The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano (1789)

The book opens with

Ideas of beauty in complexion are wholly relative

Their wordsNumbers of the natives of Eboe now in London might be brought in support of this assertion: for, in regard to complexion, ideas of beauty are wholly relative.

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Our reading
Ideas of beauty in complexion are wholly relative

Their wordsNumbers of the natives of Eboe now in London might be brought in support of this assertion: for, in regard to complexion, ideas of beauty are wholly relative.
Our reading
Since complexion changes with climate, this may help remove prejudice against Africans on account of their colour

Their wordsThese instances, and a great many more which might be adduced, while they shew how the complexions of the same persons vary in different climates, it is hoped may tend also to remove the prejudice that some conceive against the natives of Africa on account of their colour. Surely the minds of the Spaniards did not change with their complexions!
Our reading
Christians who sell enslaved families apart betray their own rule to do unto others as they would be done by

Their wordsO, ye nominal Christians! might not an African ask you, learned you this from your God, who says unto you, Do unto all men as you would men should do unto you? Is it not enough that we are torn from our country and friends to toil for your luxury and lust of gain?
Our reading
The slave trade hardens the people who deal in it; slave dealers are not born worse than other men

Their wordsSuch a tendency has the slave-trade to debauch men's minds, and harden them to every feeling of humanity! For I will not suppose that the dealers in slaves are born worse than other men—No; it is the fatality of this mistaken avarice, that it corrupts the milk of human kindness and turns it into gall.
Our reading
The slave trade violates the first natural right of mankind, equality and independence

Their wordsSurely this traffic cannot be good, which spreads like a pestilence, and taints what it touches! which violates that first natural right of mankind, equality and independency, and gives one man a dominion over his fellows which God could never intend!
Our reading
Enslaving people strips them of half their virtue and teaches them fraud and cruelty, then blames them for dishonesty

Their wordsWhen you make men slaves you deprive them of half their virtue, you set them in your own conduct an example of fraud, rapine, and cruelty, and compel them to live with you in a state of war; and yet you complain that they are not honest or faithful!
Our reading
Trade with Africa would be an inexhaustible source of wealth for British manufacturing, and the slave trade stands in its way

Their wordsA commercial intercourse with Africa opens an inexhaustible source of wealth to the manufacturing interests of Great Britain, and to all which the slave trade is an objection.
Our reading
Abolishing slavery would be a universal good

Their wordsThe manufacturing interest and the general interests are synonymous. The abolition of slavery would be in reality an universal good.

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