Equiano continuously compares his people with the Jews because he believes that the Africans and the Jews originated from the same descendants. “Indeed this is the opinion of Dr. Gill, who, in his commentary on Genesis, very ably deduces the pedigree of the Africans from Afer and Afra, the descendents of Abraham by Keturah his wife and concubine.” (p.20)
In regards to his tribe, Equiano believes that the society of his upbringing was governed in the same way as the Jews were governed. “Like the Israelites in their primitive state, our government was conducted by of chiefs or judges, our wisemen, and elders; and the head of a family, with us, enjoyed a similar authority over his household with that which is ascribed to Abraham and the other Patriarchs.” (p.20)
I think that Equiano uses the Jews as an example because he believes that they portray his people best due to their similar traditions and superstitions.
Do you agree with my analysis?
I agree with what Lydia said because Equaino compares his beliefs and practices with the Jews many times throughout the first chapter. When Equaino compares himself with the Jews it is all believable information.
ReplyDeleteIt could also be that before Equaino became part of the slave trade, he had no knowledge of any other religion and therefor nothing else to compare his spiritual beliefs too. Before leaving Africa he had never seen a white man or snow. "He asked me if there was no such thing in my country; i told him No. Then i asked him the us of it , and who made it: he told me a great man in the heavens, called God." Each time they talked about god and his powers he was amazed. I think he might constantly compare his religion with the Jews because he can relate with them, and it also might be the only other practice he knows.
ReplyDeleteI think that Equaino makes a good point about the relationship with his tribe and the Jews. They have the same customs and traditions then the white mans religion. I think that he was trying to say that the white man were ignorant about the similarities they had with the people they were enslaving. An example of this is circumcision and how both happened within the tribes of Africa and within the Jews. How can they be so similar and yet be treated so different? Ignorance?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Haley in that Living in his small tribe Equaino really didn't know a lot of other races. So he compared himself to the Jews because they were the most similar people to his tribe, that he knew off.
ReplyDeleteI think that what everyone has said is accurate. He made this connection because they had so many similarities. He may not have known of many other cultures, but this comparison is important because the one culture that he did happen to have knowledge of was so similar to his yet, as Bryanna said, they were treated so differenly.
ReplyDelete- Elizabeth Anderson
I agree with everyone with the fact that Equiano compares him and his people to the Jews because of their beliefs and traditions. It is funny how Equiano states this and that later on in time his people and the Jews will be treated the same. Just like Equiano and his people are suffering by the slave trade, the Jews suffer in the same way when Hitler becomes in charge.
ReplyDeleteThe Jews have been persecuted throughout history (Holocaust being an obvious example). The same could possibly be said for Africans like Equiano with slavery and prejudices. It is easy for Equiano to relate to Jews in this instance.
ReplyDelete"Let the polished and haughty European recollect that his ancestors were once, like the Africans, uncivalized and even barbarous. Did nature make them inferior to their sons? and should they too haave been made slaves?" - every end of ch. 1
ReplyDeleteEquiano compares himself to the Jews because of them being involved in the Slave Trade. Equino does describe that in Africa their own people would also enslave one another. The Jews also used to to enslave themselves but would not trade any Jew to another race. Jews also believed in giving rights to the slaves, of course they were still slaves. During Equiano experience their can be an argument that he doesn't go through as much as others and has some kind of rights or better treatment.
ReplyDeleteNot really. It's not surprising that at early community development there are similarities in a way a small tribal society is governed. Even today South American Indian tribes are led by chiefs, elders or wise men, but that's natural as these people can best provide for the existence and the security of their own people. Supposedly we have all originated from the same descendants, it seems rather not possible that Jews came that far from south west Africa, rather Jewish religion might have spread much farther south in Africa thus people there might have had similar customs. I believe that Equiano deep gratitude and faith in God made him want to believe that his people and Jews came from the same origin. This in some sense further solidify his faith and made him proud of his people; perhaps God would lead him out of his slavery the same way he led Jews out of Egypt.
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