From: Karmen Lewis
Date: 2/9/00
Time: 9:40:08 PM
Remote Name: 155.247.154.37
Karmen L. Lewis History 67 Tuesday/Thursday William Cutler 2/8/00
Primary Source Assignment: How were slaves brought into captivity and sold into slavery? Describe the routine of a slave ship. What strikes you as most important about this experience? Europeans who needed cheap labor brought slaves into captivity. Their helpless- ness made enslavement easy because they were stolen from their land and culture. Slaves were often placed in crates with other Africans from various tribes who spoke different languages. The journey from Africa to Europe was one that included numerous accounts of mental and physical torture. Men and women where separated and shackled from head to toe. If the slaves where lucky they were given two meals a day. These meals were served from a bucket and consisted of boiled horse beans, yams, and rice. Mealtime was an event that included begging and fighting. Slaves who were deemed sick were given little if any food. When weather permitted, slaves were brought on top of the deck for exercise and fresh air. During the voyage slaves were often kept in basement like atmospheres where fresh air was unheard of. During this time many slaves suffocated and killed each other trying to receive some type of ventilation. The acts of violence that took place on the voyage included raping women and threatening others with whips and heated metals. Once the Africans reached Europe they were immediately picked and sold by “Black Traders”. The slaves were inspected and auctioned like animals. Even though all ages brought a profit, strong young men were in demand.