Why wasn't equiano chained up during the journey as many of the other prisoners were?

Olaudah Equiano was not chained during the journey primarily because he was able to secure a position as a servant to a ship's captain, which afforded him certain privileges. His status as a more valuable asset due to his skills and knowledge, particularly in navigation and trade, likely led the crew to treat him with more leniency compared to other enslaved individuals. This distinction allowed him some freedom aboard the ship, which was not typical for many other enslaved people during the Middle Passage.