In chapter twelve a huge event for the abolition movement was the release of Equiano's book. It's release had perfect timing and became a best seller. He began the book with a petition addressed to Parliament and ended it with his antislavery letter to the Queen. "His was the first great political book tour, and never was one undertaken wiht more determination." This pushed the abolitionist movement along by gaining even more public attention than it already had. Clearly the book was a success, being a best seller, it reached many people across England.
In chapter thirteen Clarkson traveled to France. France's slaves in the Carribean produced more sugar than the British West Indies. I was given the impression throughout this whole book that England's was the largest amount of sugar produced by far. Unfortunatley while staying in France to speak with their abolitionists who had the same hopes as Clarkson Kig Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette returned under guard to Paris. Just when things looked like they were coming together for Clarkson they were pushed back apart.
In chapter fouteen we are updated on how the ex-slaves lives are going in Nova Scotia. And it is not as great as everyone may have expected. Their are riots, white men destroying black men's homes, and Africans being driven out of town to do cheap labor elsewhere. These ex- slaves are now free but i wonder if their lives are any happier. The description of their new lives do not seem to be pleasant. Yet neither were their lives before their freedom.
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2 comments:
I guess the way you have to look at the happiness situation is by taking the view of the lesser of the evils really. It is rare that a black at the time had what was considered a good life by anyone. Equiano's book was a big mover i agree. Without it it is hard to tell where things would have directed.
It seems to me that any solution that doesn't allow all the people involved power over their decisions isn't really a solution: John Clarkson is no Moses and Sierra Leone ain't no Promised Land. (double negtv intended).
Keep daring to push out an opinion--like--the read here was slow because . . .. From my vantage, you provde an apt and accurate summary that is primed ready for your reasoned opinions.
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