Heidi Darby
Eng 269—Farbman
March 13, 2003

Modern writers learn from the past by reading works written by authors of that particular era. Contemporary African-American writers gain knowledge and insight into the horrendous and sometimes harmonious conditions that plagued Africans during slavery and the slave trade. By reading the actual words, thoughts, and feelings of these enslaved Africans, modern writers receive information from the perspective of the victimized. Lucille Clifton's "slaveship" is a vivid example of a contemporary writer borrowing from the past to depict another account of the slave trade. The fact that Clifton's father told her stories about her family's struggle and she, herself, traced her lineage back to Dahomey, West Africa helped to impact the tone, ideas, and imagery used in her poem. Although "slaveship" is not written by someone who has experienced slavery herself, it does use similar elements found in Olaudah Equiano's Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano and Phillis Wheatley's "On Being Brought from Africa to America".

Clifton's "slaveship" begins with the image of people tightly packed and close together in the bottom of a ship. The narrator says that they were "loaded like spoons into the belly of Jesus" (lines 1-2). Later in the poem, the narrator describes being "chained to the heart of the Angel" (line 8). Equiano also speaks of the crowded conditions he faced on his journey to America. He states that he "was soon put down under the decks" (p 157) where "this wretched situation was again aggravated by the gallings of chains" (p 159). The human cargo on these slave ships endured weeks and months of dreadful and disgusting odors as a result of these cramped conditions. Clifton's slave spoke of lying "for weeks for months in the sweat and stink of [their] own breathing" (lines 3-5). Clifton might not have known about the unsanitary conditions lurking in the bellies of ships if Equiano had not described the "copious perspiration [that made the air] unfit for respiration [because of] a variety of loathsome smells" (p 159). As a result of the kidnapping and brutalization of these Africans, many knew that returning to their homeland was not an option. In "slaveship", the narrator asks someone if "ever again can [his] tongue speak, can [his] bone walkäcan this sin live" (lines 19-22). These lines can be interpreted to mean will he speak his native language again, will he ever get off this boat, and will he ever live his former life again. Likewise, in Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, he "saw [himself] deprived of all chance of returning to [his] native country" (p 157). Even the idea of referring to slaves or Africans as a "sin" is not from Clifton's own experience. Phillis Wheatley wrote about people viewing Blacks as a walking sin because of the controversy surrounding the mark placed on Cain by God in "On Being Brought from Africa to America". She said that "some view our sable race with scornful eye. 'Their colour is a diabolic die.' Remember Christians, Negros black as Cain" (p 171, lines 5-7). Clifton adapts from Equiano and Wheatley by using her imagination and creative thoughts to capture the experience of the Middle Passage for many Africans.

The tone of Clifton's "slaveship" parallels the works by Equiano and Wheatley. In "slaveship", the narrator expresses despair and disgust about his situation and disgrace for the men who captured him and the other Africans. He wants to know from "Jesus [or] Angel can these be men who vomit us out from ships called Jesus, Angel, and Grace of God" (lines 11-15). These lines give the impression of a person who is angry, upset, and a little confused about his situation. The narrator has probably converted to Christianity and understands the basic ideology of the religion. He is being judgmental towards the men who kidnapped these Africans in the name of religion. This harsh and slightly authoritative tone spoken by the slave in Clifton's poem is shared by Equiano at the end of Chapter Two. He says, "O, ye nominal Christians might not an African ask you, learned this from your God, who says unto you, Do unto men as you would men should do unto you" (p 161).

In order to give an accurate depiction of life during the Atlantic Slave Trade, contemporary African ‚American writers must research and read to find out exactly how life was for those enslaved. The opinions and thoughts of those who endured and survived this wretched time are valuable pieces of information about what was happening. Modern writers, such as Lucille Clifton, adapt from previous writers. Without having lived during that particular time, modern African-American writers must rely on past authors and their knowledge of human nature to put forth accurate stories with the purpose of educating and informing today's readers about America's ugly history.