18th Century American Slavery

In this piece Dr Campbell speaks about the 18th century slavery in the Caribbean mainly in Jamaica by the Europeans and the way in which they were treated by their masters. The conditions they had faced and their state of mind during this ordeal. There are documented unbiased historical data available. While there are documented historical data that can be used to recall the events of slavery, still some of the published information seems somewhat skewed.

Having being taken from their family and homeland against their will the enslaved person was faced with many psychological issues. Dealing with, accepting and comprehending being caught, capture, whipped and relocated. The forced ‘adjustment’ to life in the Americas. The voyage itself took

3 On shipboard, many slaves mutinied, attempted suicide, jumped overboard, or refused to eat. Surviving plantation life, the enslaved found it hard, having to work long hours, enduring inhumane treatments such as being whipped, tortured and mutilations. Slave masters used these methods to control the slaves and to discourage them from trying to escape or revolt. Slaves often saw death as means of escaping these conditions and as a mean of being free as they preferred to die than to remain alive under these circumstances. Slaves were seen as being the property of their slave masters “Chattel Slave” and were often treated as such. A chattel slave is an enslaved person who is owned for ever and whose children and children 's children are automatically enslaved. Their slave masters were free to do as he pleased as he would with livestock or a piece of furniture. The ‘slave code” was law and gave enslaved owners the right to treat and dispose of their property as they wish.

Christianity was used to promote black submissiveness, and to try to persuade slaves

It was meticulous, discreet and handled by players who knew what would exactly follow. Though the exact number of victims will never be known, the degree of savage cruelty endured, and the consequences the barbaric trade left for Africa will never go away. Unfortunately today Africans themselves have forgotten the human plunder and mass atrocities against black Africans.

After reading and researching this piece, I agree that there should be more literature published on slavery. I have found it to be very interesting and heart wrenching to know that human beings were treated this way by other human beings, for the purpose of power and status in society. It has enticed me to do more research on this topic. I appreciate the knowledge gained; it has been an eye opener that has also explained some of my cultural and family background as an Africans in the Caribbean.

I would gladly recommend it to others, because I realise that there is a lot of information on Caribbean history and how our lives has been affected by it in present times

This was well written put together by Dr