A Strange and Tragic Life: The Tale of Abdul Rahman, from African Royalty to American Slavery

Question: The story of the life of Abdul Rahman is a strange and tragic one. He was born in Timbuktu, a famous city in western Africa in 1769. His father was the king of Futa Jallon, a small kingdom near Timbuktu. Abdul was heir to the throne and was educated to be a king, he studied geography, mathematics, astronomy, and the history and laws of his country. He was also a student of Islam, his religion. The first white man Abdul ever seen was John C. Cox, an English surgeon who traveled through their kingdom. Cox became ill with malaria and recuperated at the court of Abdul’s father. Cox stayed for six months time. During that time, Cox learned about the culture. When he felt better and wanted to return to England, the king paying his fare and sent men to escort him safely to the ship. [1] Seven years later, Abdul was taking prisoner and sold as a slave in Natchez, Mississippi. [2] Abdul, that was called Prince, worked in the fields with other slaves. [3] John Cox happened to visit Mississippi and found Abdul. [4] Seventeen years passed. [5] He tried to buy his friend’s freedom, but was unsuccessful. [*] Abdul’s master would not sell this slave, his more productive one. Finally, in 1829, Abdul and his wife were freed and sent with 160 other African-Americans to live in Liberia, a country on the west coast of Africa. Liberia was a new country set up in 1822 by the American Colonization Society to provide a home for freed slaves from America. [*] Abdul’s job in his new country was developing trade and good relations with nearby African nations through diplomacy. He wrote to his relatives to get money to free his children and grandchildren from enslavement in America. Some men were given $7,000 in gold to bring to Abdul. However before they reached Liberia, they were told that Abdul was dead. Unfortunately for Abdul’s children, they decided to return home with the gold. The African historian Professor Kazembe has said, “The sad story of Abdul Rahman symbolizes the tragedy of slavery.” This tragedy was recently featured in a made-for-TV movie that depicted the importance of Abdul’s life. Question A.NO CHANGE B.to be living C.who live D.to lived