Experiences of a Slave

Abstract

While it is common knowledge that both men and women experienced slavery, the magnitude of bad experiences varied for both sexes. This was a result of logical, social and economic factors that affected abduction, pricing and assignment situations. This essay will attempt to present the various factors that grounded either similarities, or differences in experiences of the slaves based on their sexes. Conversely, the essay will attempt to establish how physical factors were responsible in affecting a slave’s experience.

Nature of Slavery

At the time of declaration of American Independence, 1776, the inception of full time commercial slavery was eminent. This was a result of the massive expansion of cotton, wheat, coffee and sugar farms. Slavery continued in United States even after the 1808 international ban of slavery. In America, internal slave trade was common, and in most cases, a slave would be sold together with his family. While men slaves were actively involved in gardening activities, women were largely employed to do domestic chores, although this varied depending on the nature of the farm owner. The dark period was characterized with masters employing cohesive brutality against their subjects. It was common for slaves to experience beatings, and deprival of common rights, property, document or even forceful separation from their loved ones (Douglas, 2004, p. 41). Further, there was a consistent campaign about the consideration that slavery was a necessity for the country.

Douglass, F. (2004). The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. New York: Cricket House Books LLC

This book is essential in presenting the life of Fredrick Douglass, how he grew up in a southern plantation and his eventual successful escape to North. Douglas attempts to educate how his slavery background challenged his learning, and also close narrations of the extent of brutality practiced by white farm owners.

In fact, the argument was largely based on the fact that slave trade was legitimate in the sense of the economic prosperity of the country. Based on this, it was apparently clear that southern were not in support of ending slavery. The commencing discussion will attempt to showcase the technical differences and similarities that slaves experienced based on their sexes.

The technical Similarities

First, it is common knowledge that Slaves, male and female were forcefully abducted from their native lands. Abduction was a sophisticated business which included the use of cohesion, threats, pretence, and in most cases, native Africans, alongside Portuguese merchants was involved in various levels of slave trade. Secondly, on arrival to their foreign serve centers, both male and female depending on their families, were assigned to various assignments. Most of these assignments were farms. Men and women were assigned similar orders; for instance, it was common to see men as chefs, or women doing harder masculine jobs. Thirdly, it was common for both sexes to experience weekly food ration (Tibbles, 2005, p. 56). This was the case with corn meals, lard, molasses, greens, peas and meat. Both men and women consumed food together, and in most cases, breakfast was done at ten (White, 1999, p. 59). Fourthly, both men and women were deprived the right to luxuries. For instance, new clothing was acquired once in year, usually at Christmas time. This deprival was extended to elderly slaves who were denied clothes and shoes at a perennial stage.

Tibbles, A. (2005). Transatlantic Slavery: Against Human Dignity. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press. 12 (2) 59-60.

This text accesses the forms of slavery that affects various sexes between the years 1500-1870. However, the text majors on the role of women in slavery and how they experienced various forms of brutality primary through incidences of beating or rape. In this page, Tibbles covers hunger problems courtesy to perennial food shortages by women.

White, D. (1999). Ar’n’t I a Woman?: Female Slaves in the Plantation South. New York: Norton.

White attempts to present a plethora of racist and sexist challenges which affected black women. In the text, White presents how new women roles greatly conflicted with existing traditional roles of women. In this case, White compares the various intersection of race, gender, as well as, white man stereotypes associated with slaves. Also, it is good to consider the heroic attributes of women in the struggle against slavery.

Both boys and girls remained unclothed until they reached adolescence (Douglas, 2004, p. 29). Also, sleeping conditions for both sexes was not up to human standards. This was in consideration that slaves often resided in ranch quarters, which depended on the number of slaves in that particular farm. Concentrated and over flooded camps were characterized by poor sanitation levels, and in most cases, the slaves were affected by diseases; for instance, cholera. Additionally, both sexes were denied medical attention (Douglas, 2004). If any slave got sick, care was only provided by traditional medical healers. Finally, uprising was experienced from both sexes. Common agitators were Fredrick Douglass and Gray White who were both male and female respectively. Campbell, Miers, & Miller (2007) quote Douglas for having said he could not have succeeded without the help of a free black woman.

The technical differences

However, there were technical differences that different sexes subjected to slavery experienced. First, unlike men, women did not move while being held below the neck, in the period of abduction. Also, sailors sexually molested women during abduction, although these were trivial cases compared to the number of rape cases that women experienced in the assignments (Campbell et al, 2007). Nevertheless, sailors were cautious while abducting men, since men were stronger and could resist cohesion.

Campbell, G., Miers, S., & Miller, J. (2007). Women and Slavery: The modern Atlantic. Ohio: Ohio University Press. 13 (3) 255-256.

This text presents strong evidence of how women were subjected to several forms of brutal of slavery. The text attempts to singular how gender was an important aspect in determining the nature of assignment, as well as, as an important factor in influencing psychologically based brutality courtesy of sexual abuse. This is strong evidence on the cooperation of men and women in championing against slavery. Campbell singular out the role played Douglas in appreciating the effort of women.

Douglass, F. (2004). The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. New York: Cricket House Books LLC

This book is essential in presenting the life of Fredrick Douglass, how he grew up in a southern plantation and his eventual successful escape to North. Douglas attempts to educate how his slavery background challenged his learning, and also close narrations of the extent of brutality practiced by white farm owners. In this extract, Douglas discourses how he attended early education unclothed, which seemed normal at the time.

Again, quite a significant number of men unlike women did not survive the abduction process, primarily because of the brutality exercised by abductors. Secondly, prices of slaves varied depending on sexes. Men were priced more because of their physical appearance and ability, while women were priced for the fertility. Strong young men were the most expensive, followed by women of child bearing age. In fact, a woman who could sire children in every two years was considered a profitable venture by investors (White, 2009, p 41). However, in the talk of pricing, men were twice expensive compared to women. Women roles stretched valiantly than men. A woman could either become a concubine, be put on manual field jobs or be directed to the other domestic jobs. Secondly, women were much profitable in real income, since like men women never attracted a higher tax.

Thirdly, women were solely obliged to raise and feed the children, that is, if she is not attending to her master, while men were entirely devoted to slavery. This is in line with the knowledge that women also acted as midwives, a task which men never carried out. Further, contribution differed greatly, for instance, men were drivers, minders, plowmen, stablemen and ditch-men Smallwood & Glasrud (2007, p. 63), while women were house cooks, midwives, nurses, overseer’s cooks and seamstresses (Smallwood & Glasrud, 2007, p. 63).

Smallwood, J., & Glasrud, B. (2007). The African American Experience in Texas: An Anthology. Houston, Texas Tech University Press. 09 (01) 63-64.

This text is the collection of the finest historical researches regarding ancient the encounters of African-American slaves living in America. The text covers the perennial period between 1820 and late 1970s, when belligerent racism was considered invariant. This extract discourses the various roles of both men and women

White, D. (1999). Ar’n’t I a Woman?: Female Slaves in the Plantation South. New York: Norton.

For instance, Jersey Negro (1748) was a leading black nurse who was involved in issues relating to maternity. It should be noted, that each occurrence had disheartening experiences which were mostly or even entirely dehumanizing

Conclusion

This paper has attempted to examine the various similarities and differences that American South slaves experienced. The essay, has established physical differences as the leading cause magnitude of similarity and differences. In particular, the essay has elaborated that men were highly priced because of their ability to work in challenging conditions that women could not preserve. Conversely, the issue of safety has been discussed; women could not protect themselves from forced sex, while men were hard abduct because of their masculine power compared to women.

References

Campbell, G., Miers, S., & Miller, J. (2007). Women and Slavery: The modern Atlantic. Ohio:

Ohio University Press. 13 (3) 255-256.

Douglass, F. (2004). The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. New York: Cricket House

Books LLC

Smallwood, J., & Glasrud, B. (2007). The African American Experience in Texas: An Anthology.

Houston, Texas Tech University Press. 09 (01) 63-64.

Tibbles, A. (2005). Transatlantic Slavery: Against Human Dignity. Liverpool: Liverpool

University Press. 12 (2) 59-60.

White, D. (1999). Ar’n’t I a Woman?: Female Slaves in the Plantation South. New York: Norton.

Use the order calculator below and get started! Contact our live support team for any assistance or inquiry.

[order_calculator]