Prince among Slaves - Essay Example

A Prince among Slaves Identify each of the following in properly constructed essays. You must describe the significance of each one of these individuals in the story of Ibrahima. What information was presented about each individual’s life, history, and circumstances of involvement with Ibrahima throughout the book? How did each individual come to be in the life of Ibrahima? What was the relationship with Ibrahima and each person’s all-important part in the story? You must use proper factual details given to you in the book to support your presentation and follow each person through the story. INTRODUCTION: Abdul Rahman Ibrahima Sori was the son of Sori; a well renowned person who was known as the King (almaari) of Fulbe. He was born in 1762. Fulbe was a vast Muslim majority that governed Africa were of those hat reared cattle. The people of Fuble were merchants and dealer in goods mostly. They used to receive and bring in the salt and goods created in Europe by trading the created products by craftsmen as well as slaves. A. John Coates Cox John Coates Cox was an isolated ship surgeon from Ireland. He was the very first ‘white’ person whom Ibrahim met when he was seventeen years old. Both met for the first time when John Coates Cox made it to the Timbo where Ibrahima was a commander of the army. Cox was given the facilities of safety, shelter, and care as he was healing himself from the bite of insects and illness. John Coates Cox helped Ibrahima to regain his freedom till his last breath. Cox asked Foster to quote his price for the ‘prince’ Ibrahima. Cox kept on requesting and urging Foster to sell Ibrahima so he travels back to Africa. But in the eyes of Foster, Ibrahima was a crucial and vital for his farm. Dr. John Cox badly tried to win the freedom of Ibrahima which was halted by Foster. He kept on working for this cause till 1829 as he died and others contributed for this cause after his death. However, he came back to the nation of Africa after spending 40 years of his life as slavery in 1829 and all of this was because of Dr. John Coates Cox. B. Thomas Foster Abdul Rahman Ibrahima Sori’s enslavement was because of Thomas Foster. Foster owned a cotton plantation. Thomas Foster bought Ibrahima and his fellow companion Samba, who was a soldier under Ibrahima’s reign over the army. Both of these men were captured and sent to where Foster was. Therefore, Ibrahima was enslaved in the United States since 1788. After winning the army battle which he was leading, he along with his companions was on his way to his place when he was assaulted and captured. Later he was sold out to the dealer, Thomas Foster. Thomas Foster paid $930 to claim the ownership of Ibrahima and Samba. C. Thomas Gallaudet Thomas Gallaudet was known as a famous preacher and person who gave religious instruction to everyone. He sacrificed and devoted all his life in helping others and doing well for people. He wanted to meet Ibrahimo after knowing his thoughts and comments about Christianity. He became a loyal supporter of Abdul Rahman Ibrahimo Sori after the meeting as Ibrahimo’s quest was to free his kids as well as an excellent method and determination was found in Sori about spreading Christianity in Africa. However, Ibrahimo had no plants to revert and adopt the Christianity but he acted this way to help Thomas Gallaudet. D. Arthur Tappan Abdul Rahman, when he came to the city of New York, Arthur Tappan was a part of the convention in the initial gathering. Arthur Tappan’s brother named Lewis, both were successful businessmen and together they were abolitionists and revolutionists. They founded the antislavery laws which regulated in the 19th century. 2. What was the American Colonization Society doing in the timeframe covered in the book? How was the Colonization Society involved in Ibrahima’s life and struggle for freedom and the freedom of his family? You must be thorough. Names, instances, and major efforts of members should be covered. From the beginning, America has been assaulting, capturing, and selling Muslims as slaves to the rest of the world. Also, many were brought in as slaves as well. There were not a few Muslims but lots and lots of Muslims were brought to the American society through slavery. During the time John Cox was working on freeing the Prince, and failed quite a few times, Ibrahima made strong connections with other people as well. He was encouraged by one of his good friends, Marshalk, who was a editor as well and a friend of Tunis who was a member of U.S. consul. The letter was finished and published in the 1826 which was then forwarded to U.S. consul in Morocco first, and then to Henry Clay who was the U.S. Secretary of State. The letter mentioned an offer in favor of Ibrahima; they wanted him free. Clay Henry Clay decided to put this on the table of the president, Mr. John Quincy Adams. When Abdul Rahman Ibrahima was freed; he returned back to Africa, his rest of the family was still enslaved by the Americans. However, later he along with his wife visited America with the help of American Colonization Society and the Freed Black Men Association. They traveled the U.S. in order to talk and put some sense into the paid audiences in order to free their tribes somehow. Another member of the American Colonization Society (ACS) was Thomas Gallaudet who published a handout in order to finance the release and freedom of Abdul Rahman and his family to return back to Africa. However, the handout could not lead to enough funds and finance which could guarantee the freedom of his family. Therefore, Ibrahima along with his wife left forcefully for the American colony based in Liberia. When they reached their destination, Ibrahima fell ill and sick due to the coast which was also the cause of the death of thirty people traveling with him in the same ship. Ibrahima was shocked to hear about the fatality due to the coast fever. Therefore, Ibrahima sent a few letters back to New York which warned particularly one of his friends that if he tried to come here, he will be dead sooner or later. Due to the coast fever, Ibrahima passed away after spending 40 years as a slave in the United States, on July 6, 1829. He had just returned finally to Africa after many hardships. His wife along with two sons stayed in Liberia. It was said that four daughters and three sons were still enslaved. 3. Why was it believed that Ibrahima was a Moor? Tell the story of how this came about and how Ibrahima used this to his advantage. How was it eventually laid to rest? Abdul Rahman Ibrahim Sori snubbed on the Africans and started considering himself as the Moor. When he was encouraged by Andrew Marschalk to write letters and push his freedom issue ahead. He started to write a letter which was completed and sent to Marschalk who forwarded it Thomas Reed who was the senator. The senator then sent the letter to the U.S. Consul based in Morocco. As Prince was a Muslim, and he used to write his letters in Arabic, the King of Morocco regarded Ibrahima as the Moor. According to the law which was regulated between America and Morocco, it was mentioned that no Moors can be enslaved whatsoever. Therefore, Ibrahima thought of this as an opening for his freedom issue and used this to his advantage. To be precise, the law was that no Muslims can be held as slaves in America, if, then it would be a violation to the 1797 Treaty of Tripoli. Because of this law, Ibrahima was freed without any payment and was sent back to Africa as a free man. Read More