The Lives of African Slaves in Early America

The life of the African slave in early America was a harsh and dehumanizing existence. African slaves had virtually no rights. They were viewed as inferior beings by the white colonists even during the time of the American Revolution where the words, "freedom,""basic human rights," and "liberty" were on the lips of virtually all in America. Even after the American colonists had won "freedom" and independence from the British in 1783, most Africans in The United States were suffering under the bondage of slavery.
Shortly after settlements began appearing on the east coast, it became apparent that making a living in America would take a lot of manpower. There were forests to be cleared and crops to be tended to. In 1619,  "A Dutch ship brings the first permanent African settlers to Jamestown. These Africans soon are put to work on tobacco plantations." (PBS.org) However, the number of slaves in America remained relatively low until the 18th century when the slave population (mostly in the rice and tobacco growing south) exploded. This increase in slaves largely came about as a result of the slave trade across the Atlantic on what is now known as the Middle Passage. This trip was long, deadly, and miserable. The African slaves would be quartered below deck with few rations, and would lie side by side in cramped quarters. There was usually an area in the center of the deck for the purpose of holding human excrement, but many were too sick or cramped to move to this space when they needed to. This environment caused disease to flourish and resulted in many deaths. "On average, about 15 percent of the slaves died, but sometimes half or more perished." (Roark 137)

From Africans in America, pbs.org

These slaves experienced little relief when they arrived in the American colonies where they were viewed as property of their owners. "Southern planters expected slaves to work from sunup to sundown and beyond." (139) These harsh expectations caused many slaves to resist their owners. This resistance took many forms. It could be dramatic such as violent rebellion, or a more passive approach such as, working slower, or retaining part of their African culture. Some examples of this are slaves building their homes like their African homes, giving their children family names, worshiping African deities, making and playing traditional African instruments, growing and eating African food, and preforming traditional African funerals. Some of this cultural preservation has survived to this day. The Gullah people who live in South Carolina and Georgia are perhaps the best example of this. "They speak a creole language similar to Sierra Leone Krio, use African names, tell African folktales, make African-style handicrafts such as baskets and carved walking sticks, and enjoy a rich cuisine based primarily on rice." (Opala)
Unfortunately, this resistance coupled with the large amount of slaves in the southern colonies made the white colonists very paranoid about open rebellion. This caused harsh penalties to be allotted to slaves who would not fall neatly into line. Disobedient slaves were whipped, branded, castrated, executed, and maimed on a regular basis. Most times, the punishment was a result of a minor offense. Thus, the slaves were utterly trapped in this dehumanizing position of being someone's property, merely existing to make their owner more money. They were completely disposable if they became a liability.
Viewing African slaves as property, and treating them as such did not happen over night. It was the result of ever tightening laws that few opposed. For example, in 1640 a Virginia court ruled that an African run away servant serve his master for life. In 1662, a Virginia court ruled that any slave woman's child would be a slave to her master, because she herself is a slave at the time of delivery. In 1667, Virginia ruled that conversion to Christianity could not free a slave from their bondage. In 1669, Virginia ruled that if a slave should die while being punished, the owner is not guilty of any crime. These laws continued to get more and more strict as the fear of rebellion increased.

From Africans in America, pbs.org

All in all, we can see that the life of a slave in Colonial America was miserable. However, even in the midst of all of this suffering, many slaves managed to save aspects of their African culture that remain to this day. When the American Revolution came about, many of these slaves defected to the British in hopes of being freed. When the British were defeated, a few loyal slaves were taken by the British out of the United States. (With the purpose of damaging the American's economy any way possible. Not because the British felt morally obligated.) However, most slaves were disappointed and remained in slavery until the American Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation.

Sources:
 "Africans in America: A Terrible Transformation" pbs.org. Part 1, PBS, Accessed Feb 15, 2013.

Opala, Joseph. "The Gulla: Rice, Slavery, and the Sierra Leone-American Connection" yale.edu. Yale University, Accessed Feb 15, 2013.

Roark, Johnson, Cohen, Stage, and Susan Hartmann. The American Promise. Boston: Bedford/St.       Martin's, 2012. Print

"Slave Law in Colonial Virginia: A Timeline" studythepast.com. Sam Houston State University, accessed Feb 15, 2013