Slavery of Black Americans Essay

When someone is in a position of control over others, it is called slavery.

They have control over where their subjects reside and go to work. An individual who is considered property belonging to another powerful person and is compelled to labor for no pay or for little pay is considered a slave. Slavery was practiced in numerous nations. One of these well-known countries that housed a sizable number of slaves from African countries is America. Under their masters, slaves go through one of the most challenging life situations. In this article, I will focus on black America experience during slavery and compare it with the latest case of Miss Aya Hijazi who was welcomed back after suffering in Egypt over alleged human trafficking. New York Time Magazine reported her story (Stuckey 336).

Slavery in America

Slavery in America kicked on in 1619 when first slaves from Africa arrived in Virginia. Slaves were brought to America to aid in the production of some profitable crops mainly tobacco. Slavery was the order of the day throughout American colonies. The black Americans who were the slaves helped in building America as nation to where it is today. In 1793, the cotton gin was invented. This invention was like a stamp on the fate of slaves. The need for slavery was solidified especially in South America after this invention. The intense slavery manhandling provoked a great debate that tore American apart in a bloody civil war (Jordan 443).

Foundation of slavery in America

European settlers in North America in early 17th century turned to Africa slaves as cheaper and readily available in large numbers as compared to indentured servant. The first slave was brought from Africa in 1619 to Virginia USA. After the arrival of the first slave, the issue of slavery in America colonies spread like bushfire. There are no clear records on the number of slaves who war brought in from Africa. However, an estimate from historian ranges from six to seven million people. Up to date, the African ever-lasting poverty is at a time linked to slavery. It is because the Europeans countries robbed Africa of their able men and women who could have helped in developing Africa economy (Foner, 212).

Black slaves worked on rice plantations, tobacco as well as indigo plantations.

The black America experienced horrific life during this period. The slaves were paid peanut. They were overworked in the plantations. They were being harassed by their masters. They could work under the sun for the whole day. The mortality rate among the slave rose, all manner of disease, social injustice, and oppression were the order of the day among the slaves. Some of the colonies were not impressed by this action (Du Bois et al.,671).

Between 1775 and 1785

the colonies started arguing in favor of the black Americans. They compared the barbarism and social oppression the blacks were undergoing with their experience during British oppression. This made some of the colonies joined hands to fight for the abolition of slavery in America. The success of the fight to abort slavery bore fruits with USA constitution acknowledging the slavery and their institutions, though this was a tactic for taxing the slaves too.

Importance of the cotton gin

The continued growth of slavery reduced in the 18th century especially in South America when the land for growing tobacco seemed exhausted. Almost at the same period, there was a huge demand for cotton by England’s expanding textile industries. Contrary, the production of the cotton could not match this request since the harvesting, and the some production process was manually was manually done. Whitney invented the cotton gin. It was a machine which removed cotton seeds. The invention of this machine expanded the production which eventually increased the demand of the black Americans to offer labor (Du Bois et al.,688).

Contrary to the South America, North America didn’t entirely depend on Africa slavery for production.

Only wealthy business persons could acquire some African slaves to work in their homes. In 1808, the American Congress outlawed the Africa slave trade. It increased the domestic business as well as the sales population, and by 1860, the black America population almost hit 4 million (Du Bois et al.,70).

Slaves and slaveholders

The growth of the population of black Americans continued with the nearly one-third of South America population occupied by the blacks. They resided on small plantations and big firms under their masters. The ruthless masters ensured that their slaves were entirely dependent on them. They imposed strict system and codes that governed their slaves. Slaves were denied basic education such as learning on how to read and write. Their movement within the firm was restricted; the slave women were the master’s sexual tools. Slaves were brutally punished, and the obedient ones were being rewarded with favor. Although most slave owners encouraged the slave to marry and raise big families, they took this as an advantage and sold their children for their benefits (Lemann 121).

There were some internal revolt among the slaves

but due to small number and their conditions, they could not manage to wage war with the white who had powerful fighting weapons. The movement to set the slaves free gained full strength in 1830 to 1860s. The groups were lead by few free blacks such as Fredrick Douglas and some white supporter who saw sense. Many groups were formed. The groups organized chaos which increased as days passed. Due to conflict brought about by these groups, debate to free slavery was launched in 1820. As the quest for freedom became ungovernable with constant strike and chaos, civil war broke in 1861-1865. During the civil war, black Americans were killed in massive numbers. However, after the bloody war, an official announcement was made on 1st January 1863 that each and every slave in all the estate are free. This came as a relief but after nasty experience among the black Americans (Lemann 339).

Comparison to Miss Aya Hijazi’s Case

As discussed in this document, the black American slavery experience was not a bed of roses. They underwent struggle, oppression, injustices and barbarism during this period. These kinds of injustices and harassment are still witnessed today. Miss Aya Hijazi is an example of such victim. Detained in Egypt over alleged human trafficking, the Lady’s rights were entirely restricted. Several attempts were made to free her but none succeeded until President Donald Trump with his grouped pressured Egyptian government to release her. Like the antislavery group during the black Americans struggle, Ayas husband tried all means to free her, human rights and USA security team also tried their best and finally like the black slaves, she restored her freedom through Donald Trump (Walsh)

Finally, there are differences between the two cases.

First, is the time frame of their occurrence, secondly is that we’re not sure whether Miss Aya Hijazi was brutally punished like the black Americans. Lastly, her freedom was gotten through sensitive way as opposed to barbarism manner during slavery.

Work cited

Stuckey, Sterling. Slave culture: Nationalist theory and the foundations of Black America. Oxford University Press, 2013.

Jordan, Winthrop D. White over black: American attitudes toward the Negro, 1550-1812. UNC Press Books, 2013.

Foner, E. (2011). Reconstruction: America’s unfinished revolution, 1863-1877. Harper Collins.

Du Bois, William Edward Burghardt. Black Reconstruction in America: Toward a History of the Part Which Black Folk Played in the Attempt to Reconstruct Democracy in America, 1860-1880. Transaction Publishers, 2013.

Lemann, Nicholas. The promised land: The great black migration and how it changed America. Vintage, 2011.

Walsh, Michael. “Trump Welcomes American Aid Worker, Freed By Egypt, To Oval Office”. Nytimes.com. N.p., 2017. Web. 22 Apr. 2017.