Thursday, April 16, 2009

WTF?!

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Jay Z Equiano? WHAT?



Olaudah Equiano (c. 1745 – 31 March 1797), also known as Gustavus Vassa, was one of the most prominent people of African heritage (Igbo) involved in the British debate for the abolition of the slave trade. His autobiography depicted the horrors of slavery and helped influence British lawmakers to abolish the slave trade through the Slave Trade Act of 1807. Despite his enslavement as a young man, he purchased his freedom and worked as a seaman, merchant, and explorer in South America, the Caribbean, the Arctic, the American colonies, and the United Kingdom.
Contents

Why would they use Jay Z's picture on the 2008 Edition of The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano? First off, it's extremely random. Couldn't we get someone that LOOKS like Equiano? I don't get it. Secondly, I'm not appreciating Jay Z's lips depicted as fire engine/ Kool Aid red. It's looking racist.

Was this a marketing ploy to get hip hop into history? They know hip hop sells. Things that make you go WTF?!

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