Slavery And Its Effects On African Americans

During early 19th century, the entrenchment of Southern slavery, there was discussion between planters who benefitted from it and abolitionists who fought against it. Most Americans, especially those in Southern states, understood that slavery system could not help parting from their economic and social system. Southern slavery system brought big economical benefits. However, it negatively influenced American society as a whole rather that positively.

Slavery was a harsh system that consisted of forcing other human beings to work in harsh conditions; as well as restrict their freedom to the point where they had none. Slavery was first introduced into Colonial America in 1619, and lasted for 245 years. During those 245 years, slavery harshly affected those who were involved in its system. The institution of slavery has profoundly influenced and shaped multiple aspects of Colonial America and the United States. Slavery influenced the 13 Colonies and the U.S. by the growth in sales for Cotton, and farming. Slavery shaped Colonial America and the United States culturally, by proving to the slaves that white people were far more superior than African Americans, religion and Cult of Domesticity. Lastly slavery shaped Colonial America and the United States politically by causing rebellions, and abolitionism.

Slaves suffered within a system characterized by undernourishment, overwork, harsh punishment, ill health, and despair. The purpose of this paper is to address the significant problems slavery caused the world in which talk of rights and liberties were increasingly popularized. Slavery divested lives of many African Americans who were sold into enslavement for many years.

Epictetus, the great Greek philosopher once said, “only the educated are free.” Epictetus was born a slave in Greece, and gained his freedom as he acquired knowledge. To those who are oppressed by the chains of slavery, education is a rarity. To oppressors, keeping slaves ignorant is ideal. African-American social reformer, Frederick Douglass, experienced the bondage of slavery and the influence education held in regards to gaining his freedom. Education was a major force for social change with regard to to slavery and African-American rights.

Most African American thinks slavery is still causing a big issue on their society, Such as their music, their art and their own identity. Most African American still feels like they are being lied to about their past ancestor and culture, which make them feels very confused about the question of their real heritage. One of the impact the slavery had on the African American was that it brought a lot of sadness to the individual and sometimes that person ends up hating his or her self, not because of their skin color but because they feels like they are the only race who cannot find their true DNA. This destruction of slavery started from previous culture and it continued through generation, their inability to communicate as slaves, and the impact of slavery after emancipation all negatively affected African-American Culture. Kennedy, David (2002) explain, through slavery, Africans completely lost their heritage and previous culture. They were separated from their families, and cultural items such as their music which use to give them strength when their needed it. They also used their music to stay bonded each other; which were also taken away from them during slavery. Another issue the slavery left on the African American society is the lost their own sense of identity. Their true identify were totally ignored, and their new master or the person who raised them, their usually try to make them become a new human being without any consideration who they use to be

Freedom is what our ancestors fought for and because of them we are here today. Struggle and pain are just a few things that our ancestors experienced. However, I learned that this nightmare ended in 1865 after the 13th Amendment was passed. It gave them freedom. These were some of the phrases that will come to my mind when discussing slavery with other individuals. Throughout the years I have been a victim of my own ignorance for believing that Slavery undoubtedly ended in 1865. I can honestly admit that I was wrong.

African American veneration of elders did not begin in the new world but was transported by slave ships from Africa during the Middle Passage. Despite the many Africans who chose to acclimate to slavery to survive in the new world, there were many who held tight to their beliefs and traditions including ancestor worship. The values that have been passed down from generation to generation have focused on family, along with the emphasis on both children and elders in the African American community (Billingsley, 1992). From the onset of slavery in the United States, informal caregiving included fictive kin and has played a crucial role in the African American community as a response to racism, according to Sudarkasa (1996). During slavery in the

Imagine being forced to work for people who have bought you, and not being treated equally due to your race. Well this act occurred during the Seventeenth, Eighteenth, and Nineteenth century. This was known as slavery. African Americans were sold to Caucasians, where their freedom would be taken away from them. It was a consistent struggle to fight through the discrimination, that was occurring. African Americans who were willing to risk their lives had the ability to have freedom. However, it was a long crucial journey for people on the underground railroad. Even so, freedom wasn’t always guaranteed. Caucasians did awful things to African Americans, which will never be forgotten. The Pledge of Allegiance says “ … one nation, indivisible…” however, at one point we were not a nation. We were divided. To this day and in one hundred years we will always have that division, based on the act of slavery.

Slavery in America had a tight hold over the southern half. It was primarily located in the southern portion and African American slaves were held on large plantations and out in the fields. Some were even leased into the industrializing factories. Ever since slavery in America started, slaves were considered property. Every black person was a white persons “property”. Now American had a belief, a belief that every man were entitled to God-given rights. The rights could not be stripped from any man. The rights entitled you to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness (or property). The north was against slavery and wanted to either stop the spread of it to the new territories of the US or to just abolish slavery altogether. However slavery was tied deeply with the South’s economic status and development. Southern culture was very firm on keeping the institution of slavery and took every opportunity to defy the North’s efforts to make any changes or compromise. The South threatened to leave the union at every step. This was the root of where the Civil war would spring from. Not being able to reach a conclusion on the issue of slavery and the union staying as one. People against slavery and slaves themselves argues that since every man was entitled to their inalienable rights, then why didn’t those rights apply to them? The irony is that the United States of America advocated human liberty ever since the revolution that separated them from England, so they were familiar

In the seventeenth century, European colonists utilized the vast land in North America for large-scale farming. The successful planting of several crops led to a massive demand for these products. The cultivation of these plants was labor intensive, and the declining availability of white indentured servants made white planters turn towards slave labor. In the book The Half Has Never Been Told, author Edward Baptist described the productivity of slave labor on the plantations and its contribution to the United States’ economy. In addition, he remarked the devastating effects of slavery on African-American communities. Slaves faced degradation, brutality, sexual exploitation, and inadequate living conditions. Some colonists viewed slavery was immoral and inhumane and supported the abolition of this practice. However, this issue continued to exist in the early American republic because of slavery’s immense role in driving the national economy and the protection of slavery by the Constitution and Southern politicians.

Was there any a more horrific time in U.S. history than the time of slavery? There are very few people who would say that yes, there was. Slavery was a terrible thing that affected the entire United States. Slaves were most cruelly treated in the South, while in the North, abolitionists plotted long and hard to free slaves en route the Underground Railroad. There were many effects of slavery on the U.S. including the country being divided, many brave and courageous people, and the formation of the Underground Railroad.

As human beings, we are able to remember events from past and cherish them as important memories. At the same time, we can also grudge the past events that negatively affected us. As long as the event is deeply carved in people’s memories, the feelings that was created during the event will last for many generations. One example of such an event is slavery. For more than 200 years, the brutal memories of slavery were passed down through African Americans. It is obvious that the memories that were passed down for generations would not end and be forgotten immediately after the end of slavery. Similarly, white owners would not be able to get out of the owner mindset because they were owners since the start of slavery. Although slavery itself

Slavery had a negative impact on nearly everyone it reached. It affected slaves as well as slaveholders. I believe that slaveholders enjoyed being in control over slaves so much that it made them feel powerful. It turned them into terrible, no good people. Frederick Douglass writes about his many experiences he had with slaveholders in his novel “ Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave”.

Imagine not having the rights to your own body. Picture yourself or your love one being viciously beaten at another individual’s free will. Now, visualize how your life would be if you were owned by another individual and at any time could be sold to the highest bidder. Imagine yourself as a slave. Growing up in a society that is affected by its history slavery is a topic that nearly everyone has been educated on. Some individuals my know the details of what occurred during the 1800s in which slavery took place and others may just have a general knowledge as to what to occurred but no matter what an individual may know or how much an individual has been educated on slavery there is no doubt that slavery in occurred. The events that took place during the time of slavery were brutal, vicious, cruel, and most of all inhumane. People, actual breathing human beings, were beaten, maimed, tortured, and disfigured due to the color of their skin. In addition to these cruel beatings and torment slaves were forced into hard labor for little to no earnings at all. The life of a slave was consumed by their owners, their life was not their own. As a result of these horrifying acts salves would adopt extraneous measures, techniques, and tactics to escape their painful reality. In her work, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Harriet Ann Jacobs highlights her personal story of pain, strength, and endurance throughout her time in slavery and her escape from the fastened grip of her master

Over the development of the United States, one controversial issue disassociated the nation. Regions of the country formulated into two groups, in support of either the South or North. Prior to 1861, ethical issues regarding slavery transpired nation wide. The United States imported slaves from the Triangle trade. Over time, the common practice of slavery increased the economy 's wealth and employed opportunities to expand to the Pacific Ocean. Slavery affected people to support two sides, either to be in support of slavery or want to abolish it. Strong opinions amassed, outrage and emphasis for the morality of slavery caused outbreaks of rebellions and violence. Tolerance for slavery was not the only singular cause of the Civil War. Profusions of both short and long term causes contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War. The introduction of slavery had an ingrained impact, as the Mexican-American War significantly lead to tension, and Lincoln’s election sparked disunion between the nation.