The American Slavery
The American Slave Trade occurred between the year 1769 and 1865 after the American Civil War (1861-1865). The majority of the slaves were blacks from Africa. The first Africans arrived in America in 1769 and were primarily used to provide labor for Agricultural activities. Initially, they were involved in tobacco production and later utilized to produce cotton when it had gained market. Of significance were the cotton gin invention that happened in 1793, and the increase in cotton demand by Europe that led to the need to get more slaves. The abolishment of slave trade finally occurred in December 1865 after the Civil War that saw the loss of many lives. The accounts of the whole slavery events differ from one author to another. A significant part of the accounts vary depending on who is telling the story; those that were in support give information that is distinct in some ways from those that suffered. The exact nature of the happenings of this period is always elusive because of the differing records. This paper reviews the disparities and cultural bias of the writers of the American Slavery. The distinct accounts both second and first-hand make it possible for the generations of different opinions. Perusing through these sources a number of times may lead to the inability to have a clear understanding of what happened.
My research concerning the slave trade began with the review of George Fitzhugh, a supporter of the slave trade. In his book titled “Slavery Justified” produced in 1850, Fitzhugh depicts slavery in a positive way. He says that the slaves are beings that cannot take care of themselves. “Black people are like children, incapable of looking after themselves” (Fitzhugh 32). Having such views that are unjustifiable is not reasonable; there is no way the Fitzhugh would have known that Africans cannot fend for themselves. The blacks were not given a chance to prove otherwise. He goes ahead and argues that the masters were doing the slaves a favor by providing them with shelter, food, and clothing. Fitzhugh has a misconception that if the blacks were free they would not have been able to survive. The author is rather judgmental and does not provide any substantial evidence for his opinions. There is no way to verify that if African Americans were free at that time, they would not have managed to look after themselves. “The treatment we offer our slaves is much better than the situation in Europe and Northern States” (Fitzhugh 32). According to Fitzhugh, the conditions that the slaves were exposed to every day were manageable. Fitzhugh illustrates an arrogant mind that is driven by the pride of having someone to work for him. He does not in any instance try to find out the opinions of the black people he is writing about that makes the credibility of his work questionable. Believing that the slaves lived well in the hands of their masters would have necessitated some evidence to support.
Findling and Thackeray in their book titled “Events that changed America through the Seventeenth Century,” provide an account of how slavery began and its end. According to the authors, the blacks serve to alleviate the problem of the labor shortage that was being realized in plantations. Findling and Thackeray try to create a vivid picture of the experience that the slaves went through during their movement to America. “On the ship are men who scarcely seem human,” referring to those that were given the responsibility of transporting the slaves (Findling and Thackeray 93). The writers overrate the situation; they make it sound like the Africans were so primitive that they would not have any understanding that the whites were human. They describe the ships that the Africans traveled in as having a horrible smell from the combination of human waste, unwashed clothes and dirty people. Though these accounts given by the authors’ makes, the readers associate with the pain that the blacks went through there is no way of proving that it is the truth. Such information should have some supporting evidence. Findling and Thackeray go on in the book to describe the kind of suffering that the slaves underwent in the hands of the whites. “There was no end to working in the plantations…production run continuously” (Findling and Thackeray 93). They explain that if a slave were to miss work for any reason whatsoever, the result was receiving whipping to the extent that the master deemed enough. These accounts illustrate the daily life of a slave and the things they had to endure. These events though also require some substantiating to assure that they are the true and in accordance with what happened during the slave period.
Fredrick Douglass, who was one of the slaves, gives a different account of slavery as compared to that of Fitzhugh. In his story titled “Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass; an American Slave,” he provides first-hand recounts about what it was like to be a slave (Douglass 2). He says that he was separated from his mother at a young age to deprive him of the privilege of getting the best care. Douglass says that he saw his mother about five times during her entire life. He was not entitled to see his mother when she was sick and was denied the opportunity to bid her farewell during her burial. Treating another human being in such a manner and especially a child was beyond being inhuman. Unlike the way Fitzhugh explains slavery, Douglass gives an entirely different picture that shows the pain and suffering that the blacks were subjected. Both Findling and Thackeray and Douglass are in agreement that the way the blacks were treated was unacceptable. “I was awakened most mornings by the most heart-rending shrieks of my aunt being whipped by my master” (Douglass 4). He says she was always beaten until blood entirely covered her back. From my perspective, it is beyond comprehension how another human being could stand beating up a woman to that extent and not being moved by the cries. “No words, no prayers, no tears could move his iron heart from its bloody purpose” (Douglass 6). The slaves received food on a monthly basis and clothing yearly as their stipends. “There were no beds…the slaves would drop down on the cold, damp floor each covering themselves” (Douglass 10). In addition, to the extreme conditions they were subjected to during the day there was not much waiting for them in the evening. Douglass gives the most disheartening account of a slave’s life. When a master was speaking, the slave was expected to “stand, listen, and tremble.” The overseers of the farms could punish and even kill the slaves, and there was never any judicial investigation. Douglass says that there was never a time when it was hot or cold; there was not enough snow, rain, or hail that would stop work. Douglass recalls the many times his masters whipped him and was left for the dead. The narration by Douglass gives a detailed account of what might have happened during the slavery. Considering that he was a slave himself, it is possible that some parts have been overrated.
In conclusion, the authors present contentious issues concerning the American Slavery but the differences in accounts make it difficult for the reader to discern what to trust. With the belief that there exist alternative theories in regards to what occurred in the slave trade leaves room for arguments. Just like Jane Tompkins concludes her research, accepting that information is either false or factual requires that one tries to understand the evidence and reasons given. Tompkins argues that the interpretive perspective of people varies from one person to another, and this is the primary cause of the problems of history. The accounts of events differ both from the secondary and primary sources because of post-structuralism. The methods that Tompkins utilized gave me the foundation in my research. The best way to understand the American Slavery will be to bring together the various descriptions of the events and select whatever has enough evidence and cluster this information. Facing situations where there is contradiction does not warrant that all the information is thrown away. In the midst of these texts, there are those that are credible. Arriving at the conclusion of “what happened” requires that one is more patient in gathering information and analyzing them.
Works Cited
Douglass, Fredrick. ‘Frederick Douglass, 1818-1895. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave. Written By Himself’. Docsouth.unc.edu. N.p., 2015. Web. 6 Apr. 2015.
Findling, John E, and Frank W Thackeray. Events That Changed America Through The Seventeenth Century. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2000. Print.
Fitzhugh, George. Slavery Justified. Fredericksburg, Va.: Recorder Print. Office, 1850. Print.
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