Why do people today usually refer to Vassa as Olaudah Equiano?
His African name was his birth name. Its exact meaning is being debated. But "Equiano" was certainly not a surname, and refering to him in this manner is wrong. Vassa is a surname, but it was his slave name. Interest in his story coincided with the Black Power movement, when many parents named their children after African heroes, and people changed their names to African names. There was reluctance to use the name given to him by his master. The problem is that at the time, he wanted to be known as Gustavus Vassa not Olaudah Equiano, and that is how he was known.
Answered By: SHADD Hub - 30/04/2021