Slave Narrative
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Slave Narrative The Portrait of Slavery
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Slave Narrative. The Portrait of Slavery. Between 1500 and 1800, about 15 million Africans were captured and shipped as slaves to the Western Hemisphere. Approximately 2 million died before reaching their destination. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Slave Narrative
Slave Narrative
The Portrait of Slavery
Between 1500 and 1800, about 15 million Africans were
captured and shipped as slaves to the Western Hemisphere. Approximately 2 million died
before reaching their destination.
Often pairs of adults were chained together at the ankles and wrists. The shackles were removed only when one of the pair became very sick or died.
Slaves were at constant risk of losing members of their family.
An owner could sell “his property” at any time for profit, to pay debts or as a punishment.
Without the power to punish, bondage could not have existed.
-Kenneth Stampp
The life of a slave was ruled by terror. Non-compliant and compliant slaves alike were
whipped and brutalized on a frequent basis.
Because slaves were property, it was not uncommon for female
slaves to be raped by their owners, members of the owner’s
family or the owner’s friends.
Slaves who attempted escape were often maimed or killed.
Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery I feel a strong
impulse to see it tried on him personally.
-Abraham Lincoln
Death is better than slavery.
-Harriet Jacobs
