Richard Ligon in Barbados

Within this review of Gomez’s work is a comparison of the “truth” I knew and the “truth” I now know. Upon completing Reversing Sail, I argued with my own thoughts regarding Africans and their status prior, and post, enslavement.

Randy Sparks highlights a rare aspect of the history of slavery: the relentless effort of the enslaved to use their privilege to free themselves. Although it is not clear when the European and Africans first encountered each other in Old Calabar, it is evident that the constant trading between both parties built a concrete means of communication. As many individuals who have

Slave resistance began for many enslaved Africans before they reach the Americas. Karenga explained the many arrangements in which Africans resisted to enslavement, while in Africa, during the middle passage, and in the Americas. Employing the Karenga text one can evaluate the different resistances that transpired in Antigua as Cultural, Resistance, Day-to-Day Resistance, Abolitionism, Armed Resistance, Revolts, Ship Mutinies, and Afro-Native Alliance. One can conclude that enslaved Africans had an unrelenting resistance to enslavement (Karenga).

There are different experiences of the slave trade that are reflected in these documents such as those of an enslaved person (Olaudah Equiano), a European slave trader (Thomas Phillips – an English merchant), an African monarch (King Jao) whose kingdom and personal authority suffered from the slave trade, and an African monarch (Osei Bonsu) who opposed the ending of the slave trade. Of all the commercial ties that linked the early modern world into global network of exchange, none had more profound or enduring human consequences than the Atlantic Slave Trade. And in all these documents, we can see how people reacted differently to this system based on how they encountered it and how it affected them.

Marie-Joseph Angélique, a black slave in 18th century Montréal accused, tried and hanged for arson, but gives insight into the entire African slave trade and brings to the forefront the thousands of African slaves here in Canada, a fact that has been “bulldozed and ploughed over” (P 7)1, while we ridicule our southern neighbours for their involvement in the very same industry. It is also a useful tool in the study of everyday life during this time period in New France, including their personal interactions, economic pillars, cultural beliefs, and overall social structure.

From the 1500s to the 1700s, African blacks, mainly from the area of West Africa (today's Senegal, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Dahomey, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Gabon) were shipped as slaves to North America, Brazil, and the West Indies. For them, local and tribal differences, and even varying cultural backgrounds, soon melded into one common concern for the suffering they all endured. Music, songs, and dances as well as remembered traditional food, helped not only to uplift them but also quite unintentionally added immeasurably to the culture around them. In the approximately 300 years that blacks have made their homes in North America, the West Indies, and Brazil, their highly honed art

Even before beginning this article, its title suggests the content will be discussing perhaps the relationships between those who are enslaved, and their owners. However, this is misleading, as instead of creating discourse about the micro-level relationships, Donovan writes a piece that targets the relationship between slaves, and Ile Royale as a whole. It appears as though the main point in Donovan’s paper is that slaves, and slave trading in the 18th century was not a new phenomenon, but rather a practice that had begun back in the 16th century (1995, p.4). Later in his piece, he refers to Ile Royale as a multiracial society and that “black and Panis slaves were neither invisible nor

The purpose of this book is to offer his perspective on how Africans were treated in the Americas from 1550 to 1812.

Another of Jordan’s sub topics in this book deals with the Savage behavior exhibited by Africans and viewed among the English explorers. The English were at sometimes appalled with the differences in morals, table manners, and most visible

As a result of slavery in a whole a distinct slave culture emerges. In this culture privileges are few, but the few privileges are greatly valued. For example, in the slave culture singing was a very popular and important part of their lives, it was one of the few ways they were allowed express themselves. They would sing of their sorrows and of their joys. In the words of Frederick,

The narrative by Olaudah Equiano gives an interesting perspective of slavery both within and outside of Africa in the eighteenth century. From these writings we can gain insight into the religion and customs of an African culture. We can also see how developed the system of trade was within Africa, and worldwide by this time. Finally, we hear an insider's view on being enslaved, how slaves were treated in Africa, and what the treatment of African slaves was like at the hands of the Europeans.

Specifically, they were dishonest or insubordinate in order to help them resist or escape slavery (p. 30). The slaves came up with ideas and shared them with each other on what they would do to overpower their slaveholders. Some of those ideas they came up with include, but are not limited to, running away, committing suicide, and rebelling against their owners in some way (p. 30). The slaveholders had determined what they would get from selling the slaves. They chose the prices that they’re selling for each slave (p. 30).

Roberts suggests that black music in the U.S. and in the Caribbean and Latin America sound unique as “groups were brought in different proportions to different parts of the America’s at different times (Pg. 2). Influenced partly by the crop being produced, musical differences between “Puerto Rican and Cuban (styles) stemmed partly from the fact that Puerto Rico grew tobacco and coffee rather than sugar and therefore needed less slave labor” (Pg. 3). This chapter of Robert’s book mentions slit-drums and various types of rattles as fairly common, suggesting their New World version “may very well represent a multicultural survival” (Pg. 11) He describes a cheesebox banjo, a small drum used as a resonator for a string instrument. I remembered my

The Traditional music of Africa presents itself as an oral practice of instrumental skill passed down from ancient ancestors. This idea has influenced the sound produced through instrumentation thus allowing the replication of spoken language. Within Ghanaian tradition, the practice of dance drumming is a part of everyday culture and can be linked to religion, politics, life events and entertainment (Green 2012 p. 235-238). The practice of drumming acts as the central focus of Ghana’s musical culture functioning to form well-connected ethnic groups (Jones 1964 p. 334). Through the relationship of music and traditional ritual, an understanding of the Ghanaian culture may be

Many Africans reckon the bonds of family laterally and linearly One village may have a genealogy of a common ancestor Professional caste of musicians memorize these genealogies and recite them in song Each musical instrument has a spirit of it own.