Equiano Journal
09/20/13
Equiano’s,
The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano
exemplifies
many contradicting actions demonstrated by the slave owners in correlation to slave
codes that had been created. For example, the Barbados Slave Code was produced by the
English to instill protection for slave owners and slaves within the Caribbean. The
Barbados Slave Code’s key statement of protection asserts to, “
protect them [slaves] as
we do men's other goods and Chattels,” which means slaves would be treated as chattel
property in eyes of the Caribbean courts of law. Even though the law forced slave owners
to provide new clothes yearly for their slaves, it gave masters no set of rules in the areas
of housing, nutrition and working conditions for their slaves.
Thus, it fell short of its
purpose when slaves were provided minimum and sometimes no protection at all.
Equiano points out the slaves’ lack of safeguard under this code as he introduces the
readers to the slavery of the West Indies. Equiano explains in detail how they held the
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