The Effects Of Slavery On African American Communities

In the seventeenth century, European colonists utilized the vast land in North America for large-scale farming. The successful planting of several crops led to a massive demand for these products. The cultivation of these plants was labor intensive, and the declining availability of white indentured servants made white planters turn towards slave labor. In the book The Half Has Never Been Told, author Edward Baptist described the productivity of slave labor on the plantations and its contribution to the United States’ economy. In addition, he remarked the devastating effects of slavery on African-American communities. Slaves faced degradation, brutality, sexual exploitation, and inadequate living conditions. Some colonists viewed slavery was immoral and inhumane and supported the abolition of this practice. However, this issue continued to exist in the early American republic because of slavery’s immense role in driving the national economy and the protection of slavery by the Constitution and Southern politicians. The institution of slavery was necessary to maintain high production rate. Following the revolt of poor and armed whites in Bacon’s rebellion in 1676, Southern economy switched toward black slave labor. Unlike white indentured servants, slaves were properties. Planters felt that the rules and obligations of being a good humanitarian did not apply to slaves, which justified their cruelty. Edward Baptist noted that â€Å"Sarah Wells remembered that near Warren County,Show MoreRelatedTheme Summary : Abolition Of Slavery 978 Words   |  4 PagesTheme: Abolition of Slavery Image: Photograph Depicting Boy Tied to Post The image viewed and analyzed for the purposes of this assignment is representative of an excellent piece that contributes to the abolishing slavery theme. The picture portrays a young man who can’t be much older than eighteen years in age shackled to some type of pole or post. The young man is of African-American descent and he appears to be dressed in some sort of prison garments. His pants are dingy and faded with a patternRead MoreSlavery During The United States966 Words   |  4 PagesIt seems as though slavery has always been etched into our history since the beginning of time. The first recordings of slaves are from the Biblical times. From the Babylonian’s, 18th century BC; to the abolishment of slavery in the United States, 1865; people across the world endured the hardships of slavery. People of all races were enslaved, from the Jews to the African American people. 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Up until 1865 slaves were imported in shiploads and treated as if they were merely cattle. On the farms slaves were given no mercy and had to work long, arduous days for nothin g. Additionally they were often subject to cruel overseers who would beat and whip them on a regular basis. As brutal and destructive as the institution of slavery was, slaves were not defenselessRead MoreAfrican Americans And Identity Of African American1169 Words   |  5 PagesIn the year of 1619, the largest oppressive legal structure in American History came about, the institution of slavery. Although slavery was abolished in the year of 1865, African Americans are still enslaved by intuitional racism. There are systems in place to keep minorities at a disadvantage. 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The creation of Jim Crows laws where used as a tool to promote segregation among the minority and white American. Michelle Alexander’s the new Jim Crow Mass takes a look at Jim Crow laws and policies were put into place to block the social progression African-American from the post-slavery to the civil rights movement. Fast-forward to 2008 the election of Barack Obama certified that African-Americans where no longer viewed