Overall Olaudah Equiano had a good life in comparison to slaves of that time period. While many slaves had a short life expectancy and did very unpleasant work, Olaudah Equiano was blessed with doing interesting work and being able to travel all over the world at the same time. Throughout his travels he witnessed the horrific situation of the slave trade, sometimes even first hand. Olaudah Equiano provides the reader with first hand information that …showed first 75 words of 920 total…

…showed last 75 words of 920 total…influential on all who read the pages. Coming at such a crucial time in the push for slavery abolition, the words of a former slave needed to be heard to get the full effect of just what was going on. Such a first hand account from an actual former slave who "beat the system" and obtained his freedom in spite of all the tribulations that he encountered would be instrumental in the fight for freedom.