Slave+Culture

=** The History of Slave Culture by Sameer Bagga **=

The Southern American economy and states need workers to work in rice, cotton, and tobacco farms. In the Northern states they needed workers to work in factories, and homes as servants. By 1750, there were 200,000 slaves brought from West Africa. It rose to 700,000 workers by 1800. The Southern farms had black slaves working on them. Their fate depended on their owners. Most lived in fear of their owners in a violent enviroment. They had no rights of speech or freedom. The slaves worked long hours under poor working conditions. Many slaves feared that their families would be separated and sold to different owners. When slaves resisted or tried to run away they were whipped and punished cruelly for disobeying their masters. They had to follow slave codes such as not carrying a gun, taking food, or striking their masters.

Religion was also used to control the slaves. At Church, the sermons were about not stealing and obeying the masters. The slaves developed their own religion that was a mix of Christianity and West African beliefs and practices. In their secret services in the forest or plantations, they emphasized Moses and a promise of free land. Music was an important part of the slave culture. They sang songs about their hard work, sorrow over the break up of their families, and hope that one day slavery would end. They were allowed to sing songs when working on the farms. The songs helped them express personal feelings and also helped them cheer each other. Slaves created rich family life which helped them deal with their harsh reality. Marriages between slaves from different plantations created a larger network. They worked hard during the day and at night they relaxed, talked, and sang songs. The slaves were not allowed to read and write so they used a variety of English called a dialect to sing their songs. Our present day Jazz and Blues music comes from those times. Their dance and singing was their way to escape from their cruel life. Each rhythm in their songs was special. This was the most important part of their music. Expressing what the music was all about.

To escape the harsh treatment of their owners some slaves tried to run away. The Underground Railroad was a big network of people who helped runaways escape to the northern states and Canada. It included some white people but mostly black people. There were many stations ran by station masters. The stations provided slaves with a place to eat and rest. The slave would escape at night, travel ten to twenty miles by foot and wagon, and move to the next station. They would hide in barns and other out of the way places. While they waited at one station, a message would be sent to the next station to alert the station masters. If caught, the slave would be hanged. The Underground Railroad worked very effectively and the South lost 100,000 slaves between 1810 to 1850.

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