π Enslaved African-Americans endured unimaginable conditions, including lack of basic necessities, back-breaking labor, and no compensation.
βοΈ Hundreds of thousands of Africans were forcibly taken from their homes, chained, and transported on slave ships to the British colonies in America.
π The journey on slave ships was horrifying, with cramped conditions, low ceilings, and high mortality rates.
π The lives of enslaved people were influenced by their location and type of work.
π Enslaved people were treated as property and could be sold away from their families at any time.
π Auctions were traumatic events where African families were split apart and never saw each other again.
πΌ Enslaved people worked from a young age until death, with most working in the fields on plantations or farms.
πΎ Growing cotton was the main occupation for southern enslaved people, and picking cotton was a difficult and painful job.
π Enslaved people lived in small, poorly constructed cabins with multiple individuals sharing a single hut.
π Enslaved families had to share small cabins, leading to interference and a lack of privacy.
β° Long work hours made it difficult for enslaved families to spend time together.
ποΈ Enslaved people had limited furniture and slept on straw or rags in overcrowded cabins.
π Enslaved people had ill-fitting and uncomfortable clothing made of coarse material.
π½οΈ Enslaved people had limited food and often ate two to three meals a day without tables or chairs.
πΏ Some enslaved people were allowed to have small vegetable gardens to supplement their food rations.
πββοΈ Escaping slavery was common but challenging due to slave catcher patrols and harsh conditions.
π Enslaved people used songs like 'Follow the Drinking Gourd' to secretly communicate directions on how to escape and find freedom in the North.
π The Underground Railroad was a network of safe houses and stations where escaped enslaved people could hide and receive assistance on their journey to free states and Canada.
π―οΈ Runaways could recognize a station on the Underground Railroad by the presence of brightly lit candles or lanterns, signaling that help was available.
β Enslaved people in America had their own wedding ceremonies, including the tradition of Jumping the Broom.
π Religious services played a vital role in the lives of enslaved people, providing a sense of community and respite from their constant work.
πΆ Music became an important part of enslaved people's lives, serving as a form of expression and resilience in the face of hardship.
π Storytelling played a crucial role in preserving African culture and providing entertainment for enslaved people.
βοΈ The life of an enslaved person was incredibly difficult and dangerous, lasting for hundreds of years.
β Abolitionists and leaders like Abraham Lincoln fought for freedom and the end of slavery in America.