Slave Experience Research Paper

During the mid-1800s, it was challenging being a slave. Belonging to another human being instead of being free brought numerous hardships African Americans had to endure. It brought about unimaginable pain, frustration, disruption, and stress. In America, slavery was glorified, even though, families were separated and destroyed. Slavery made it tedious to have stability in families because of the effects it had on the African American people. After reading “How Affected African American Families” and “Narrative of Jenny Proctor,” slavery caused African American families to cope with separation, unfair marriage stipulations, horrible living condition, mistreatment and labor, and also the ending of slavery.

Mr. Douglass had many experiences during his time enslaved that would have been typical for a Southern slave. His early childhood was like most Southern slaves in multiple ways. The master and slave relationship was designed to make slaves feel “… broken in body, mind and spirit” (Douglass, 74). Like all slaves, Mr. Douglass and his fellow slaves “were all ranked together at the valuation. Men and woman, old and young, married and single, were ranked with horses, sheep and swine. There were horses and men, cattle and women, pigs and children, all holding the same rank in the scale of being, and were all subjected to the same narrow examination” (Douglass, 58). Furthermore, in order to perpetuate a system of inequality slave families would be treated differently than white families. For example, to “hinder development of the child’s affection toward its mother, and to blunt and destroy the natural affection” (Douglass, 20). Slave masters

Overview: To see the differences and similarities in how slaves were treated in the Chesapeake, Low Country ( South Carolina), and Northern Colony regions.

He notes that, the slavery institution made them forget about their origin, and anything else that entails their past, and even when they were born. The slaves forgot everything about their families, and none knew about their family because, they were torn from them without any warning. Douglass explains how they went without food, clothing and even sleep because their masters were cruel to them. American slavery took advantage of black laborers as they were beaten mercilessly without committing any offense. They were not treated as human beings, but as property that could be manipulated in any way. The slavery institution was harsh for the Africans especially women who were regularly raped, and forced to bear their masters children and if they declined, they were maimed or killed.

Children who are selected by their owners live and work in the house as attendants and other small jobs. Although they were under the watchful eye of other slaves, the child would still look up to their owners and fear their wrath. Some children would not see their parents after they start working in the house. The long hours adults worked meant that many did not see their parents even if they

Slave owners would usually whip and beat their slaves to teach them respect and was also used as a way of dehumanizing them so that they would fear their owner and not run away or stop working. Slave codes were a set of laws used to make sure that Slaves could not leave their home without permission, gather in groups, marry, own property, defend themselves or speak in court. 3.Slaves resisted their servitude by escaping, not working fast enough, and pretending to not understand how a task was to be completed. Slaves wanted to be free and usually fled the South to escape to the Northern Free state laws and sometimes even Canada, where they wouldn't have to worry about fugitive slave laws. C.

Most slaves worked in the fields, but some women handled the house chores and watched

Slavery was a way of life in the South for African-Americans. It was a form of discipline and cruelty to the slaves. Life for slaves consisted of resistance and durability. Although slavery was horrible, some slaves managed to escape their terrible life and did it with success, while others couldn't unfortunately and had to suffer the consequences from their master. Slave families dealt with the fear of being separated, the only way slaves could be separated is by the husband or wife being sold to a different owner or a slaveholder's death could result into the breakup of an enslaved family.

What does it mean to be a slave? Ask any human being, and they will state that they too have been a slave. Being a slave to addiction, to a slave in a relationship, a slave to anxiety, a slave to work, maybe a slave to mental illness, and a slave to one's self-being. Sure, there may be moments in one's life that makes them feel like they have no other choice but to give in. However, there are some things that these people have that is a privilege, the right to say "no," the liberty to decide, and the freedom to act on decisions, to prohibit the temporary entrapment of, obstacles. African American slavery twisted the definition of what it was to be a slave. It meant that one is a product, and a tiny element apart of a more significant something,

The African Americans always lived in fear. They were put to work early in the morning and did not go to bed until their job was done no matter how long they were working. If the African American did tried to disobey their master they were beaten sometimes to death. Some of the African Americans would be tempted by the thought of running away to get away from this unfair treatment. The punishments for trying to escape was very horrific, but still many slaves tried to escape and very little of them made it.

Life in slavery was not just harsh because of the countless hours they had to be working with little or no pay, but there was also a constant fear of families and loved ones being separated or killed. At any time, a slave could have been sold to a "different owner, or a slaveholder’s death could lead to the breakup of an enslaved family"(433).

In some approaches enslaved African American families very a great deal resembled other households who lived in other instances and places and under vastly unique instances. Some husbands and better halves cherished each different; some did now not get alongside. Children on occasion abided by determine’s policies; different instances they followed their own minds. Most mother and father cherished their children and desired to shield them. In some critical approaches, even though, the slavery that marked everything about their lives made these families very specific. Belonging to every other individual delivered unique constrictions, disruptions, frustrations, and ache.

The slave narratives by Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs show how the institution of slavery dehumanizes an individual both physically and emotional. However,Harriet Jacobs describes slavery as being far more terrible for women than men. As Jacobs, who experienced slavery firsthand, addresses in her quote,“Slavery is bad for men, but is far more terrible for women;”this statement is argued to be correct.

The life of a slave all depended on their master. “My life had it’s beginnings in the midst of the most miserable, desolate, and discouraging surroundings”(Washington, Booker). Slaves would have the best lifestyle or the worst lifestyle. Some slaves would get beatings, whippings, and starvation just for not doing

Once a slave acculturated himself to his “new home,” he found himself unable to re-establish his family ties. Even if a slave was lucky enough to find a significant other, often times they were separated by sale, as can be seen in the account of Laura Spicer and her lost love. Moreover, couples often found their children sold off to other masters never to be seen or heard from again, at ages as young as eight years old. Therefore, a slave’s life was full of perpetual uncertainty, and fear of abandonment and neglect. Their bonds of love were never enough to out-weigh the voice of