Slavery
Running head: Slavery in America
The Way Slaves Were Able to
Maintain Their Cultures
and Shape Their Lives
In America
Ryan Emilio
3127180
HIST 2P15
T.A.: Tracy Stewart
Throughout history, many documents have been recorded involving slavery within the United States of America. It is a fact that not many of those recorded documents were written by slaves as "
literacy was withheld from slaves" , which can very well explain why there is often times a bias point of view regarding a slave's way of life. By examining useful information such as autobiographies, journals, work logs and different forms of art, one will see what slave life was like from slaves' points of view. Although African American slaves were often mistreated by their slaveowners, many of them were still able to maintain their own culture and shape their own lives. This will become obvious after exploring a slave's family life including the birth and stages of marriage, as well as their personal, religious and social life.
When reading about family life as a slave, it begins with a mother giving birth. Not only would her family, friends and expected father join her, but also her owner would often be seen there as "
slave women tended to give birth before a crowded bedside" . The owner would value the baby a great deal as the birth is viewed by them as contributing to the growing labour force that the master has set up on their property. The owner may also be heard giving their pregnant slave advice to assure a healthy birth . When a slave first became pregnant, there were often negotiations made between her and the owner. These discussions involved her working hours during the pregnancy as well as when her work would be put on hold to make sure the baby was healthy at birth. There are some examples found where the expected mother is forced to...
Please login to view the full essay...