Why might Olaudah Equiano have believed he had a chance to buy his freedom and move to England after he was purchased by Mr. King, a “charitable and humane” Quaker merchant?

Olaudah Equiano was himself a Christian
Quakers tended to be heavily involved in the abolitionist movement
Olaudah Equiano had excellent communication skills in the English language
Mr. King promised his freedom, and Olaudah Equiano believed him

1 answer

Olaudah Equiano might have believed he had a chance to buy his freedom and move to England after being purchased by Mr. King, primarily because Mr. King promised his freedom, and Olaudah Equiano believed him. This trust in Mr. King's intentions would have been founded on the understanding that he was a “charitable and humane” Quaker merchant, which likely influenced Equiano's perception of the promise being sincere.

While it's true that Quakers were involved in the abolitionist movement, Equiano's belief in his freedom would more directly stem from personal promises and relationships rather than broader movements. Additionally, his own Christian beliefs and communication skills would have played roles in his life and interactions, but the specific promise from Mr. King would have been the most immediate reason for his hope about freedom.