Just Focus on the Facts

Just Focus on the Facts
(“Scholars Disagree Over Former Slave’s Amazing Tale,”
www.diverseeducation.com, March 29)

While I can appreciate the pursuit of historical accuracy, this find is interesting but unnecessary. It would be wonderful for the United States to actually talk about the existence, horrors and implications of slavery. Whether or not Equiano was born in Nigeria or South Carolina is really of no consequence at this time. We still live in a time when getting an apology for slavery causes uproar among American citizens. Let us focus on the fact that there was a Middle Passage, and Equiano’s book was one of the first accounts that was read and thus affected change.

— Tamela Blalock

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