As a young man, Ball was sold and separated from his wife and children to a slave trader. After this, he describes his journey through personal accounts in an autobiography called, Narrative of the Life and Adventure of Charles Ball. He explains several situations that occurred as he was sold from one place to another. At one point he managed to escape but was later on recaptured and placed into slavery again. His story is atypical because unlike others he managed to keep his composure.
In the beginning, he is owned by a “good natured and kindly” (Stowe page 9) plantation owner in Kentucky named Mr. Shelby. Investment debt put Mr. Shelby in a position of almost being extorted by a greedy, coarse, swaggering slave trader named Mr. Haley. While history books are unable to tell us the opinions held behind the terrible treatment of the slaves, Mr. Haley says of blacks, “These critters ain’t like white folks, you know; they get over things” (Stowe page 6). Haley’s thinking is further illustrated by, “he first thought of Tom’s length, and breadth, and height, and what he would sell for if he was kept fat and in good case until he got him into market” (Stowe page 99). This low regard was not specific to just the traders; Marie St. Clare, the wife of a wealthy plantation owner, says, “You don’t know what a provoking, careless, stupid, unreasonable, childish, ungrateful set of wretches they are” (Stowe page 148).
Conditions on America-bound slave ships were a disgrace. Slaves were chained to the floors in spaces no bigger than a coffin. They laid in their own excrement not being able to move. Many times the sailors came to find the slaves in suffocation, dead, and trying to kill others for a desperate breath. One of three blacks died overseas.
One of things that were mentioned is “the heartless and ghastly form of slavery rises between mother and child.” Pg 45 Slaves were separated since the moment they were born, they did not get be around their parents and bond as other kids do. “The bondwoman lives as a slave, and is left to die as a beast.” “By the laws of slavery, children, in all cases are reduced to the condition of their mothers.” Pg 46 “This arrangement admits of the greatest license of brutal slaveholders , and their profligate sons, brothers, relations and friends, and gives pleasure of sin, the additional attraction of profit” pg46 It seems like they were dead to all sense of humanity the slaves were fighting for survival that was impossible. They were suffering from immoral economic advantages due to the slave owners and that caused the entire community to suffer by accepting what others believed was right. Everyone was victimized due to their human life and dignity it damaged society spiritually and morally. It made some slave holders and their overseers brutal, it made other white people feel guilty and ashamed.
“Jefferson was capable of punishing his slaves with great cruelty. He used James Hubbard, a captured runaway slave, as a lesson to discipline the other slaves: I had him severely flogged in the presence of his old companions.” (Takaki, 2008, p.62) I know that Thomas Jefferson said that he wanted to end slavery, but his actions didn’t really spark me to believe that he did. If he had slaves of his own, how does that qualify him as wanting to abolish
Slave masters were under the impression that slaves were having church so when caught, of course slaves had to ‘pay the price’. Slaves were punished physically and sometimes even murdered for this small act. “The master might claim the body of his property but could never quite claim their soul” (L.Rivers) Slavery was controlled in many different ways so no one could actually subdue this epidemic. However, the article shows how master to slave relationships were in Florida. Slaves were simply to obey their masters and do whatever what asked of them.
Cultural Studies: African American history: Rosa Parks For many centuries the African American people had been forced to suffer barbaric suffering and gross inhumanities by the hands of their white leaders based on the colour of their skin. Many were brought to America as slaves and forced to work on plantations under terrible conditions. The punishments for resisting this treatment would involve brutal whippings and many times this behaviour would result in death. Few African Americans spoke up against this treatment especially in the 19th century as they had no rights at all and were consider inferior beings. However some men and women did stand up against this treatment and fought for their civil rights and for this they are preserved in history for their bravery.
Jasmine Cross His 200 Dr. Tamaka Hobbs 25 March 2013 Chapter 6 Review Question 1. The domestic slave trade and exploitation of black women affected slave families because the marriage and children and the fact that they had no legal rights, and of course no freedom. The marriages never really worked with the slaves because they were just paired together , and then children would get parted away from their families like when they were 5 or so. Also sexual abuse played a huge roll in the black women from the white southerns. 2.
There are multiple times in Douglass’ narrative when Douglass comes across a slaveholder or overseer who seems like a compassionate person, but shortly thereafter is seen taking some kind of enjoyment in beating a slave. Even Colonel Lloyd’s sons and son-in-laws, “enjoyed the luxury of whipping the servants when they pleased” (Douglass 22). Douglass even explains how some slaveholders would rape their slaves and following the rape the father/slaveholder of the new born slaves would then beat his own children, which questions the very strong and moral bond between families. Many times after something like this happens the wife will begin to become angry and spiteful toward the new slaves as she knows what they are evidence of. Slavery even begins to affect the slaveholders’ own religion and shows how ignorant they really are.
African Americans have suffered in slavery for many years, almost 400 years. They were forced by the owners to pick cotton in the hot sun, lived in shacks, with very poor living conditions and were whipped if they didn’t listen to their masters. If they knew how to read the would also be whipped and some masters even raped the female slaves. In 1862 President Abraham Lincoln managed to free some slaves but not all. In 1865 he managed to free all the slaves.