Ayuba Suleiman Diallo born a free man of immense economic privilege. The bulk of his family’s wealth was acquired by their participation in the purchase and sale of human beings. An unfortunate turn of events resulted in Diallo subsequently being enslaved, and during his enslavement Diallo became a prominent vocal opponent of the slave trade. After several years of slavery Diallo was freed from slavery. Ironically, upon Diallo’s return home to Africa he also returned to the dreaded practice of slave trading. Diallo’s tale gives want of reconciliation between two diametrically opposed notions one, the desire to be free of oppression. Two, the willingness to impose that very oppression on others. Diallo’s conundrum doesn’t excuse his crass conduct. His culpability in ruining the lives of tens of millions of Africans isn’t lessened by the fact that slavery was the norm during his time. His choice to return to the sale and purchase of human being, after he himself was a slave, doesn’t speak to the time, Rather it speaks of a man devoid of compassion, empathy, character or integrity.
