However, she was kidnapped with her sister when she was 11 years old. He was sold by a local slave merchant and taken to Barbados then to Virginia.
In Virginia, Equiano was sold to Michael Pascal, a lieutenant in the navy. Pascal then gave a new name for Equiano namely Gustavus Vassa, just like the king of Sweden in the 16th century.
At that time, Equiano's name had been changed twice. When he was on a slave ship that brought him to the United States, he was called Michael. Later, he was called Jacob by his first owner.
Equiano sailed the ocean with Pascal for 8 years. In his journey, he later learned about Christianity and chose to embrace him. During that time, he also learned about how to read and write.
Pascal then sold Equiano to a ship captain in London, who then took him to Montserrat. Here, he was sold to a prominent merchant, Robert King. King told Equiano to make a delivery route and also work in his shop.
He also works as a sailor, waiter and also a haircut. He raised money by trading as a sideline job. In 1765, when Equiano was 20 years old, King promised he could buy his freedom for GBP40, now worth GBP6,000.
In less than 3 years, he managed to earn enough money to buy his freedom. He was released in 1767. Over the next 20 years, Equiano spent much of his life on an adventure, including Turkey and the Arctic.
In 1786, he became part of a movement aimed at eliminating slavery in London. He is a prominent member of "Sons of Africa", a group of 12 black men who want slavery to be abolished.
Equiano's explanation surprised many people. Some readers feel ashamed of the suffering that he faces. His autobiography, released in 1789, helped the creation of the Slave Trade Law 1807, which stopped the sale and purchase of slaves to Great Britain and its colonies.
