FREE ESSAY ON SLAVERY

SLAVERY

In London in June of 1606, King James I, the reigning monarch of England, issued what
would forever change the lives and destiny of the world. The king granted a group of
entrepreneurs a charter, allowing them to settle the vastly unknown lands of the newly
discovered continent of America. In 1607, a group of ill-suited settlers landed in the
Chesapeake region of North America and established the colony of Jamestown. Ravaged by
starvation, disease, and natives, the hapless settlers found little success in the early
years of the colony. Only through John Smith's leadership and poise did the colony manage
to survive the first few grueling years. John Rolfe's contributions ultimately saved the
colony, as he was able to tame and cultivate tobacco. The settlement became dependent on
farming various products. As England's insatiable appetite grew, Jamestown grew to
large-scale farming techniques such as plantation agriculture. It soon became evident
that a steady work force would be needed to keep up with the demand of Europe. In 1619,
an institution was introduced to the colony that would forever challenge the posterity of
the land, altering the scope of future American society for years to come. It is in this
year that the first few African slaves arrived in the unknown continent of America.
Slavery became firmly established in southern society, relied upon for economic
well-being. Through years of degradation, the slaves continued their lives of
discrimination and humiliation. Yet these people survived the years of oppression,
creating an incredible culture that lasted through their tumultuous existence in America.
The evil of slavery reared its ugly face throughout early United States history. The push
for freedom grew with the aid of abolitionists who attempted to root out a corruption
that appeared to consume their benevolent country. 
In this sea of trouble, Frederick Douglas arose to fight against this demon seed of
slavery. His detailed account of his life as a slave touched the hearts of abolitionists
and helped to fan the flame that would destroy this debauched institution. Frederick
Douglas' narrative was a weapon that helped many Americans understand slave life and
culture and the depravity of their lives through his attempt to invoke sympathy from his
readers. The lives and culture of these slaves give testament to the everyday struggle
and helped the call for complete abolition.
Plantation life was a harsh existence for slaves. Master and slave relationships varied
from different plantations. Some masters thought of themselves as having a parental role
for the slaves, providing them food and shelter in exchange for a day's work. Yet other
masters gave no hint of remorse or feelings towards the slaves and often inflicted great
emotional and physical hardships upon them. In either case, the slave system was based on
the control of one race over the other based on racial discrimination and moral
injustice. Frederick Douglas' autobiography gives a first-hand account as to the life of
a slave. Like Douglas, many slaves had more than one master. Often times many smaller
masters had small farms all of which was on the property of one master. Each of the
smaller masters had what Douglas called overseers (p. 41). The overseer's job was to
control the duties and everyday tasks of the slaves. Usually the overseer is the one that
delivers the punishment to the slaves. This person is one of the most despised on the
plantation because of their cold-hearted, unwavering hatred towards the slaves. The
slaves were valued as property, and their meager existence outlines their struggle of
everyday life.
In the life of slaves, few things were as important as the family. For a person that is
given few possessions, they grappled on to their relationships with their fellow
captives. Slaves were not allowed to marry legally, yet they were often permitted to
start families and raise children. When they were separated from family members, as was
often the case, they experienced grave emotional anguish. The slaves were forced to work
in the fields all day under the watchful eyes of the overseer. They served a menial
existence, being given the bare necessities of food, water, and some clothing. In their
small dwellings, a slave family adopted gender roles similar to those of free persons.
After fieldwork, some masters permitted their slaves to work other jobs to earn wages to
support their families. They commanded some respect in their households, being seen as
the caretaker of the family. The women usually tended to the children and the household
chores. The slaves were the lowest class of society, treated with horrendous and terrible
cruelty and punishment. Yet through their suffering, slaves developed a culture that was
distinctive to their racial identity.
African culture followed the Africans as they made the voyage to America. Though forced
into slavery, the culture persisted and modified through the generations, creating a
unique mixture of cultural heritage. Some slaves adopted various forms of African
tradition in their physical appearance such as hair and body piercings. One form of art
that remained strong and helped the slaves persevere through the troublesome times was
music. Tribal dances were often held to the beat of homemade African-style drums and
other instruments. Songs known as spirituals detailed the slave's suffering, joy, and
hope in their day-to-day life. Slaves obtained most of their support from their family,
binding together to face the suffering together. Slaves were furthered hampered by their
lack of education. Masters did not want their oppressed people to gain any type of
knowledge about their situation, closing them off to the basics of reading and
arithmetic. The only knowledge they were allowed to have was that of Christianity. Being
forced to adopt Christianity upon their arrival in the colonies, the slaves became
fascinated by this religion. They hoped to find salvation through the help of the
Christian God who will one day deliver them out of bondage. But without the knowledge of
reading and writing, it was difficult for the slaves to speak out against the unjust
institution. Yet some defied this setback, learning the art of literature that would one
day open their minds to the devastation of bondage. Frederick Douglas learned the craft
of literacy, and gathered his own ideas about slavery that would help inspire the
abolitionist movement.