journey of an African Muslim Slave – Ayuba Suleiman”. YouTube, uploaded by OnePath Network, 2019. Web.