Short Essay Four

Africans living as slaves in eighteenth century England struggled to gain freedom. Qhe Africans desperately wanted equality with their white counterparts and the ability to control their own lives. Self- determination was something that the enslaved sought to achieve. Tyrannical masters attempted to have power over every aspect of their slaves’ lives. Many slaves who worked as domestic servants in England would see that white servants had much more authority over themselves. Wages earned by free servants were seen by slaves as a symbol of sovereignty and many slaves fought to receive them. Marriage and religious baptism were liberties given to all white Europeans; however, many slaves encouraged one another to seek out these institutions in order to claim their freedom (Lorimer 60). Slaves saw the privilege to make decisions regarding these important matters as crucial exclamation of their liberty. In the case of Olaudah Equiano, an African enslaved in England who eventually gained his freedom, the privilege to religious choice was an integral part of the definition of freedom. Equiano gained authority over his life by selecting a religion of his choice free from a master’s input (Equiano184). In addition to selecting his own faith, Equiano found freedom through travel, which he did extensively while both enslaved and free. The assertion and struggle for freedom created ill tensions between the Africans and Europeans. Traditionally, slaves were completely dominated by their owners. Slave owners were furious when their slaves began rebelling against them and declaring their right to liberty. Defiance of slave masters displayed the loss of power that the white Europeans had over the Africans. The fear created by this disobedience began “pressuring slaveowners to treat their Black servants as free domestics” (Lorimer 71). Once slave owners realized that Africans demanded liberty they attempted to appease them while keeping their power in place. The slaves’ quest for freedom ultimately left the Europeans fearing their loss authority over them. To slaves in eighteenth century England freedom was defined by the ability to control their lives and having the same rights as white Europeans. Being able to live as an ordinary, wage earning citizen was integral to slaves in their pursuit of freedom. Enslaved Africans were able to affirm these rights through various rebellious acts which complicated their relationship for their white owners. Slave owners were angry with their slaves for taking control of their own lives, but also fearful of any loss of status that would result from the slaves’ freedom. Liberty held various meanings to different slaves, but it was something they all were willing to fight for.