SLAVE

VOICES
The Sounds of Freedom
Edited: Hilary McD. Beckles
Verene Shepherd
(U.W.I.)
UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network (ASPnet)
Prepared and printed with the support of the
Norwegian Agency for e!elop"ent Co#operation (NO$A)
"......listen to the voice of liberty which speaks in the hearts of all of us"
'Zamba' Boukman
Priest-leader of the St. Dominue !later "aiti#
Slave $ebellion !%&'%#
''......(ou do not know how sweet it is to die for liberty"
)adame *hevalier+ a slave in the St. Dominue $ebellion+ speakin
before her e,ecution
-
CON%EN%S
&ntroduction' $e.ectin Slavery+ Pursuin /reedom0 1he Slaves 2rite Back
PA$% ONE' Out of Africa' the (iddle Passage
)* Ajayi' the +oru,a 3 4n bein captured
- 4n the capturin of women
.* Olaudah E/uiano ' - 4n 5frica and the )iddle Passae
the &,o
0* Asa Asa * 1he !/rench# )iddle Passae
1* Otta,ah Cugoano' - 4n capture and enslavement
the 2anti
3* Prince 4a",a of * 4n his sale in 5merica
the Congo
PA$% %5O' Criti/ues of Sla!ery
)* anish Sla!es * 4n slave status in 5frica
.* (ary Prince - 4n slavery and women
- "orrors of slavery
- Desire for freedom
0* 6inda 7rent - *risis of church and slavery
1* 7ouk"an'Priest 6eader in - 1he 6voice of liberty7 speech
2rench St* o"ingue
3* O"ar &,n Seid * 5 )uslim speaks out
8* &gnatius Sancho+ the Scholar* 4n black slavery in 8urope
9
PA$% %9$EE' 5riting 7ack' Songs: 6etters: and ;erse
5
1. A Sla!e 7urial Ser"on - 5ll christians are e:ual0 black and white
2. in <a"iaca
3.
4. .* anish Sla!es * 4n conversion to christianity
5.
0* Political Songs - 4n 5frican solidarity in ;.S. !%<%='s#
- Slave 8mancipation sons0>amaica in the %<%='s
1* Phillis 5heatley: Poetess - 1he letter to ?eore 2ashinton
* 5 poem for ?eore 2ashinton
3* Peru!ian Sla!es * $iht to family
8* 6etters on 2reedo" - $ihts to freedom in Demerara
- $e:uestin freedom in Barbados
=* >Philipaut> - @etters to )adame de )auer
?* 7ra@ilian Sla!es * Sons of life
PA$% 2OU$' 2light and <ourneys to 2reedo"
)* Este,an (ontejo' * 4n life and livin
Cu,an (aroon
.* <uan 2rancisco (an@ano* 4n slavery and freedom
0* 6ouis 9ughes' in Canada * /ive flihts to freedom
1* <onas 7ath' &sla"ic * 1he back to 5frica movement
(andingos in %rinidad
3* 7ussaAs EBiles in Africa * 1he back to the *aribbean movement
8* Catalina * Self purchase and freedom in Peru
=* <oanna * $esponse to offer to buy her freedom
A
PA$% 2&;E' 6i,erators and Political 6eaders
)* Nat %urner - *onfession of a liberator
.* 2rederick ouglass - 4n citiBenship+ nationhood+ and identity
0* Sojourner %ruth - 657n7t C a 2oman7
* 'C have a riht to have .ust as much as
a man'
1* 9arriet %u,"an * 5chievin freedom
3* 7ooker %* 5ashington * Black enfranchisement0 1he 5tlanta
8,position 5ddress
8* %oussaint 6AOu!erture * 8nlihtenment philosophy in action
* Cn the service of liberty
=* %he 9aitian Constitution* 1estin /reedom0 ?rantin *itiBenship
&N%$OUC%&ON' $ejecting Sla!ery' Pursuing 2reedo"'
%he Sla!es 5rite 7ack
Ct is universally reconiBed that te,ts enerated by oppressed people occupy a uni:ue place within literary traditions.
Cn the modern period te,ts produced by enslaved 5frican peoples+ the most e,ploited of the oppressed+ have come
&
to represent somethin altoether more special. 1he publication of their oraniBed thouht is evidence of the tellin
defeat of slaveowners7 claim that their slaves were beneath+ and indifferent to+ the intellectual discourses that
surrounded them. 1he facts+ however+ are :uite to the contrary. Slaves did participate fully+ for e,ample+ in the
counter-discourse of anti-slavery usin all the available literary instruments+ and produced+ in some instances with
assistance from free people+ an e,traordinary body of philosophically rich literature.
8nslaved 5fricans were defined and cateoriBed under laws in all colonial .urisdictions as chattel D property and real
estate. Cn effect+ they were cateoriBed under these leal provisions as 6thins7+ and appear in financial accounts
alonside cattle+ horses+ furniture+ machinery+ and so on. But a ma.or conceptual problem for slaveowners was that
5frican people possessed intellectually developed social views+ and were keen to use literary forms to e,press
them.
Slaves+ then+ not only fouht backE they wrote and spoke back and in so doin they contributed reatly to the broad-
based 5tlantic anti-slavery literature. 1hey understood and criti:ued the dominant 8uropean scientific and
intellectual doma on the sub.ect of slavery and race. 1hese written+ narrated+ and spoken words combined to
establish a literary canon that leaves little doubt about their intention to uproot slavery and implement social ideas of
freedom with .ustice.
<
Despite the endemic anti-intellectual culture bred by slavery many 5fricans wrote important treatise+ dictated
autobioraphical accounts+ presented critical oral testimony to *ommissions of Cn:uiry+ and made arranements for
the recordin and publication of a wide body of opinions. 1heir literary output+ both written and narrated+ serves to
situate anti-slavery ideoloy at the core of enlihtenment modernity.
1he memoirs of 4laudah 8:uiano the Cbo man who survived kidnappin as a child and decades of slavery in the
*aribbean+written by himself+ for e,ample+ was received in intellectual circles as a ma.or political treatise with no
e:ual in the literature of %'
th
century anti-slavery. 1he dictated autobioraphies of 8steban )onte.o and )ary Prince+
toether with the transcribed speeches of 1oussaint @74uverture+ represent the anti-slavery voice of Blacks in its
many tones and te,tures. Cn pursuit of social freedom+ e:uity+ .ustice+ and political power+ enslaved 5fricans
mobiliBed their intellectual+ literary and artistic cultures in remarkable ways+ and with strikin effect. Ct should not
be possible+ therefore+ to write or speak of slavery without central reference to these te,ts. "istorians are not as yet
sufficiently sensitiBed to the importance of the slaves7 sub.ective knowlede+ nor the need to e,amine these te,ts in
order to achieve an insider perspective on slavery. 1he entry of this literature into the dominant historioraphy will
in itself be a ma.or achievement in conceptual and intellectual liberation. /urthermore+ such a development will be
part of the lon awaited academic reconition of the authenticity and relevance of the slaves7 voice.
1his collection of 6voices7 is far from e,haustive. 1here is more+ much more that could as easily be included. Ct is
but a small sample of what e,ists+ chosen to represent the considerable diversity of 5frican e,periences in the 5tlantic
world. 8ntries reflect the manitude of 5frican dispersion and take into consideration issues as far apart as ender
relations and imperial ownership. *ollectively+ they speak to the 5frican community7s re.ection of slavery and its
enaement with the wider movement of anti-colonialism. 1hey represent+ finally+ a variety of tones within the loud
voice of 5fricans who responded with a resoundin F4G to slavery. 1hese voices are but echoes of an unrelentin
determination to uproot the corruptin institution of slavery from modern civiliBation.
'
PA$% )' Out of Africa' the (iddle Passage
%=
)* Ajayi' the +oru,a
5.ayi+ a (oruba boy of %- - %H years old+ was kidnapped and placed on board the 8SP8$5FZ5 /8@CI bound for
BraBil with %<% other slaves. 1he British had abolished slave tradin in %<=& and slavery in %<-9+ and in their role as
'police' of the 5frican coast+ captured the ship off the coast of @aos+ Fieria+ and put ashore the 5frican captives at
Sierra @eone. 1here 5.ayi rew up and became a *hristian. Cn %<JA-J&+ he attended school in 8nland+ and later
tauht in Sierra @eone. Cn %<9-+ he published a study of the (oruba lanuae+ and he was ordained a priest in the
same year. "e was consecrated a Bishop in %<A9+ and became widely known as Bishop Samuel 5.ayi *rowther. Cn
%<-& and %<9% he wrote e,tensive accounts of his enslavement e,perience.
On ,eing captured'
/or some years+ war had been carried on in my 8yo *ountry+ which was always attended with much devastation and
bloodshedE the women+ such men as had surrendered or were cauht+ with the children+ were taken captives. 1he
enemies who carried on these wars were principally the 8yo )ahomedans+ with whom my country abounds - with the
/oulahs+ and such forein slaves as had escaped from their owners+ .oined toether+ makin a formidable force of
about J=+=== who annoyed the whole country. 1hey had no other employment but sellin slaves to the Spaniards and
Portuuese on the coast...
1he mornin in which my town+ 4cho-u+ shared the same fate which many others had e,perienced+ was fair and
delihtful and most of the inhabitants were enaed in their respective occupations. 2e were preparin breakfast
without any apprehensionE when+ about ' o'clock a.m..+ a rumour was spread in the town+ that the enemies had
approached with the intention of hostility.
Ct was not lon after when they had almost surrounded the town+ to prevent any escape of the inhabitantsE the town
bein rudely fortified with a wooden fence+ about four miles in circumference+ containin about %J+=== inhabitantsE
which would produce -+=== fihtin men. 1he inhabitants not bein prepared+ some not bein at homeE those who
were+ havin about si, ates to defend+ as well as many weak places about the fence to uard aainst+ and+ to say in a
few words+ the men bein surprised+ and therefore confounded - the enemies entered the town after about three or
four hours' resistance...
.... continue
On the Capturing of 5o"en
"ere a most sorrowful scene imainable was to be witnessedG - women+ some with three+ four+ or si, children
clinin to their arms+ with the infants on their backs+ and such baae as they could carry on their heads+ runnin as
fast as they could throuh prickly shrubs+ which+ hookin their blies and other loads+ drew them down from the heads
of the bearers. 2hile they found it impossible to o alon with their loads+ they endeavoured only to save themselves
and their children0 even this was impracticable with those who had many children to care for.
2hile they were endeavourin to disentanle themselves from the ropy shrubs+ they were overtaken and cauht by
the enemies with a noose of rope thrown over the neck of every individual+ to be led in the manner of oats tied
toether+ under the drove of one man. Cn many cases a family was violently divided between three or four enemies+
who each led his away+ to see one another no more.
(our humble servant was thus cauht - with his mother+ two sisters !one an infant about ten months old#+ and a cousin
- while endeavourin to escape in the manner above described. )y load consisted of nothin else than my bow+ and
five arrows in the :uiver+ the bow C had lost in the shrub+ while C was e,tricatin myself+ before C could think of
%%
makin use of it aainst my enemies. 1he last view C had of my father was when he came from the fiht+ to ive us
the sinal to flee . . .
Cn attemptin to escape in the crowd with my mother+ two sisters and a cousin+ we were taken by two (orriba
)ahomedans who immediately threw nooses of cords around our necks and led us away as their prey ... Scarcely had
we ot to the middle of the town when two /oulah men attacked our captors and contended with them about dividin
their prey as they had not one in time to et any.
)y cousin was violently held on both sidesE and my mother hearin the threats from the /oulahs to cut the poor
fellow to pieces if our captors did not let him oE she intreated them rather to ive him over to the /oulahs instead of
havin him killedE our captors havin some feelins of humanity+ left the boy to them with whom they ran off with
the fury of a tier. 2e four now remainin+ reat care was taken lest we should also be lost in like manner+ as the
soldiers were no little robbers amon themselves.
Sources' *hurch )issionary $ecord: Fo. <+ 4ct. %<- &
>ournals of $ev. >anes /rederick Schon and Samuel *rowther !@ondon+ %<9J#E $ichard "art+
7lacks in 7ondage. !CS8$+ ;2C+ Kinston+ %'<=# Lol. %+ pp. -A - 9J
Study &ndicators'
5.ayi presents a clear opinion on the social and political backround of 2est 5frica+ the Fierian hinterland
specifically+ within which the slavin culture emered. "e tells us about -
%# the political conflicts between nations
J# the spread of Cslam+ and its political importance
-# the penetration and disruption of villae life by slave raiders
9# the destruction of family and the special vulnerability of women
H# the moral attitude of 5fricans to the business
Students should0
%J
observe the social+ culture and political circumstances outlined
assess the impact of slave tradin on individuals+ family+ and community
.* Olaudah E/uiano' the l,o
8:uiano was born in the villae called 8ssaka in Cboland+ Fieria+ around %&9H. 5bout the ae of %9+ he and his
youner sister were kidnapped on the outskirts of the villae by slave raiders. "e was taken to the coast+ sold to
traders+ and placed on board a vessel bound for Barbados. /or the better part of his early life+ he was enslaved in
various 8nlish colonies+ but finally found his freedom in 8nland where he participated as a principal spokesman in
the anti-slavery movement. "e established a reputation in 8nland as a public orator+ fre:uent writer to newspapers+
and as a socialite in radical society. "is autobioraphy was published in @ondon in %&<' while he was in his mid
9='s.
On Africa and the (iddle Passage
4ne day+ when all our people were one out to their works as usual and only C and my dear sister were left to mind
the house+ two men and a woman ot over our walls+ and in a moment seiBed us both+ and without ivin us time to
cry out or make resistance they stopped our mouths and ran off with us into the nearest wood. "ere they tied our
hands and continued to carry us as far as they could till niht came on: when we reached a small house where the
robbers halted for refreshment and spent the niht ... C was now carried to the left of the sun's risin throuh many
different countries and a number of lare woods. 1he people C was sold to used to carry me very often when C was
tired either on their shoulders or on their backs. C saw many convenient well-built sheds alon the roads at proper
distances+ to accommodate the merchants and travellers who lay in those buildins alon with their wives+ who often
accompany themE and they always o well armed. ... 5ll the nations and people C had hitherto passed throuh
resembled our own in manner+ customs+ and lanuae0 but C came at lenth to a country the inhabitants of which
differed from us.... 1hus C continued to travel+ sometimes by land+ sometimes by water+ throuh different countries
and various nations+ till at the end of si, or seven months after C had been kidnapped C arrived at the sea coast.
%-
1he first ob.ect which saluted my eyes when C arrived on the coast was the sea+ and a slave ship which was then
ridin at anchor and waitin for its caro. 1hese filled me with astonishment+ which was soon converted into terror
when C was carried on board. C was immediately handled and tossed up to see Cf C were sound by some of the crew+
and C was now persuaded that C had otten into a world of bad spirits and that they were oin to kill me. 1heir
comple,ions too differin so much from ours+ their lon hair and the lanuae they spoke !which was very different
from any C had ever heard# united to confirm me in this belief. Cndeed such were the horrors of my views and fears at
the moment that+ if ten thousand worlds had been my own+ C would have freely parted with them all to have
e,chaned my condition with that of the meanest slave in my own country. 2hen C looked round the ship too and
saw a lare furnace or copper- boilin and a multitude of black people of every description chained toether+ every
one of their countenances e,pressin de.ection and sorrow+ C no loner doubted of my fateE and :uite overpowered
with horror and anuish+ C fell motionless on the deck and fainted. 2hen C recovered a little C found some black
people about me+ who C believed were some of those who had brouht me on board and had been receivin their payE
they talked to me in order to cheer me+ but all in vain. C asked them if we were not to be eaten by those white men
with horrible looks+ red faces+ loose hair. 1hey told me C was not+ and one of the crew brouht me a small portion of
spirituous li:uor in a wine lass+ but bein afraid of him C would not take it out of his hand. 4ne of the blacks
therefore took it from him and ave it to me+ and C took a little down my palate+ which instead of revivin me+ as they
thouht it would+ threw me into the reatest consternation at the strane feelin it produced+ havin never tasted any
such li:uor- before. Soon after this the blacks who brouht me on board went off and left me abandoned to despair.
C now saw myself deprived of all chance of returnin to my native country or even the least limpse of hope of
ainin the shore+ which C now considered as friendlyE and C even wished for my former slavery in preference to my
present situation+ which was filled with horrors of every kind+ still heihtened by my inorance of what C was to
undero. C was not lon suffered to indule my riefE C was soon put down under the decks+ and there C received such
a salutation in my nostrils as C had never e,perienced in my life0 so that with the loathsomeness of the stench and
cryin toether+ C became so sick and low that C was not able to eat+ nor C had the least desire to taste anythin. C now
wished for the last friend+ death+ to relieve meE but soon+ to my rief+ two of the white men offered me eatables+ and
on my refusin to eat+ one of them held me fast by the hands and laid me across C think the windlass+ and tied my feet
while the other floed me severely. C had never e,perienced anythin of this kind before+ and althouh+ not bein
used to the water+ C naturally feared that element the first time C saw it+ yet nevertheless could C have ot over the
nettins C would have .umped over the side+ but C could notE and besides+ lest we should leap into the water0 and C
have seen some of these poor 5frican prisoners most severely cut for attemptin to do so+ and hourly whipped for not
eatin. 1his indeed was often the case with myself. Cn a little time after+ amonst the poor chained men C found some
of my own nation+ which in a small deree ave ease to my mind. C in:uired of these what was to be done with usE
they ave me to understand we were to be carried to these white people7s country to work for them. C then was a little
revived+ and thouht if it were no worse than workin+ my situation was not so desperate0 but still C feared C should be
put to death+ the white people looked and acted+ as C thouht+ in so savae a mannerE for C had never seen amon my
people such instances of brutal cruelty+ and this is not only shown towards us blacks but also to some of the whites
themselves. 4ne white man in particular C saw+ when we were permitted to be on deck+ floed so unmercifully with
a lare rope near the foremast that he died in conse:uence of it. 1his made me fear these people the more+ and C
e,pected nothin less than to be treated in the same manner. C could not help e,pressin my fears and apprehensions
to some of my countrymen0 C asked them if these people had no country but lived in this hollow place !the ship#0 they
told me they did not+ but came from a distant one****5t last+ when the ship we were in had ot in all her caro+ they
made ready with many fearful noises+ and were all put under deck so that we could not see how they manaed the
vessel. But this disappointment was the least of my sorrow. 1he stench of the hold while we were on the coast was
so intolerable loathsome that it was danerous to remain there for any time+ and some of us had been permitted to
stay on the deck for the fresh airE but now that the whole ship's caro were confined toether it became absolutely
pestilential. 1he closeness of the place and the heat of the climate+ added to the number in the ship+ which was so
crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself+ almost suffocated. 1his produced copious perspirations+ so that
the air soon became unfit for respiration from a variety of loathsome smells+ and brouht on a sickness amon the
slaves+ of which many died+ thus fallin victims to the improvident avarice+ as C may call it+ of their purchasers. 1his
wretched situation was aain aravated by the allin of the chains+ now become insupportable+ and the filth of the
necessary tubs+ into which the children often fell and were almost suffocated. 1he shrieks of the women and the
roans of the dyin rendered the whole scene of horror almost inconceivable. "appily perhaps for myself C was soon
reduced so low here that it was thouht necessary to keep me almost always on deck+ and from my e,treme youth C
was not put in fetters. Cn this situation C e,pected every hour to share the fate of my companions+ some of whom were
almost daily brouht upon deck at the point of death+ which C bean to hope would soon put an end to my miseries....
%9
4ne day+ when we had a smooth sea and moderate wind+ two of my wearied countrymen who were chained toether
!C was near them at the time#+ preferrin death to such a life of misery+ somehow made throuh the nettins and
.umped into the sea0 immediately another :uite de.ected fellow+ who on account of his illness was suffered to be out
of irons+ also followed their e,ampleE and C believe many would very soon have done the same if they had not been
prevented by the ship's crew+ who were instantly alarmed. 1hose of us that were the most active were in a moment put
down under the deck+ and there was such a noise and confusion amonst the people of the ship as C never heard
before+ to stop her and et the boat out to o after the slaves. "owever two of the wretches were drowned+ but they
ot the other and afterwards floed him unmercifully for thus attemptin to prefer death to slavery. Cn this manner
we continued to undero more hardships than C can now relate... MuntilN at last we came in siht of the island of
Barbados
Sources' %he 6ife Of Olaudah E/uiano: or Custa!us ;assa +the African' written ,y hi"self0 %&<' !ed# Paul
8dwards !@onmans edit. @on. %'<<# pp. %-'+ %%-%9+ JJ-J<+ &9-&A+ <9-<&E Susan E!erett: 9istory of Sla!ery
!?rane Books+ @ondon+ %''A#
Study &ndicators'
4laudah 8:uiano recounts vividly the circumstances under which he and his sister were captured from their villae in
5frica and sold into slavery. "is account of the .ourney to the coast and the e,perience of the )iddle Passae
reflects0
%# his fear at the unfamiliar siht of the slave ship at the coast
J# his fear of the sea+ of bein eaten+ of his unknown destination and of bein killed
-# the cruelty of slave captors and the dehumaniBin and insanitary conditions aboard the slave
ship
9# his feelin of displacement at bein torn from his homeland
H# his unfamiliarity with whites.
Students should note0
that women were involved in the kidnappin of slaves
the staes in+ and the lenth of+ the .ourney of 5fricans from capture to shipment to the 5mericas. 8:uiano and his
sister travelled throuh other 5frican villaes and 6nations7 in order to reach the coast and the barracoons.
1his took a lon time.
the methods used to control slave captives and the way in which such captives resisted. Fotice that 8:uiano
refused to eat and despite the whippin he received+ still contemplated .umpin overboard.
that nettin was used to prevent slaves from .umpin overboardE and that despite this precaution+ slaves manaed to
.ump overboard to escape the horrors of the )iddle Passae and an uncertain fate. 1hose who succeeded in
committin suicide obviously preferred death to slavery.
%H
that slave resistance was a factor on the )iddle Passae and was not confined to the plantation.
OStudy carefully the way in which slaves were accommodated on the ship for
transportation to the 5mericas.
0* Asa # Asa' %he (2rench) (iddle Passage
5sa 5sa+ slave of a /rench 5ntillean planter+ ives this brief description of his e,perience of the )iddle Passae0
'1he slaves we saw on board the ship were chained toether by the les below deck+ so close they could not move.
1hey were floed very cruellyE % saw one of them floed till he diedE we could not tell what for. 1hey ave them
enouh to eat. 1he place they were confined in below deck was so hot and nasty C could not bear to be in it. 5 reat
many of the slaves were ill+ but they were not attended to. 1hey used to flo me very bad on board the ship0 the
captain cut my head very bad one time.'
Source' 5nthony de Lerteuil+ Se!en Sla!es and Sla!ery %rinidad* )===#)?0? !Port of Spain+ %''J FP.# pp.%A
Study &ndicators'
@ike 8:uiano+ 5sa 5sa recounts his e,perience of the )iddle Passae. "e points
out the features on board the ship as follows0
slaves were chained toether by the les
slaves were placed below deck
slaves were brutally treated on board
illness was a common feature of the captives' e,perience on board.
Students should note that0
1he conditions of the )iddle Passae were similar whether slaves were oin to the
British *aribbean !as 8:uiano was#+ or to the /rench *aribbean+ as 5sa 5sa was.
%A
1* Otto,ah Cugoano' the 2anti
On Capture and Ensla!e"ent
Cn %&<&+ the memoirs of 4ttobah *uoano+ a /anti+ were published in @ondon. "e had been a slave in the 2est
Cndies+ but as a free man was well known in @ondon as an anti-slavery advocate+ writer and public speaker. 4ttobah
was keen to illustrate that the form of slavery e,perienced by 5fricans in 8urope and the 5mericas had no similarities
with the social relations at home. Few 2orld slavery+ he said+ was brutal+ alienatin+ and destructive of life and
humanity itself "e wrote0
C must own+ to the shame of my own countrymen+ that C was first kidnapped and betrayed by my own comple,ion+
who were the first cause of my e,ile and slaveryE but if there were no buyers there would be no sellers. So far as C
can remember+ some of the 5fricans in my country kept slaves+ which they take in war+ or for debtE but those which
they kept are well+ and ood care taken of them+ and treated well ...
But C may safely say that all the poverty and misery that any of the inhabitants of 5frica meet amon themselves is
far inferior to those inhospitable reions of misery which they meet with in the 2est Cndies where their hard-hearted
overseers have neither reard to the laws of ?od+ nor the life of their fellow-men
Source' 4ttobah *uoano+ %houghts and Senti"ents on the E!il and 5icked %raffic of Sla!ery and the
Co""erce of the 9u"an Species !@ondon+ %&<&# 5lso+ $ichard "art+ Sla!es 5ho A,olished Sla!ery: ;ol*l*
7lacks in 7ondage !CS8$+ ;2C+ )nston %'<=# pp. -H--A
Study &ndicators'
*uoano makes it clear that fellow 5fricans were involved in the capture and sale of slaves to the 5mericas. 1his
reality makes him feel betrayed and he e,presses this feelin of betrayal. "e is nevertheless realistic that without a
demand for slaves+ there would have been no capture and sale of 5fricans by 5fricans.
Students should note that *uoano admits openly that slavery e,isted in 5frica. But he is at pains to stress that
slavery in 5frica in no way resembled Few 2orldP*aribbean slavery+ the latter bein much harsher.
2ollow#up acti!ity'
Do further research on the differences and similarities between slavery in 5frica and
the *aribbean.
%. Prince 4a",a of the Congo' On his sale in A"erica
4ne of the most e,traordinary documents of the reat era of slavery is that by a tribal chieftain named Zamba.
Zamba was a son of a local 'kin' who ruled a small community J== miles up to *ono. 1he kin+ Zambola+ ac:uired
considerable wealth as a slave dealer+ sellin to an 5merican captain named 2inton. 5t about the ae of J=+ in %<==+
Zamba himself became kin and+ havin ac:uired a rudimentary education+ determined to e,tend his horiBons by
travellin to 5merica with 2inton. 2inton readily areed to the suestion+ accommodated Zamba in style on his
slave ship - and then+ as the ship neared *harleston+ imprisoned him and sold him into slavery. Zamba was luckyE he
manaed to preserve some of his wealth which was invested by his humanitarian owner. "e later wrote an account of
his life and - since slaves were not allowed to read or write - smuled his manuscript out with the help of a white
friend. Ct was published in 8nland in %<9&. Cn this e,tract+ he describes on board the slaver from a uni:ue point of
view0 that of one who suffered as a slave+ but who was+ at the beinnin of the voyae+ bein iven the rihts and
privilees of a prince.
%&
Several dray-loads of clothin for the slaves were brouht alonside. Fe,t day was still coldE but the whole of the
slaves were put ashore+ and oblied to wash and scour themselves. 1hey were then provided with tolerably ood
clothin+ made of blue or white coarse woollen cloth+ of 8nlish manufacture+ commonly called "plains." 1he owners
of the ship had provided theseE but+ had the weather been warm+ the poor slaves would have been put up for sale in
the scanty clothin they were in. 1he captain told me they were advertised for sale+ which would take place in two
days. )eantime we had a considerable number of white entlemen to visit us+ mostly intendin purchasers. 4n the
appointed day+ the auctioneer+ a )r. Faylor+ accompanied by two youn clerks+ came downE and+ after much careful
inspection+ arraned the whole caro in separate lots+ some of them sinly+ and others in lots of' fifteen or twenty.
1he sinle ones were intended for domestic servants in town+ and were chosen from the younest and smartest -
lookinE the larer lots for the country+ or what are called "field hands." 5t lenth+ a reat number of white entlemen
had arrived+ and a few white ladies - at least+ white womenE for their conduct was not such as would entitle them to be
called ladies in 8urope0 in a calm+ cool+ business-like way+ they went around the various roups of Feroes+
e,aminin and handlin their limbs in the same manner as C afterwards saw butchers e,aminin cattle.
1he sale soon bean+ and took up a considerable timeE the prices ranin from JH= to 9H= dollars a head0 the -J
Feroes whom C had put on board brouht nearly %=+=== dollars. Ct will be thus seen that the owners of the ship had
made an e,cellent speculation0 by this trip+ as C learned from the captain+ they had cleared from '=+=== to %==+===
dollarsE and it must be allowed+ that reat part of this arose from the prudent and humane treatment which was
e,ercised towards the live caro. Fo doubt e,ists in my mind+ that the movin principle in all concerned was avariceE
and+ in this case+ it showed that+ even from sinister motives+ Providence can cause ood to be produced at last. Cn the
course of my subse:uent e,perience+ C have known ships+ of the same tonnae as the Triton, arrive from 5frica+ in
which &H= slaves had been embarkedE but+ owin to cruel usae+ scanty and unwholesome provisions+ impure air+ and
absolute filth+ which prevailed on board+ not more than 9== lived to reach *harlestonE and of these+ one-half were in a
most weakly and miserable condition+ and the remainder could by no means be classed as sound and healthy. Cn these
cases+ reed and avarice .oined to inhumanity were punishedE but at a sad e,pense of life+ as rearded the wretched
Feroes. C have seen a slave-ship arrive from 5frica+ in such a condition as to its freiht of flesh and blood+ that no
mortal of ordinary nerves could put his head below the hatchE and in such a miserable state were the Feroes+ that C
have known -= or 9= out of one caro sent up to the hospital in carts. C heard fre:uently also+ from what C deemed
ood authority+ that on board these crowded and ill-conducted slavers+ it was not a rare circumstance for the captain
to order such poor slaves as were evidently dyin+ to be thrown overboard durin the niht+ while yet the pulse of life
was beatinG
Source' SuBanne 8verett+ 9istory of Sla!ery !?rane Books+ @ondon %''A# pp. %='
Study &ndicators'
1he sale of slaves in the 5mericas after the lon transatlantic crossin was a further frihtenin e,perience. Prince
Zamba points out the main features of the slave sale or auction in the *aribbean0
%. slaves were taken ashore and washed in preparation for sale
J. slaves were provided with clothin !and he describes the material used#
-. prospective buyers+ respondin to advertisements+ attended the auction in their numbers
9. slaves were oraniBed for sale in batches+ urban slaves bein separated from rural field slaves
Students should note0
the characteristics ascribed to domestic slaves as opposed to field slaves
that slave buyers attendin the auction included white women
the prices paid for slaves and the profits realiBed by the owners of the slaver
the relationship between profits and the claim that on this voyae treatment had
been humane
the preoccupation with describin the hold of the ship with its filthy conditions
%<
PA$% .' Criti/ues of Sla!ery
)* anish Sla!es on Sla!e Status in Africa
QC am a PrinceRE QC was much reater in ?uineaR0 (sla!es in the anish islands)*
1he captives taken from 5frica to be enslaved in the *aribbean were not all previously servile people as 8uropeans
often made out. Some were of 5frican royalty and found enslavement in the *aribbean particularly humiliatin.
1hey vowed not to submit to servitude. Below are two e,amples which were related word for word by *.?.5
.4ldendorp who visited the Danish islands in the *aribbean and made e,tensive commentary0
i#0 an enslaved man to his master0
QC am a prince.... /or the time bein+ C am in your power+ but nothin will ever persuade me to serve youE C would
rather end my life by voluntary deathR.
ii#0 an enslaved woman to her mistress0
QC was much reater in ?uinea than you are here. C had many more slaves in my service than you have.
Fow you e,pect me to be your slaveS C would much rather die of starvationR.
Source' *.?.5. 4ldendorp7s 9istory of the (ission of the E!angelical 7rethren on the Cari,,ean &slands of St*
%ho"as: St* CroiB: and St* <ohn* 8d. >ohann >akob Bossard. 5rnold $. "ihfield T Lladimir Barac trans.
!Karoma Pubs.+ 5nn 5rbor+ )ichian+ %'<&#+ pp. JJ=.
Study &ndicators'
1hese e,tracts indicate that0
enslavement did not dull the spirit of the 5frican
some slaves often felt superior to their enslavers
some slaves preferred death to enslavement
Students should note the methods of resistance which slaves employed to escape enslavement.
%. (ary Prince'
)ary Prince+ says )oira /eruson+ was the first black woman to escape British slavery in the 2est Cndies and publish
an autobioraphy. Published in @ondon and 8dinburh in %<-%+ it went into its third edition within the year. 5fter
e,periencin the horrors of slavery in her native Bermuda+ then 5ntiua+ and 1urks and *aicos Cslands+ she arrived as
%'
a slave in @ondon in %<J< with her 'owners'. Born about %&<<+ )ary demonstrated a keen intellect as a youn
woman which earned her the wrath of successive slave owners. "er book+ which illuminates the evil of slavery from
the view point of a woman+ was particularly influential in demonstratin the corruptin moral and spiritual effects of
slavery on society.
On Sla!ery and 5o"en
Poor "etty+ my fellow slave+ was very kind to me+ and C used to call her my 5untE but she led a most miserable life+
and her death was hastened !at least the slaves all believed and said so+# by the dreadful chastisement she received
from my master durin her prenancy. Ct happened as follows. 4ne of the cows had draed the rope away from the
stake to which "etty had fastened it+ and ot loose. )y master flew into a terrible passion+ and ordered the poor
creature to be stripped :uite naked+ notwithstandin her prenancy+ and to be tied up to a tree in the yard. "e then
floed her as hard as he could lick+ both with the whip and cow-skin+ till she was all over streamin with blood. "e
rested+ and then beat her aain and aain. "er shrieks were terrible. 1he conse:uence was that poor "etty was
brouht to bed before her time+ and was delivered after severe labour of a dead child. She appeared to recover after
her confinement+ so far that she was repeatedly floed by both master and mistress afterwardsE but her former
strenth never returned to her. 8re lon her body and limbs swelled to a reat siBeE and she lay on a mat in the
kitchen+ till the water burst out of her body and she died. 5ll the slaves said that death was a ood thin for poor
"ettyE but C cried very much for her death. 1he manner of it filled me with horror. C could not bear to think about itE
yet it was always present to my mind for many a day....
9orrors of Sla!ery
4h the horrors of slaveryG - "ow the thouht of it pains my heartG But the truth ouht to be told of itE and what my
eyes have seen C think it is my duty to relateE for few people in 8nland know what slavery is. C have been a slave - C
have felt what a slave feels+ and C know what a slave knowsE and C would have all the ood people in 8nland to
know it too+ that they may break our chains+ and set us free....
C must say somethin more
about this cruel son of a cruel father. - "e had no heart - no fear of ?odE he had been brouht up by a bad father in a
bad path+ and he delihted to follow in the same steps. 1here was a little old woman amon the slaves called Sarah+
who was nearly past workE and+ )aster Dickey bein the overseer of the slaves .ust then+ this poor creature+ who was
sub.ect to several bodily infirmities+ and was not :uite riht in her head+ did not wheel the barrow fast enouh to
please him. "e threw her down on the round+ and after beatin her severely+ he took her up in his arms and flun
her amon the prickly-pear bushes+ which are all covered over with sharp venomous prickles. By this her naked flesh
was so rievously wounded+ that her body swelled and festered all over+ and she died in a few days after. Cn tellin
my own sorrows+ C cannot pass by those of my fellow-slaves - for when C think of my own riefs+ C remember theirs.
esire for 2reedo"
5nother time !about five years ao# my mistress ot ve,ed with me because C fell sick and C could not keep on with
my work. She complained to her husband+ and he sent me off aain to look for an owner. C went to a )r. Burchell+
showed him the note+ and asked him to buy me for my own benefitE for C had saved about %== dollars+ and hoped with
a little help+ to purchase my freedom. "e accordinly went to my master0 - ')r. 2ood+' he said+ ')olly has brouht
me a note that she wants an owner. Cf you intend to sell her+ C may as well buy her as another.' )y master put+ him off
and said that he did not mean to sell me. C was very sorry at this+ for C had no comfort with )rs. 2ood+ and C wished
reatly to et my freedom.
1he way in which C made my money was this. - 2hen my master and mistress went from home+ as they sometimes
did+ and left me to take care of the house and premises+ C had a ood deal of time to myself and made the most of it. C
took in washin+ and sold coffee and yams and other provisions to the captains of ships. C did not sit still idlin durin
the absence of my ownersE for C wanted+ by all honest means+ to earn money to buy my freedom. Sometimes C bouht
a ho cheap on board ship+ and sold it for double the money on shoreE and C also earned a ood deal by sellin coffee.
By this means C by derees ac:uired a little cash. 5 entleman also lent me some to help to buy my freedom - but
when C could not et free he ot it back aain. "is name was *aptain 5bbot. . . .
5fter this+ C fell ill aain with the rheumatism+ and was sick a lon timeE but whether sick or well+ C had my work to
J=
do. 5bout this time C asked my master and mistress to let me buy my own freedom. 2ith the help of )r. Burchell+ C
could have found the means to pay )r. 2oodE for it was areed that C should afterwards serve )r. Burchell a while+
for the cash he was to advance for me. C was earnest in the re:uest to my ownersE but their hearts were hard - too hard
to consent. )rs. 2ood was very anry - she rew :uite outraeous - she called me a black devil+ and asked me who
had put freedom into my head. '1o be free is very sweet+' C said0 but she took ood care to keep me a slave. C saw her
chane colour+ and C left the
room.

C still live in the hope that ?od will find a way to ive me my liberty+ and ive me back to my husband. C endeavour
to keep down my frettin+ and to leave all to "im+ for he knows what is ood for me better than C know myself. (et+ C
must confess+ C find it a hard and heavy task to do so.

C am often much ve,ed+ and C feel reat sorrow when C hear some people in this country say+ that the slaves do not
need better usae+ and do not want to be free. 1hey believe the forein peoples who deceive them+ and say slaves are
happy. C say+ Fot so. "ow can slaves be happy when they have the halter round their neck and the whip upon their
backS and are disraced and thouht no more of than beastsS - and are separated from their mothers+ and husbands+
and children+ and sisters+ .ust as cattle are sold and separatedS Cs it happiness for a driver in the field to take down his
wife or sister or child+ and strip them+ and whip them in such a disraceful mannerS - women that have had children
e,posed in the open field to shameG 1here is no modesty or decency shown by the owner to his slavesE men+ women+
and children are e,posed alike. Since C have been here C have often wondered how 8nlish people can o out into the
2est Cndies and act in such a beastly manner. But when they o to the 2est Cndies+ they foret ?od and all feelin of
shame+ C think+ since they can see and do such thins.
Source')ary Prince+ %he 9istory of (ary Prince' A 5est &ndian Sla!e' related by herself !edited )oira /eruson+
Pandora+ @ondon %<- %+ reprint %'<&# pp. H&+ A9-AH+&=-&A+<-
Study &ndicators'
)ary Prince's account of the horrors of her life as a slave !and that of other fellow slaves#+ leaves us in no doubt that
domestic slavery was not mild as traditionally claimed. She recounts0
%. the cruel treatment received by+ and the subse:uent death of+ "etty+ her fellow slave+ at the hands of her
master
J. the heartlessness of owners+ even towards very old slaves like Sarah+ and prenant women like "etty
-. the reasons iven by owners for punishin slaves
9. the deraded behaviour of 8nlishmen in the *aribbean as opposed to the behaviour of those back in 8nland
Students should note that0
slaves used their own initiative and accumulated savins to try to buy their freedom
the possibilities which e,isted under slavery for the enslaved to earn cash
the practical tasks done to et money for freedom.
no consideration was iven to sick slaves
J%
%. 6inda 7rent' Crisis of Church and Sla!ery
@inda Brent was a mi,ed-race woman+ the reat rand dauhter of a South *arolina planter. Born in %<%<+ she
escaped from slavery at ae J&+ and wrote a book about her life some ten years later. She speaks with a feminist
voice+ and tells us that 'slavery is terrible for men' but 'it is more terrible for women'. 1he se,ual abuse+ destruction of
family and emotional ties+ and the lack of respect for women+ she says+ constitute evidence that slavery is an
unchristian institution. "ere+ she writes about slaveholders policy on black christianiBation0
The Church and Slavery
5fter the alarm caused by Fat 1urner's insurrection had subsided+ the slaveholders came to the conclusion that it
would be well to ive the slaves enouh of reliious instruction to keep them from murderin their masters. 1he
8piscopal cleryman offered to hold a separate service on Sundays for their benefit. "is colored members were very
few+ and also very respectable - a fact which C presume had some weiht with him. 1he difficulty was to decide on a
suitable place for them to worship. 1he )ethodist and Baptist churches admitted them in the afternoonE but their
carpets and cushions were not so costly as those at the 8piscopal church. Ct was at last decided that they should meet
at the house of a free colored man who was a member.
C was invited to attend+ because C could read. Sunday evenin came+ and+ trustin to the cover of niht+ C ventured
out. C rarely ventured out by dayliht+ for C always went with fear+ e,pectin at every turn to encounter Dr. /lint+ who
was sure to turn me back+ or order me to his office to in:uire where C ot my bonnet+ or some other article of dress.
2hen the $ev. )r. Pike came+ there were some twenty persons present. 1he reverend entleman knelt in prayer+ then
seated himself+ and re:uested all present+ who could read+ to open their books+ while he ave out the portions he
wished them to repeat or respond to.
"is te,t was+ "Servants+ be obedient to them that are your masters accordin to the flesh+ with fear and tremblin+ in
sinleness of your heart+ as unto *hrist.R
Pious )r. Pike brushed up his hair till it stood upriht+ and+ in deep+ solemn tones+ bean0""earken+ ye servantsG
?ive strict heed unto my words. (ou are rebellious sinners. (our hearts are filled with all manner of evil. '1is the
devil who tempts you. ?od is anry with you+ and will surely punish you+ if you don't forsake your wicked ways.
(ou that live in town are eye-servants behind your master's back. Cnstead of servin your masters faithfully+ which is
pleasin in the siht of your heavenly )aster+ you are idle+ and shirk your work. ?od sees you. (ou tell lies. ?od
hears you. Cnstead of bein enaed in worshipin him+ you are hidden away somewhere+ feastin on your master's
substanceE tossin coffee-rounds with some wicked fortuneteller+ or cuttin cards with another old ha. (our
masters may not find you out+ but ?od sees you+ and will punish you. 4+ the depravity of your heartsG 2hen your
master's work is done+ are you :uietly toether+ thinkin of the oodness of ?od to such sinful creaturesS FoE you are
:uarrelin+ and tyin up little bas of rootsO to bury under the door-steps to poison each other with. ?od sees you.
(ou men steal away to every ro shop to sell your master's corn+ that you may buy rum to drink. ?od sees you. (ou
sneak into the back streets+ or amon the bushes+ to pitch coppers. 5lthouh your masters may not find you out+ ?od
sees youE and he will punish you. (ou must forsake your sinful ways+ and be faithful servants. 4bey your old master
and your youn master-your old mistress and your youn mistress. Cf you disobey your earthly master+ you offend
your heavenly )aster. (ou must obey ?od's commandments. 2hen you o from here+ don't stop at the corners of
the streets to talk+ but o directly home+ and let your master and mistress see that you have come.R
1he benediction was pronounced. 2e went home+ hihly amused at brother Pike's ospel teachin+ and were
determined to hear him aain. C went the ne,t Sabbath evenin+ and heard pretty much a repetition of the last
discourse. 5t the close of the meetin+ )r. Pike informed us that he found it very inconvenient to meet at the friend's
house+ and he should be lad to see us+ every Sunday evenin+ at his own kitchen.
C went home with the feelin that C had heard the $everend )r. Pike for the last time. Some of his members repaired
to his house+ and found that the kitchen sported two tallow candlesE the first time+ C am sure+ since its present
occupant owned it+ for the servants never had any thin but pine knots. Ct was so lon before the reverend entleman
descended from his comfortable parlor that the slaves left+ and went to en.oy a )ethodist shout. 1hey never seem so
happy as when shoutin and sinin at reliious meetins. )any of them are sincere+ and nearer to the ate of
JJ
heaven than sanctimonious )r. Pike+ and other lon-faced *hristians+ who see wounded Samari tans+ and pass by on
the other side.
Source' 2alter 1eller0 &ncidents &n %he 6ife Of A Sla!e Cirl !"arcourt Brace >ovanovich Publishers# pp. A'-&%.
Study &ndicators'
@inda Brent's narrative speaks to slaveholders' fear of slave insurrection and their
attempt to use the church and reliion to pacify Blacks. She indicates that0
%. a suitable place was found for slaves to meet to receive reliious instruction
J. about J= slaves attended the first meetin
-. some of the slaves who attended were able to read the bible
9# the slaves were hihly amused at the $ev. Pike's MnonsensicalSN sermon and what passed for ospel
teachin.
Students should observe the followin0
@inda Brent was fearful that Dr. /lint would prevent her from attendin the reliious meetin
the te,t chosen for slaves to study focussed on obedience to masters. $eliion was obviously bein used to
encourae enslaved people to accept their status as slaves
the preacher+ $ev. )r Pike+ articulated his opposition to slave resistance
J-
%. 7ouk"an' Priest 6eader in 2rench St* o"ingue
Boukman+ the priest leader+ is said to have been the primary motivator of slaves in the revolt that culminated in the
"aitian $evolution. "e was a coachman on the *lement Plantation that participated in the first round of the uprisin.
Known as 'Zamba' on account of his 'spirit power'+ he was associated with another 'hih priestess' with similar
reliious authority. 2ith the slaves athered to hear plans for freedom+ Boukman ave the now well known 'Loice of
@iberty' speech that alvaniBed his followers into anti-slavery action0
%he ;oice of 6i,erty Speech'
1he ?ood @ord who created the sun which ives us liht from above+ who rouses the sea and makes the thunder roar
D listen well+ all of you D this od+ hidden in the clouds+ watches us. "e sees all that the white man does. 1he od of
the white man calls him to commit crimes0 our od asks only ood works of us. But this od who is so ood orders
reveneG "e will direct our handsE he will aid us. 1hrow away the imae of the od of the whites who thirsts for our
tears and listen to the voice of liberty which speaks in the hearts of all of us.
Source' *arolyn /ick0 %he (aking of 9aiti' %he Saint o"ingue $e!olution fro" 7elow !;niv. of 1ennessee
Press+ Kno,ville. %''=# pp. 'J-'
Study &ndicators'
@eaders of slave rebellions often ave inspirational speeches before the actual uprisin. 1hese speeches were usually
:uite emotional and fiery and served to motivate the enslaved to participate in the rebellion. Boukman's speech falls
into this cateory.
Students should note the way in which Boukman tries to et his listeners to feel that
rebellion was .ustified based on0
the cruelty of whites towards the enslaved
divine willE for the ood od would direct the rebel's actions and support their strule aainst in.ustice.
3* O"ar &,n Seid' A (usli" speaks out
Seid was a /ula+ born in 2est 5frica about %&&H. "e was sold into slavery in the ;nited States+ and commenced his
ordeal in *harleston in %<=&. "e was literate in 5rabic+ and schooled in the teachins and philosophy of the prophet
)ohammad. "e owned a copy of the Koran and lived the best he could by its principles. 2hen asked to write his
J9
life story+ he indicated that he had forotten much of his literary abilityE he presented+ nonetheless+ an outline of his
enslavement as a )uslim in a *hristian 'slave culture'.
)y name is 4mar Cbn Seid. )y birthplace was /ut 1ur between the two rivers. C souht knowlede under the
instruction of a Sheikh called )ohammed Seid+ my own brother+ and Sheikh Soleiman Kembeh+ and Sheikh ?abriel
5bdal. C continued my studies twenty-five years+ and then returned to my home where C remained si, years. 1hen
there came. to our place a lare army+ who killed many men+ and took me+ and brouht me to the reat sea+ and sold
me into the hands of the *hristians+ who bound me and sent me on board a reat ship and we sailed upon the reat sea
a month and a half+ when we came to a place called *harleston in the *hristian lanuae. 1here they sold me to a
small+ weak+ and wicked man+ called >ohnson+ a complete infidel+ who had no fear of ?od at all. Fow C am a small
man+ and unable to do hard work so C fled from the hand of >ohnson and after a month came to a place called /ayd-il.
1here C saw some reat houses !churches#. 4n the new moon C went into a church to pray. 5 lad saw me and rode off
to the place of his father and informed him that he had seen a black man in the church. 5 man named "andah
!"unterS# and another man with him on horseback+ came attended by a troop of dos. 1hey took me and made me o
with them twelve miles to a place called /ayd-il+ where they put me into a reat house from which C could not o out.
C continued in the reat house !which+ in the *hristian lanuae+ they called .ail# si,teen days and nihts. 4ne /riday
the .ailor came and opened the door of the house and % saw a reat many men+ all *hristians+ some of whom called
out to me+ " 2hat is your name0' Cs it 4mar or SeidS " C did not understand their *hristian lanuae. 5 man called
Bob )umford took me and led me out of the .ail+ and C was very well pleased to o with them to their place. C stayed
at )umford's four days and nihts+ and then a man named >im 4wen+ son-in-law of )umford+ havin married his
dauhter Betsey+ asked me if C was willin to o to a place called Bladen . C said+ (es+ C was willin. C went with
them and have remained in the place of >im 4wen until now.
Source' >. /. >ameson+ %he A"erican 9istory $e!iew' Lol. ,,,+ no. 9. %'JH
Study &ndicators'
1he slaves who were forcefully transported to the 5mericas not only had their oriins in different eoraphical
reions of 2est 5frica+ but also displayed diversity in their reliious beliefs. 4mar Cbn Seid represents an e,ample of
the )uslim dimension of the reliious culture of the enslaved. Cn this e,tract+ Cbn Seid tells us about0
%. his reliious upbrinin in 5frica
J. his capture and transportation to the 5mericas
-. his purchase by )r >ohnson whom he called an 'infidel' - clearly a non-)uslim
9. his escape from his first slave master
H. his capture+ imprisonment and re-enslavement
2ollow#up acti!ity for students'
/ind out all you can about the impact of )uslim slaves in the plantation reimes of the 5mericas.
JH
8* &gnatius Sancho: the Scholar' On 7lack Sla!ery in Europe
Sancho was rearded in 'hih society' as a man of letters. "is letters+ written in the latter years of his life reveal an
amiable+ well-read man+ whose ood humour prevailed aainst poverty+ sickness and death. "e was part of a small
black elite in %<th century Britain. "e developed his taste for art+ literature and music in his master's household and
became an amateur musician and composer. Sancho arrived in 8nland as a slave and worked as a domestic !valet#.
"e :uit bein a domestic servant in %&&- and became a shopkeeper. Cn a letter to his friend >ulius Soubise+ also a
'liberated' black+ Sancho commented on the e,ploitation of black slaves in @ondon0
On 7lack Sla!ery in 6ondon
"appy+ happy ladG what a fortune is thineG - @ook round upon the miserable fate of almost all of our unfortunate
colour - superadded to inorance+ - see slavery+ and the contempt of those very wretches who roll in affluence from
our labours. Superadded to this woeful cataloue - hear the ill-bred and heart-rackin abuse of the foolish vular
Source' $. Kin et.al. !eds.# &gnatius Sancho' !Fational Portrait ?allery+ @ondon+ %''&#
Study &ndicators'
Cnatius Sancho refers in this short e,tract to the miserable nature of the Black e,istence in 8nland and the contrast
between the material world of Blacks and of those who benefited from the labor of Blacks.
2ollow#up Acti!ity for Students'
/ind out as much as you can about the free black community in 8nland in the
%<th and %'th centuries.
"ow did members of this community make a livinS
2hat evidence is there to indicate that the labor of Blacks created affluence amon whites in 8nlandS
JA
Part 0' 5riting 7ack' Songs: 6etters: and ;erse
%. All Christians are E/ual' 7lack and 5hite
A sla!e ,urial ser"on in <a"aica
" Dea belubb'd+ we ather toether dis face conreation+ because it horrible amon all men not to take deliht in
hand for wantonness+ lust+ and appetite+ like brute mule+ dat hab no understandin. 2hen de man cut down like
uinea rass+ he worship no more any body+ but ib all him world's ood to de debbilE and ?aramihty tell him soul
must come up into heab'n+ where nottin but lorio. 2hat de use of fihtin wid beast at /eesus S $ise up all and eat
and drink+ because we die yesterday+ no so tomorrow. 2ho shew you mysteryS 2ho nebba sleep+ but twinkle him
yeye till de trumpet peakS 2ho baptiBe you+ and ib you victory ober de debbil's fleshS 4ld 5dam+ belubb'dG - he
bury when a child+ and de new man rise up when lie old. Breren+ you see dat dam rascal DollarE-he no *hristianE he
no >ew+ no missionary+ no 1urk+ for true. (ou see him lauh M5bdallah denied itN - when he o to hell he die+ and
nebba nash him teeth+ and worms can't' nyam him. Breren+ all *hristians.+ white and black man+ all one colour-
Sambo and mulatto-no man bier dan another+ no massa+ and no fum fumplenty o' ro.- So+ brerenG ?aramihty
take de dead man+ and. ood nihtG"
Source' *ynric 2illiams+ A %our %hrough the &sland of <a"aica !@ondon %<J-# pp. %=H-%=A
%. anish Sla!es' On Con!ersion to Christianity
1he )oravian missionaries were active in the Danish-coloniBed *aribbean islands of St. *roi,+ St. 1homas and St.
>ohn. *.?.5. 4ldendorp+ one of the missionaries+ spent two years in the Danish *aribbean from %&A&-%&A'. "e
collected e,tensive data on slave life in those islands and published a lenthy J-volume work in %&&&. "e related the
followin conversation between an e,aminer and a baptiBed slave0
1he followin may serve as a sample of the :uestions raised.
Uuestion0 QCn what were you baptiBedSR 5nswer0 QCn *hristianity.R
J&
Uuestion0 QCn any other nameSR 5nswer0 QCn the name of the /ather+ the
Son+ and the "oly Spirit+ that is the name of the triune ?od+ we were
baptiBedR. Uuestion0 Q2hat is baptismSR 5nswer0 Q1he washin away of
sins by means of not only water but also the "oly Spirit.R Uuestion0
Q2here does evil come fromSR 5nswer0 Q2e have inherited it from our first
parents+ 5dam and 8veE but in the new life+ ?od7s spirit prevails.R 2hen
asked about the meanin of communion+ they declared that it was bread
and wine and that+ if one believes+ one receives the body and blood of
*hrist throuh it.
1he followin are letters written by slaves in the Danish-coloniBed 2est Cndies relatin their christian conversion
e,periences.
i#0 Petrus to a church brother in 5msterdam+ %&-<
C am full of .oy about ?od7s race+ which C have received into my heart. C have thus forsaken all evil and have
learned to love >esus who has died for us. 1oether we pray to the @ord in this place in the followin way0 Q4h dear
@ordG "ave pity on us poor creaturesE bless us toetherE teach us to reconiBe you properlyE so that nothin evil
remains amon usE let us do wellE so that no pride+ avarice+ whoredom and adultery remain amon us. Fone of these
evil thins must remain amon usR.
ii#0 Larious slaves to Baas Fathanael+ %&AJ
Q)y dear Baas NathanaelD 4h+ what love C feel in my heart when C think of the reat love the Saviour has bestowed
on usG Ct brins me to melt down in tears and that is the only thin that C have in my heart. C see that our @ord and
Savior enlares our conreation from day to day. 2e cannot thank "im enouh for it. 2hen we are assembled
in our conference of helpers+ we are aware that the Savior is with us. C can feel "is race+
and althouh C am not worthy or it+ C am consoled by it.R
<onathan
Q)y eyes are always wet since C have reconiBed my misery and the reat love of the Savior. C wish that it miht
remain so until C o home to my Savior. "e has redeemed me with "is precious blood. C want to stay with "im. "e
is so lad to help me.R
<ohanna (ingo
QC do not really have anythin but what C have received by the race of our dear @ord and ?od. "e has redeemed me
with race and loveE that is why C want to stay with "im. C am steadily rowin in my knowlede of "im+ and my
heart lives in "is bloody wounds. 1hus C live cheerfully+ and C shall not abandon "im for as lon as C live. @et "im
help meGR
(aria
Q)y dear BaasG )ay the Savior ive you a reat deal of ood health and enery in order to enable you to continue.
"is work which you have undertaken amon us. 1he word which you have imparted to us is still in action+ and our
conreation has been rowin from time to time. C am very bad indeed. But C feel the Savior in my heart and want
to stay with "im.R
7enigna
Q)y dear Savior has made himself felt in my heart to such an e,tent that it burns with love for "im. C am unable
thus to prevent my eyes from overflowin with tears. C am wonderin only why C have not learned to know "im
better since C have already spent :uite a lon period of time in studyin the doctrine of the death and sufferin of our
?od and Savior. C weep over that. But C am determined to know about nothin other than my >esus. "e is helpin
me out of my death. C will continue to be the reward for "is sufferin until C o to "im. Fothin else.R
Erd"uth
QC am very poor and miserable and have reconiBed that there is no other advice or help for me in the whole world
e,cept in the bloody wounds of my ?od and Savior. C am "is and "e is mine. 2hatever C lacked+ "e has earned for
J<
me. )y @ord lives+ and C remain "is poor sinner+ thouh C live in sin no loner.R
$e,ecca
Source' *.?.5. 4lendorp7s 9istory of the (ission of the E!angelical 7rethren on the Cari,,ean &slands of St*
%ho"as: St* CroiB: and St* <ohn: 8d. >ohann >akob Bossard+ trans. 5rnold $. "ihfield T Lladimir Barac !Karoma
Pubs.+ 5nn 5rbor+ )ichian+ %'<&#+ pp. --=+ H9'-HH=

0a Political Songs' On African Solidarity in U*S* ()?)EFs)
5 sense of 5frican identity characteriBes this son by slaves in the southern ;nited States+ many of whom had fouht
for national independence from Britain. 5ccordin to cultural historian+ Sterlin Stuckey+ '5frican and 8uropean
political as well as reliious ideals at times minled and were united+ the one preparin the round for the other'.
Some who san the son were said to have been involved in the Lesey Slave *onspiracy for /reedom and
Cndependence in %<JJ.
"ailG all hailG ye 5fric clan+
"adG ye oppressed+ ye 5fric band+
2ho toil and sweat in slavery bound
5nd when your health and strenth are one
5re left to huner and to mourn+
Let independence be your aim,
8ver mindful what 'tis worth.
Plede your bodies for the priBe+
Pile them even to the skiesG'
J'
Source' Sterlin Stuckey+ Sla!e Culture' Nationalist %heory and the 2oundations of 7lack A"erica !4,ford
;niv. Press+ 4,ford+ %'<&# pp.9'
0, Sla!e E"ancipation Songs' <a"aica in the )?)EFs
1he slaves not only took up arms in the search for freedom+ but also mobiliBed their performance culture for the task
of self-liberation. 1he creative arts+ particularly dance and son+ were fored as anti-slavery instruments+ much to the
disturbance of slaveowners. 1he sinin and dancin went side by side with the runnin away+ revolts+ and eneral
apathy with respect to work. 1he followin slaves sons - sons of freedom - were recorded in >amaica durin the
early %'th century0
!i#
4h me ood friend+ )r 2ilberforce+ make we freeG
?od 5lmihty thank yeG ?od 5lmihty thank yeG
?od 5lmihty+ make we freeG
Buckra in this country no make we freeG
2hat Fero for to doS 2hat Fero for to doS
1ake force with forceS 1ake force with forceS
!ii#
Kin ive mi mi freedomE
1enke )assa...
Driber 'tan mi side+ but let mi talk to mi 'bushaE
F(han 'busha an+ is mi an' yu de yah...
Cf yu kick mi+ mi kick yu backE
1enk yu )assa.
Cf yu buck me: mi buck yu backE
1enk yu )assa.
Cf yu lick mi+ mi lick yu backE
1enk yu )assa.'
Source' )ichael *raton+ E"pire: Ensla!e"ent: and 2reedo" in the Cari,,ean !C$P+ Kinston+ %''&# pp. JA'+
J''--==
1* Phillis 5heatley # Poetess
-=
2hen ?eore 2ashinton took command of the ;nited States revolutionary army on >uly -+ %&&H+ he had little
choice but to call upon the entire slave population to participate in the strule aainst Britain if national liberation
and independence were to be secured. )any black soldiers had already served with distinction. 2ashinton had first
to overcome his southern slaveholder pre.udices if he intended to lead blacks into battle with effect. 1owards the end
of 4ctober %&&H+ he received a parcel from Phillis 2heatley+ the slave poetess. Ct contained a letter+ and attached was
a poem. Phillis+ althouh a slave+ was the first black woman+ and second woman+ to publish a volume of poetry in the
;nited States. She had been kidnapped as a child in Seneal+ and sold in Boston in %&A%. 5s a youn woman she had
established a reputation as the 'slave scholarG'
%. %he 6etter to Ceorge 5ashington
"Providence+
"4ctober JA+ %&&H
"Sir+
"C have taken the freedom to address your 8,cellency in the enclosed poem+ and entreat acceptance thouh C am not
insensible of its inaccuracies. (our bein appointed by the ?rand *ontinental *onress to be ?eneralissimo of the
5rmies of Forth 5merica+ toether with the fame of your virtues+ e,cite sensations not easy to suppress. (our
enerosity+ therefore+ C presume+ will pardon the attempt. 2ishin your 8,cellency all possible success in the reat
cause you are enaed in+ C am
"(our 8,cellency's most obedient and humble servant+
QP"C@@CS 2"851@8(R
!ii# A Poe" for Ceorge 5ashington
*elestial choirG enthron'd in realms of liht
*olumbia's scenes of lorious toils C write.
2hile freedom's cause her an,ious breast alarms+
She flashes dreadful in refulent arms.
See mother earth her offsprin's fate bemoan+
5nd nations aBe at scenes before unknownG
See the briht beams of heaven's revolvin liht
Cnvolved in sorrows and the veil of nihtG
1he oddess comes+ she moves divinely fair
4live and laurel binds her olden hair0
2herever shines this nature of the skies+
;nnumber'd charms and recent races rise.
)useG bow propitious while my pen relates
"ow pour her armies throuh a thousand atesE
5s when 8olus heaven's fair face deforms+
8nrapped in tempest and a niht of stormsE
5stonished ocean feels the wild uproar+
1he refluent sures beat the soundin shore+
4r thick as leaves in 5utumn's olden rein+
Such+ and so many+ moves the warrior's train.
Cn briht array they seek the work of war+
2here hih unfurl'd the ensin waves in air.
Shall C to 2ashinton their praise reciteS
8nouh thou know'st them in fields of fiht+
1hee+ first in place and honours+-we demand
-%
1he rave and lory of thy martial bond.
/am'd for thy valour+ for thy virtues more+
"ere every tonue thy uardian aid imploreG
4ne century scarce performed its destined round+
2hen ?allic powers *olumbia's fury found.
5nd so may you+ whoever dares disrace
1he land of freedom's heavenVdefended raceG
/i,'d are the eyes of nations on the scales+
/or in their hopes *olumbia's arm prevails.
5non Britannia droops the pensive head+
2hile round increase the risin hills of dead.
4hG cruel blindness to *olumbia's stateG
@ament thy thirst of boundless powers too late.
Proceed reat chief+ with virtue on thy side+
1hy every action let the oddess uide.
5 crown+ a mansion+ and a throne that shine+
2ith old unfadin 2ashinton be thine."'
Sources' )atthew 1. )ellon+ Early A"erican ;iews on Negro Sla!ery!)entor Books+ %'A'+
F.(.# pp. 99-9H.% 5nn Shockley+ Afro#A"erican 5o"en 5riters* )=18#)G00 !%'<<+ Sinet+
F(# pp. JJ
Study &ndicators
Slave culture displayed interestin characteristics. Cn this section+ the focus is on
e,pressive culture0 from a slave sermon at a burial+ to poetry and sons.
%hings to note'
i' the sla!e ser"on'
Students should pay attention to'
%. the lanuae used in the slave sermon. Fotice that it represents the slaves' attempts to master the 8nlish
lanuae as well as to mimic the missionary .aron
J. the way in which the slave preacher e,pressed his understandin of the Bible
-. the reference to the e,istence of muslim slaves !5bdullah# in >amaica
ii' anish sla!es' on con!ersion to christianity0
%. the interroation of the baptiBed slaves demonstrate that the )oravians were successful in ettin slaves in
the Danish *aribbean to learn the tenets of the christian faith
J. slaves ac:uired literacy skills throuh the efforts of the missionaries
-. slaves seemed rateful to the )oravian missionaries for 6bestowin7 christianity on them
9. slaves did not appear to see any incompatability between christianity and slavery
iii' political song on African solidarity'
Students should note that'
-J
%# the style in the verse displays a clear 8uropean literary style+ thouh the end words do not always
rhyme
J the composer refers to the productive labor of the enslaved and the physical toll this has on the
enslaved
%. the composer includes a call for resistanceE for liberty
J. the ob.ective is to encourae a sense of 5frican identity amon slaves in the ;S5.
i!' e"ancipation songs in )Gth century <a"aica'
Students should note that'
%. the lanuae in which the sons are written represent a mi,ture of 8nlish and >amaican dialect
J. slaves refer+ in both sons+ to the role of the humanitarians in the anti-slavery strule. 1he first son actually
names 2ilberforce and denies any role of the enslaver !planter# in the abolition movement. 1here is also a
reference+ posed as a :uestion+ about the role of slave resistance in the fiht for freedom.
-. the role of the state or the monarchy in emancipation is clearly articulated in the
second son. 5nother interestin aspect of this son is its indication of slaves7 hostility to the slave driver.
!' Phillis 5heatleyFs poetry'
1he artistic and literary abilities of female slaves are evident in 2heatley's poem
dedicated to ?eore 2ashinton. 1he poem e,presses and reveals0
%. the reliious influence on the poetess
J. the influence of the 8nlish literary style
-. 2heatley's clear admiration for 2ashinton and her support of the war effort and
thus the independence movement
2ollow#up acti!ity for students'
Collect as "any eBa"ples as you can of poe"s written ,y sla!es or for"er sla!es in
the USA*
--
%. Peru!ian Sla!es' $ight to 2a"ily
Slaves in urban Peru demanded the freedom to live as normal a life as was possible. 1hey demanded+ for e,ample+ the
riht to a married life. ;ltimately+ the formulations and aruments they used :uestioned the interity of ecclesiastical
officials and ave wider currency to the slackenin of the slave holdin system that affected the urban population.
Domino e,plained his reasonin with honest indination0
o"ingo
2hen C sold myself it was with the condition that C could always see my wife+ and thus C did not leave @ima. Fow+
for what reason should somethin ranted by our holy *hurch such as the sanctity of marriae be denied without any
other reason e,cept that masters are even reater despots than the *hurch superiors+ causin such scandalous
divorces+ which here and now only emere in very criminal cases.... C do not ask that my e,pectation be completely
satisfied+ nor that my wife's master be left without her services. 1he only thin C am re:uestin is to be permitted to
be with her in my spare hours+ without interferin with her duties.
1he loic underlyin the slaves' aenda was summed up by Pedro >osW CturriBaa+ a limeXo slave+ in a petition dated
%<%<0
Pedro <osH &turri@aga
Cf we the poor slaves were to understand at the time of marriae that were not the perpetual owners of our bodies for
our entire life but rather the victims of the arbitrariness and cruelty of an owner+ who wants no part of responsibility
and all the rest before ?od !for the harm and many evils of soul and body+ for which they are the responsible party#+ C
believe that no slave would ever marry.
Source' *hristine "Ynefeldt+ Paying %he price of 2reedo"'2a"ily and 6a,or A"ong 6i"aAs Sla!es: )?EE#)?31*
!Berkley+ %''9+ pp. %H&#
Study &ndicators'
Slavery affected the family life of the enslaved. 1his is brouht out clearly in the indinant voices of Domino and
Pedro.
Students should be aware of the social conte,t of slave society and the reasons family life was not always encouraed
amon the enslaved.
*rucial points to note in the e,tracts are as follows0
%. Domino accuses slave masters of bein reater despots than the *hurchE for the *hurch sanctioned
marriaes and masters discouraed family relations.
-9
J. Domino does not wish to deny his wife's master of her services+ but demands the riht to see her even in her
spare time.
-. Pedro >osW CturriBaa :uestions owners' total control over slaves' bodies and social lifeE but of course+ that was
the nature of slavery.
%. 6etters on 2reedo"
$ights to 2reedo" in e"erara'
A 6etter to <ohn S"ith of e"erara
Cn %<J-+ the 8nlish colony Demerara+ now part of ?uyana+ e,perienced one of the larest slave uprisins in the
5mericas. 5ccordin to 8milia da *osta+ ten to twelve thousand slaves rose up in the name of their 'rihts'. 1he
rebellion started on plantation 'Success'+ which beloned to >ohn ?ladstone !father of the future British Prime
)inister#+ and spread to about si,ty others. 1he rebellion was brutally suppressed+ and hundreds of slaves were put to
death. >ohn Smith+ an evanelical missionary sent from Britain in %<%& to preach *hristianity to slaves+ was accused
of bein the instiator of the rebellion. "e was tried by a court-martial+ and condemned to death. 1he followin two
letters+ written by slaves+ were submitted as evidence by the *rown in the case aainst Smith0
%. 6etter of <ack Cladstone: a sla!e at FSuccessF: to <ack $eed'
Dear Sir+
8,cuse the liberty C take in writin to youE C hope this letter may find yourself and )rs. Smith well. >ack ?ladstone
has sent me a letter+ which appears as if C had made an areement upon some actions+ which C never didE neither did C
promise him any thin+ and C hope that you will see to it+ and in:uire of members+ whatever it is they may have in
view+ which C am inorant of+ and to in:uire after it+ and know what it is. 1he time is determined on for seven o'clock
to niht.
-H
(ii) 6etter to S"ith ,y <ack $eed: a sla!e in S"ithFs congregation'
Dear Brother >acky+
C hope this letter will find you well+ and C write to you concernin our discourse+ and C hope you will do accordin to
your promiseE this letter is written by >ack ?ladstone+ and all the rest of the brothers in Bethel chapel+ and C hope you
will do accordin to our areementE we shall bein at the 1homas+ and hope+ you will try your best up the coast.
(iii) S"ithFs $eply to $eed'
C am inorant of the affair you allude to+ and your note is too late for me to make any in:uiry. % learnt yesterday+ that
some scheme was in aitation+ but without askin :uestions on the sub.ectE C beed them to be :uietE and trust they
will. "asty+ violent+ or unconcerted measures+ are :uite contrary to the reliion we profess+ and % hope you will 'have
nothin to do with them. (ours+ for *hrist's sake.
$e/uesting 2reedo" in 7ar,ados
4ld Doll+ the retired housekeeper slave on Fewton Plantation in Barbados at the end of the %<th century+ had three
dauhters+ all of whom were literate+ and protected from the physical riours of slavery. >ohn and 1homas @ane+
absentee proprietor of the estate+ who lived in @ondon+ received the followin letters from two of these sisters+ Dolly
and >enny both re:uestin their freedom and that of their children0
Barbados+ Fovember JA+ %<=&
"onoured )aster+
C take the liberty of conveyin these few lines to you hopin to find you my master and mistress and family well+
and re:uestin the kind favour of you to be so ood as to take the trouble to have my manumission e,ecuted for me.
5s you will find by )r >ackson's letter+ my friend who has wrote to you on the sub.ect+ as C chose it sent to you from
all your former kindness to me and my family+ C would wish you to complete the business for your servant.
"on'd Sir C remains
(our "umble Servant
Dolly Fewton
)y honoured )aster+
C hope you will pardon the liberty your slave has taken in addressin herself to you on a sub.ect which C hope
may not ive you the least displeasure or offence. 2hen my valued and ood )aster 2ood was about to
leave this *ountry+ C re:uested him to make a proposal to you in my behalf+ which he most kindly promised
to do+ but as C understood he never had it in his power to make my re:uest. C now with my )istress 2ood's
approbation+ venture to address myself to you which favour C have to ask ood )aster is this. C have a friend
who has been enerous enouh to promise me if C can obtain your consent will pay for my freedom but first
C must implore you to take another ood slave in my stead+ or sell me+ which ever you please to do+ and you
shall be most honestly paid if it should please you to sell me. C should never have thouht of chanin my
situation if C could be assured of always livin as C have done with my master and mistress 2ood+ but as you
are at a distance and C don't know whose hands C may fall into+ C hope you will not blame me for embracin
this offer of my freedom. 2ith all due obedience and submission C sin myself your humble slave+
>enny @ane
....continue
Barbados+ )arch 9th+ %<%-
"onoured SirP
C have taken the liberty to write to you+ hope you will e,cuse me re:uestin the favour of your ?oodness to oblie me
-A
with my two )ullato sons at Fewton'sE the Fame of one is $obert a .oiner by trade+ but one of his arms is affected
and no use to the estateE the other is 2illiam "enry a tailor by trade and a Poor constitution that C think is but little
use to the estate. Cf C thouht or knew they was any ?reat use+ you may Depend C would not taken the liberty+ but my
havin 5 little to Depend on and they poorly would wish to have them to own it+ which C have named to ?eneral
"aynes Mplantation attorneyN+ and C knows what C say in this letter to be true.
C $emains your truly well wisher and very humblest >ane @ane
Both $obert and "enry were freed in %<%' at the aes of -J and -= years respectively. >enny died the year before
their manumission !%<%<# aed H= years.
Source' Fewton Papers+ ).HJ-PH&'EA'= Senate "ouse @ibrary+ @ondon ;niversity
Study &ndicators'
1he letters written by >ack $eed+ >ack ?ladstone and 4ld Doll indicate that despite the limited educational
opportunities open to slaves+ some did manae to ac:uire even basic literary skills. 1hese letters reveal the followin0
Z there was an attempt to implicate >ohn Smith in the plannin of the %<J- slave rebellion
Z >ack ?ladstone seemed to have had knowlede of the plannin and had e,pected >ack $eed to be involved
Z>ack $eed disassociated himself from the plannin of the rebellion. 2hyS
Z >ohn Smith !unsuccessfully# refuted claims that he had prior knowlede of the planned revolt
Z open revolt was not the only route to freedom. Slaves like 4ld Doll neotiated in a non violent way+ for their
manumission
Z enslaved domestic women used their 'privileed' position as part of the 'slave elite7 to win even more favours from
their owners
Z enslaved women+ despite the impression conveyed by the 8urocentric literature+ cared about their offsprin and
their family
%. IPhilipautJ' 6etters to (ada"e de (auger'
QPhilipautR !also written Philipau and Philipeau #+ was a head slave on a St. Dominiue indio plantation+ Lieu, Bac+
the property of the absentee owner+ )adame de )auer. "e seemed to have been born on the property and radually
rose to a position of trusted head slave. "is assistant was his brother+ *harles+ %= years his .unior. "e was married
and he and his wife+ Q)ama *abaR+ lived on the same property. By %&<9+ he was :uite old and ill+ but was still
described as a valuable slave to his owners. Between %&<9 and %&'-+ he dictated several letters to his mistress
throuh a coloured woman+ Sanite ?uyon+ an ac:uaintance of )adame de )auer. Fone of the letters that his
mistress wrote back to him have survived. 2hen the "aitian $evolution broke out+ Philipaut+ fearin that he may
have been rearded as a spy for his owners+ destroyed them. "is own letters have survived and two samples+
translated from the oriinal /rench+ follow0
>uly %<+ %&<9
)adame my very dear ood mistress+
(our poor slave QPhilipauR is no loner alive. "e fears that his dear mistress has forotten him. "e no
loner ets news of her. 2hat could C have done to so displease my ood mistress. C always put myself into my
work. 2hen C think of you+ C drive myself mercilessly. C do my very best to increase your bounty but+ my ood
mistress+ C have no assistance. (our misfortune is that C am black+ that you cannot place your trust in me. C am black+
therein lies my shortcomin. Cf C could lihten my skin you would see+ with the will of ?od+ the increase in your
bounty. C will say no more about it. Cf C were to speak to you it would be of thins :uite different+ my dear mistressE C
would tell you of thins that C cannot put in writin to you. Ct would be ood if my little master could come and
-&
devote a few years to your affairs+ to take stock of the yearly revenue and to see everythin for himself. (our slaves+
my dear mistress+ are too wretched. 5s for me+ C have no more veetables in my arden. Cf C plant somethin+ they
take it all and C can say nothin for fear of bein abused. 1his is why C say that C you ave abandoned me because if
you had recommended me to your overseer as you did your other slaves+ this would not be happenin. )y dearest
mistress+ please allow your faithful Philipeau to make these observations and do not take them in a bad liht. Please
believe that it is a Bealous mistress+ your manaer !s# cannot complain about me0 C do my duty with courae and Beal.
"e wants me to be more strict with your slaves. C cannot treat him with ill-will thinkin too much of your interests.
(our overseers never come to the property. (our slaves are bein killed. 1here are four runaway slaves+ and amon
those four is your old @amour who has never run away since C have been in your service. C have never found it
necessary to ive him a floin. "e has four children. "e has abandoned everythin. 1hink on these thins+ my
ood mistress. C hope that you will not think me malicious for havin warned you about what is happenin with your
property. Be assured that C am tellin you the truth. C speak to you as before ?od+ renderin account. C have never
wroned anyone. C have nothin to be ashamed of. C have always worked well. Believin that C was fulfillin my
duty by lookin after your interests. Deal tactfully with you faithful Philipaut. @et no one know that C have written to
you. (ou are not here on the property. Cf they know that C have written to you C will be insulted and ill-treated. C
have spoken with your overseers. 1hey do not listen to me. 1hey no loner speak of you to me. *ould C live with no
memory of youS Fo+ my ood mistress+ think of your slave who is so devoted to your service. Please speak of me to
my two barrels of polished rice sent to you. "e says that he will not be able to. 1ry to evoke your memories of me. C
am still deservin of your oodness my dear mistress and my dear master. C am deeply respectful and submissive+
and pray incessantly to the @ord to keep you and your family.
)y very dear and ood mistress
(our very humble and submissive slave
Philipaut
Cf you do me the honour of replyin+ please address my letter to )iss Sanitte ?uyon+ residin in the town of Petite
$ivi[re or to )r. Sterlin who is your neihbour. "e lives on the property borderin yours at Lieu, Back.
>une <+ %&<&
)y dear mistress+ C have told the truth concernin the daily happenins on your property+ to your sisters so as to
reiterate and confirm the truth of all that C told you in the two previous letters that C had the honour of writin to you.
(es+ my dear mistress+ C tell you and C repeat as a faithful servant+ to brin swift order to the division which reins at
present on your property+ as this would be in your best interest.
$esponsible as C am for the care of your property at Lieu, Back and to your neihbour and friend who will eventually
see everythin for himself+ and C close+ my dear mistress+ by askin you to accord me all the oodness that C will have
earned all my life by always takin your interest to heart. Ct is in this spirit of devotion and respect that C ask the
5lmihty to keep you+ my dear master and mistress.
(our very humble and very obedient sub.ect.
/or Philipau )aue
P.S. Cf you do me the honour of replyin+ please address my letter to this lady that C mentioned to you. Please put the
letter in the care of )r. Sterlin+ your neihbour+ who will ive it to her immediately and she will ensure that it reaches
me. 5nd please allow me to write the e,act truth about that which is happenin on your property.
Source' ?. Debien+ 6es Escla!es des Plantations (auger a St* o"ingue !Fotes D7"istoire *oloniall+
?uadeloupe+ %'<=#+ pp. %==-%=JE %=9-%=H
Study &ndicators'
QPhilipaut7sR letters to )adame de )auer provide a ood view of the life of a slave on an indio plantation. 1hey
ive a synopsis of the complaints and sufferins of the enslaved from the QinsideR. 1hey indicate that slave life on
non-suar properties in the *aribbean sement of the 5tlantic 2orld was not rosy as has been suested by some
historians. 2ritten as they were .ust before the outbreak of the "aitian $evolution+ they ive ample evidence of some
-<
of the possible causes of the slave revolt. QPhilipautR writes to his mistress about0
%. his ill-health
J. his disappointment that his mistress does not reply to his letters
-. his faithfulness as a slave
9. the necessity for his mistress7 son to bein to take interest in her property which he would+ no doubt+ inherit
H. the wretched condition of 6her7 slaves+ includin his own children
A. the difficulties he is e,periencin in reapin the produce from his provision round
&. $esistance on her plantation+ some slaves like @amour+ havin run away
Students should note that QPhilipautR seems to hold reat affection for his mistress. Ct is also clear that he wants his
mistress to keep his letters secret. "e fears that he will be further ill-treated if his correspondence is discovered.
%. 7ra@ilian Sla!es 0 Songs of 6ife
Slaves in BraBil san on every possible occasion. 1hey san as they worked in rural and urban settins. 8ven the
porters in $io de >aneiro san as they .oed throuh the streets with loads on their heads. Sometimes they stopped
to restE but they still manaed to enae in sinin with others who were also restin. 1he lyrics of the sons were
varied+ reflectin slaves7 views on marriae+ love+ race and slavery+ work and politics+ drunkenness+ emotions about
5frica+ repatriation+ conditions of slavery+ the nature of their owners. 1hey even mocked their overseers in some of
their sons. Below are some e,amples0
-'
Song K) # On (arriage
St. >ohn+ marry me :uick+ +while C am a lass+ do you hearS /or the corn that is split too late (ields neither straw nor
ear.
Song K. # On 6o!e 7etween (aster and Sla!e* 5hite and 7lack
)y little white charmer+
Sweet master+ my brother+
(our captive adores you+
(ou and none other.
/or you say "little sister"
1o a black irl like me+
2ho trembles with pleasure+
So happy is she.
5t nihtfall you o fishin+
@ittle master+ so sweetE
(ou send piau and corvina
/or the little black irl to eat.
Song K0 # On $ace and Sla!ery
Branco diB o preto furta
Preto furta corn raB\o
Sinho branco tamben furta
Uunado faB a escravid\o
1he white man says0 the black man steals.
1he black man steals for ood reason.
)ister white man also steals
2hen he makes us slave
Song K1 # On 5ork and Politics
4 @ele+ turn the milt+
4 @ele+ mill has turned.
2hen you have no shirt
2hy wish for an overcoat S
5nd lon live . >oe Fabuco and all his an+
5nd the Kniht of the "oly ?host and the liberal party G
Song K3 # On runkenness
"2hat has become of your partnerS
1he mountain water. took him G
Ct was not the water-that was nothin.
Ct was the cachapa brandy that slew him."
Source' Denis Pierre+ 7ra@il !*harles Scribner+ F.(. %'%%# pp. -JHE Katia ). deUueiro's )attoso+
%o ,e a Sla!e in 7ra@il: )33E - %<<< !$uters+ @ondon+ %'<'#+ pp. %-&E ?ilberto /reyre+
%he (asters and the Sla!es !5lfred 5. Knoff+ F.(. %'HA# pp. -HH+ -A-
7ra@ilian Songs contAd
Song K8 # On 2eelings a,out 5ork and Africa
9=
Lou carreando por meus pecados
)ala de branco p7ra via.ar+
Uuem dera ao 1onho+ pore de nero+
P7ra sua terra poder voltarG
!/or my sins C am carryin
1he luae of a white man
2ho will ive to 1ony+ poor black+
1he chance to return to his own landG#
Song K= # On the $igors of 5ork
5 vida de pr]to escravo
^ um pendao de pen _0
1rabaiando todo dia0
Sem noite pra descans _.
!1he life of a black slave
Cs a burden of painE
2orkin all dayE
2ithout the niht to rest#
Song K? # On 6ife in 7ra@il
Fa terra nao e,iste cWu+
)as se nas are.as piso+
Desta raia carioca+
Penso estar no paraiso.
!1here is no heaven on earth+
But if C walk on the sands+
4f this *ariocan beach+
C think C am in Paradise.#
Song KG # On 6o!e of (aria
Uuando bebo nao :uero dormer
Uuando durmo nao vou trabalhar+
Uuando danso nao :uero beberE
)as )aria vou loo bei.arG
!2hen C drink C don7t want to sleep.
2hen C sleep C don7t want to work.
2hen C dance C don7t want to drink.+
But )aria C7m soon oin to kiss#
Source' ). Karasch+ Sla!e 6ife in $io de <aneiro )?E?#)?3E* Princeton ;.P. %'<&
Song K)E # On O!erseers
1hat devil of a bembo taunted me
Fo time to button my shirt
1hat devil of a bembo
9%
Source' Stanley Stein+ ;assouras' a 7ra@ilian Coffee Country: )?3E # )GEE !Princeton+ Few >ersey+ %'<Hedn.#+ pp.
%AJ
Study &ndicators'
1he sons from BraBil are crucial for what they reveal about0
%. slave culture
J. ender relations
-. enslaverPenslaved relations
9. inter-ethnic non-violent relations
H. slaves7 views on racism+ property rihts+ work and past-time.
Students should note the followin0
not every movement of the slaves' life was spent in violent resistance
slaves used sons to e,press their dissatisfaction with slavery. 1his stratey falls into the cateory of subtle+ non-
violent resistance.
son `% 3 slaves valued marriae and family
son `J 3 some slave women seemed to have had feelins of love for white men.
Son `- * slaves and masters had a different view of what constituted " theft".
Son `9 * mill work was a crucial aspect of estate production and slaves held views on politics
son `H * some slaves could not hold their brandyGG
son `A * slaves had a stron desire to return to 5frica
son `& * the pain of slavery
son `< * slaves loved nature
son `' * slaves e,pressed views on love and malePfemale relationship
son `%= * some slaves were contemptuous of the overseer
PA$% 1' 2light and <ourneys to 2reedo"
%. Este,an (ontejo' Cu,an (aroon
9J
1he 5utobioraphy of 8steban )onte.o+ the *uban slave who ran away and spent the better part of his life in the
forest as a maroon+ is now considered a classic te,t in the political history of slavery. "e tells his life story with
enormous intellectual enery and power+ and leaves the reader impressed with his wit+ knowlede+ and eneral social
awareness. "is life in the forest was a difficult one+ but he valued his freedom and celebrated in full his individuality.
On 6ife and 6i!ing
1"8$8 are some thins about life C don't understand. 8verythin about Fature is obscure to me+ and about the ods
more so still. 1he ods are capricious and wilful+ and they are the cause of many strane thins which happen here
and which C have seen for myself. C can remember as a slave C spent half my time aBin up at the sky because it
looked so painted. 4nce it suddenly turned the colour of a hot coal+ and there was a terrible drouht. 5nother time
there was an eclipse of the sun which started at four in the afternoon and could be seen all over the island. 1he moon
looked as if it was fihtin with the sun. % noticed that everythin seemed to be oin backwards-it ot darker and
darker+ and then lihter and lihter. "ens flew up to roost. People were too frihtened to speak. Some died of heart
failure and others were struck dumb.
C saw the same thin happen aain in different places+ but C never dreamed of tryin to find out why. (ou see+ C know
it all depends on Fature+ everythin comes from Fature+ even what can't be seen. 2e men cannot do such thins
because we are the sub.ects of a ?odE of >esus *hrist+ who is the one most talked about. >esus *hrist wasn7t born in
5frica' he came from Fature herself+ as the Lirin )ary was a senorita.
1he stronest ods are 5frican. C tell you it7s certain they could fly and they did what they liked with their witchcraft.
C don't know how they permitted slavery. 1he truth is+ C start thinkin+ and C can't make head or tail of it. 1o my mind
it all started with the scarlet handkerchiefs+ the day they crossed the wall. 1here was an old wall in 5frica+ riht
round the coast+ made of palm-bark and maic insects which stun like the devil. /or years they frihtened away all
the whites who tried to set foot in 5frica. Ct was the scarlet which did for the 5fricansE both the kins and the rest
surrendered without a strule. 2hen the kins saw that the whites -- C think the Portuuese were the first -- were
takin out these scarlet handkerchiefs as if they were wavin+ they told the blacks+ '?o on then+ o and et a scarlet
handkerchief'+ and the blacks were so e,cited by the scarlet they ran down to the ships like sheep and there they were
captured. 1he Fero has always liked scarlet. Ct was the fault of this colour that they put them in chains and sent
them to *uba. 5fter that they couldn't o back to their own country. 1hat is the reason for slavery in *uba.
!ii#
C ot used to livin with trees in the forest. 1hey have their noises too+ because the leaves hiss in the air. 1here is one
tree with a bi white leaf which looks like a bird at niht. C could swear that tree spoke. Ct went+ 6;ch+ uch+ uch+ ui+
ui+ ui+ uch+ uch.7 1rees also cast shadows which do no harm+ althouh one should not walk on them at niht. C think
trees' shadows must be like men's spirits. 1he spirit is the reflection of the soul+ this is clear.
4ne thin it is not iven to us men to see is the soul.
2e cannot say whether it is of such or such a colour. 1he soul is one of the reatest thins in the world. Dreams are
there to put us in touch with it. 1he ' *onolese elders used to say that the soul was like a witchcraft inside you and
that there were ood spirits and bad spirits+ or rather+ ood souls and bad souls+ and that everybody had them. 5s far
as C can see+ some people only have the maic sort of souls+ while others have ordinary ones. But the ordinary ones
are better+ C think+ because the others are in leaue with the Devil. Ct can happen that the soul leaves the body-when a
person dies or sleeps-and .oins the other souls wanderin in space. Ct does this to rest itself+ because so much strife at
all times would be unbearable. 1here are people who don't like bein called while they are asleep+ because they are
easily frihtened and could die suddenly. 1his is because the soul travels far away durin sleep and leaves the body
empty. C sometimes et the shivers at niht+ and the same used to happen in the forest. 1hen C cover myself well
because this is ?od's warnin to one to take care of oneself. People who et the shivers need to pray a lot.
1he heart is very different. Ct never leaves its post. Cf you put your hand on your left side you can make sure that it is
beatin. But the day it stops no one can help but o stiff. 1hat is why you should not trust it.
Fow the most important thin of all is the uardian anel. Ct is he who makes you o forwards or back. 1o my mind+
the anel ranks hiher than the soul or heart. "e is always at your feet+ watchin over you and seein everythin.
9-
Fothin will ever make him o. C have thouht a lot about these thins+ and C still find them a bit obscure. 1hese are
the thouhts which come when one is alone. )an is thinkin at all times. 8ven when he dreams+ it is as thouh he
were thinkin. Ct is not ood to speak of these thouhts. 1here is daner of decadence settin in. (ou cannot put
much trust in people. "ow many people ask you :uestions so as to be able to use the information aainst you
afterwardsG Besides+ this business of the spirits is infinite+ like debts which keep pilin up. Fo one knows the end.
1he truth is C don't even trust the "oly ?host. 1hat was why % stayed on my own as a runaway. C did nothin e,cept
listen to the birds and trees+ and eat+ but C never spoke to a soul. C remember C was so hairy my whiskers hun in
rinlets. Ct was a siht to inspire fear. 2hen C came out of the forest and went into the villaes an old man called 1a
)iue cropped me with a bi pair of scissors. "e ave me such a close crop C looked like a thorouhbred. C felt
strane with all that wool one+ tremendously cold. 1he hair started rowin aain in a few days. Feroes have this
tendency-C have never seen a bald Fero+ not one. Ct was the ?alicians who brouht baldness to *uba.
5ll my life C have liked the forest+ but when slavery ended C stopped bein a runaway. C realised from the way the
people were cheerin and shoutin that slavery had ended+ and so C came out of the forest. 1hey were shoutin+
'2e're free now.' But C didn't .oin in+ C thouht it miht be a lie.
Source' 8steban )onte.o+ %he Auto,iography of a $unaway Sla!e
!@ondon+ %''-+ )ac)illan# pp.-H--&+ A%-A9+ &&
Study &ndicators
8steban )onte.o's classic autobioraphy speaks to several issues0
%. his inability to understand nature and natural phenomena like the eclipse of the sun+ drouht etc.+ due+ in part+
to his lack of scientific education
J. his uncertainty about ?od's oriinal role in people's livesE and especially about why ?od would permit
slavery to e,ist
-. the differences between 5frican and 2estern ods
9. the obvious cultural differences between 8uropeans and 5fricans which led to the capture and enslavement of
people from his villae
H. slaves' ability despite the neative views of some contemporary writers+ to philosophise about reliion+
nature+ the soul+ death and the after life
Students should take note of the life that )onte.o lived as a runaway and a maroon.
99
%. <uan 2rancisco (an@ano
On Sla!ery and 2reedo"
>uan /rancisco )anBano+ a *uban slave born around %&'&+ was the son of 1orbio *astro and )ar aa Pilar )anBano+
domestic slaves to the )ar:uesa de Santa 5na. 2hen the )ar:uesa died+ the family passed into the service of a cruel
mistress+ the )ar:uesa de Prado 5meno. /rancisco ran away to "avana where he worked independently. Domino
)onte helped him to buy his freedom around %<-A. "e ac:uired literary skills and wrote his autobioraphy in %<-'.
1he followin section of his narrative chronicles his escape from the brutality of de Prado 5meno who had threatened
to send him to the estate of )olino0
C remembered at that moment the fate of one of my uncles+ who in a case like mine+ took the same determination of
escapin to "avana+ to Don Ficholas+ Don )anuel+ and the Senor )ar:ues and was brouht back aain like a wild
beast - but for all that C resolved to venture on my escape+ and in some case of detection+ to suffer for somethin. C
waited til twelve o7clock. 1hat niht everybody retired early+ it bein very cold and rainy. C saddled the horse for the
first time in my life+ put on the bridle+ but with such tremblin that C hardly knew what C was about+ after that C knelt
down+ said a prayer+ and mounted the horse. 2hen C was oin away+ C heard the sound of a voice sayin+ Q?od bless
you+ make haste.R C thouht that nobody saw me+ but as C know afterwards+ C was seen by several of te neroes+ but
nobody offered any impediment to my fliht.
)anBano also wrote poetry which captured his personal recollections of slavery0
%hirty +ears
2hen C think on the course C have run+
/rom my childhood itself to this day+
C tremble+ and fain would C shun+
1he remembrance its terrors array.
C marvel at strules endured+
2ith a destiny frihtful as mine+
5t the strenth for such efforts0 - assured
1ho7 C am+ 6tis in vain to repine.
C have known this sad life thirty years+
5nd to me+ thirty years it has been
4f suff7rin+ of sorrow and tears+
8v7ry day of its bondae 6ve seen.
But 6tis nothin the past - or the pains+
"itherto C have struled to bear+
2hen C think+ oh my ?odG 4n the chains+
1hat C know C7m yet destined to wear.
Source' >. )ullen+ ed.+ %he 6ife and Poe"s of a Cu,an Sla!e' <uan 2rancisco (an@ano: )=G= # )?31 !5rchon
Books+ *onnecticut+ %'<%#+ pp. J-+ %%H
Study &ndicators'
1he narratives of )onte.o and )anBano provide much-needed insiht into the everyday life of slaves in *uba.
)anBano brins out the differences in the character of slave owners. Ct is also clear from his narrative that he was
9H
well aware of the daners of runnin away and of bein cauht and returned.
Students should notice that other slaves watched )anBano7s escape with approval. (ears after )anBano made his
escape to "avana and ained his freedom+ he still recalled the horrors of his enslavement throuh his poems.
0* 6ouis 9ughes' in Canada 2i!e 2lights to 2reedo"
@ouis was born into slavery in Lirinia+ ;. S.+ in %<-J. "is father was a white man and his mother an 5frican slave.
"is family comprisin two brothers and their mother+ were sold to a Dr. @ouis+ a practisin physician+ when he was
si, years old. Shortly thereafter Dr. @ouis sold his mother+ who he never saw aain. 2ith the assistance of a literate
slave friend+ he learnt to read and write+ usin newspapers as te,ts. "e developed a love of literature+ and on securin
his freedom in *anada wrote his autobioraphy+ entitled '1hirty (ears a Slave.' Cn it+ he details five attempts at
freedom by fliht. "ere+ the narrative of his first fliht is presented0
)y /irst Break /or /reedom
Cn the new home my duties were harder than ever. 1he )c?ees held me with tihter rip+ and it was nothin but
cruel abuse+ from mornin till niht. So C made up my mind to try and run away to a free country. C used to hear Boss
read sometimes+ in the papers+ about runaway slaves who had one to *anada+ and it always made me lon to oE yet
C never appeared as if C paid the slihtest attention to what the family read or said on such mattersE but C felt that C
could be like others+ and try at least to et away. 4ne mornin+ when Boss had one to town+ )adam had
threatened to whip me+ and told me to come to the house. 2hen she called me C did not o: but went off down
throuh the arden and throuh the woods+ and made my way for the city. 2hen C ot into )emphis+ C found at the
landin a boat called the Statesman+ and C sneaked aboard. Ct was not e,pected that the boat would stay more than a
few hours+ but+ for some reason+ it stayed all niht.
)y heart spran into my throat when C heard two men read this advertisement. C knew+ at once+ what it all meant+
rememberin how often C had heard Boss read such articles from the papers and from the handbills that were
distributed throuh the city. 1he captain asked me if C could dance. Ct seemed he felt sorry for me+ for he said0 "1hat's
a briht boy to be a slave." 1hen turnin to me he said0"*ome+ ive us a dance." C was youn and nimble+ so C danced
a few of the old southern clo dances+ and san one or two sons. like this0
" *ome alon+ Sam+ the fifer's son+
5int you mihty lad your day's work's doneS"
9A
5fter C finished sinin and dancin+ the captain took up a collection for me and ot about two dollars. 1his cheered
me a ood deal. C knew that C would need money if C should ever succeed in ettin on.
4n the followin evenin+ when we reached 2est /ranklin+ Cndiana+ while the passeners were at tea+ another boat
pushed into port riht after ours. Cmmediately a entleman passener came to me hurriedly+ and whispered to me to
o down stairs+ .ump out on the bow of the other boat+ and o ashore. C was alarmed+ but obeyed+ for C felt that he
was a friend to slaves. C went out as :uietly as C could+ and was not missed until C had otten on shore. 1hen C heard
the alarm iven that the boy was one -- that the runaway was one. But C sped on+ and did not stop until C had run
throuh the villae+ and had come to a road that led riht into the country. C took this road and went on until C had
one four or five miles+ when C came to a farm house. Before reachin it+ however+ C met two men on horseback+ on
their way to the villae. 1hey passed on without specially noticin me+ and C kept on my way until reachin the
farmhouse. C was so hunry+ C went in and asked for food. 2hile C was eatin+ the men whom C had met rode up.
1hey had been to the villae+ and+ learnin that a runaway slave was wanted+ and rememberin meetin me+ they
returned in hot haste+ in hope of findin me and securin the reward. 1hey hallooed to the people in the house+ an old
woman and her dauhter+ whom they seemed to know+ sayin0 " 1here is a runaway nier out+ who stole off a boat
this evenin-." 1he old lady said+ " *ome+" becomin frihtened at once. 2hen they came in they bean to :uestion
me. C trembled all over but answered them. 1hey said0 "(ou are the fellow we want+ who ran off the boat." C was too+
scared to deny itE so C owned C was on the boat+ and stole off. 1hey did not tarry lon+ but+ takin me with them+ they
went+ about a mile and a half+ to their house. 1hey planned and talked all the way+ and one said0 "2e are ood for
b&H.== for him anyway." 1he ne,t mornin they took me into the villae. 1hey soon found out that the enineer+ by
order of the captain+ had stayed over to search for me. 5 lawsuit followed+ and C was taken before the maistrate
before the enineer could et possession of me. 1here was a leal course that had to be one throuh with. 5 lawyer+
/o, by name+ furnished the b&H.== for the men who had cauht me. 1hat part of the case bein settled+ /o, and the
enineer started for 8vansville+ Cnd.+ that same niht. ;pon arrivin there+ /o, received from the captain of the boat
the money he had advanced to the men who cauht meE and we went on+ arrivin- at @ouisville+ Ky.+ the ne,t day.
Source' @ouis "uhes+ %hirty +ears a Sla!e' 2ro" 7ondage to 2reedo"
!)ilwaukee+ South Side *o.%<'&# pp. <=-'=+ %J&-%9A
Study &ndicators'
1he autobioraphy of @ouis "uhes should help students to understand the social conte,t
which bred runaways. 1he section of his autobioraphy presented here indicates that0
9&
%. "uhes chaned ownersE and his life became even more unbearable under the )c?ees
J. )rs. )c?ee was no entler in her treatment of "uhes than )r. )c?ee
-. even thouh "uhes was a domestic slave+ like )ary Prince+ his duties were by no means liht
9. "uhes had knowlede of the possibility of fliht to *anada as a solution to his pliht+ thouh he played deaf
!pretended not to hear# when 'Boss' read about the issue in various newspapers
H. the .ourney to freedom was filled with all sorts of danersE and "uhes did not immediately succeed in his
first attempt to reach *anada
2ollow#up acti!ity for students'
/ind out how @ouis "uhes eventually made ood his escape to *anada.

1* <onas 7ath' &sla"ic (andingos in %rinidad'
%he 7ack to Africa (o!e"ent
Cn %<J9+ the )andinos slaves of 1rinidad+ formed a society to promote Cslamic solidarity+ finance to self purchase+
and return to 5frica. 1he Cman of the roup was >onas Bath who in %<-= led a roup of some %9= )uslim slaves.
1he followin year+ he pioneered a back to 5frica campain in Port of Spain for his followers. 5s Sierra @eone was
bein established as a 'free' 8nlish colony in 5frica+ they petitioned the 8nlish ?overnment for permission to settle
there - thereby escapin slavery in 1rinidad. 1hey wrote0
'2e respectfully be leave to inform your 8,cellency that we have communicated with our tribe !that is+ in 1rinidad#
and have resolved to brave all daners and run all risks+ if the British ?overnment will afford us a passae to Sierra
@eone. 1hose daners and risks we do not apprehend to be either as serious or numerous as the philanthropic
Secretary of State for the *olonial Department in his an,iety for our safety and welfare seems to anticipate+ as some
of our tribe have already performed the .ourney from our country to Sierra @eone+ overland. 4n our arrival at that
settlement we shall meet with a number of our brethren and we shall then make such arranements as will ensure us a
safe .ourney across the *ountry. 1his of course will be done at our own e,pense from our own resources. 2e never
thouht of ta,in the enerosity of the British ?overnment so far as to re:uire an escort from the Sea *oast.'
1his and other petitions were sined in 5rabic characters by0-
9<
>onas Bath+ )ahommed 2aatra+ Salhim+ )ahammed Sissei+ /onta 1orre+ 5bouberiha 1orre+ Brahima+ "ammadi
1orrovhe+ )ahommed Balliah+ Sama >aiih+ and )alik >ub.
Source' 5nthony de Lerteuil+ Se!en Sla!es and Sla!ery' %rinidad )===#)?0? !Port of Spain+ %''J FP# pp. JAA-
JA'
%. 7ussaFs EBiles in Africa' 7ack to the Cari,,ean (o!e"ent
/ollowin the defeat of the %<%A slave rebellion in Barbados+ which was led by a slave named Bussa+ %J- of the
rebels were tried+ found uilty of insurrection+ and sentenced by court martial to the punishment of transportation as
convicts back to 5frica. )any of the >amaican maroons who were defeated in the %&'='s were also deported to Sierra
@eone. Bussa's rebels were *reoles+ that is+ born in the colonyE most were several enerations *reoles. By %<%A less
than Hc of the blacks in the colony were born in 5frica. 2ith the final abolition of slavery in the British colonies in
%<-< these e,iled radicals petitioned the Uueen of 8nland for permission to return to their 'native' land. 1he
>amaican maroons also souht permission to return 'home' and many did. )ost of the Barbados e,iles were
described durin the trials as the 'better' slaves - namely the artisans and supervisors+ who were literate and enerally
knowledeable. 1his is their memorandum to the Uueen0
1o "er )ost ?racious )a.esty
Lictoria+ Uueen of the
;nited Kindom of ?reat
Britain and Creland
Defender of the /aith
Sierra @eone
%-th )ay+ %<9%
1he "umble )emorial of your )a.esty's most dutiful
Barbadian sub.ects bein inhabitants of the colony of Sierra @eone0
1hat your )emorialists have learned with deepest satisfaction that your )ost ?racious )a.esty has asked whether
your )emorialists feel a desire to emirate to >amaica+ one of your )a.esty's 2est Cndian Cslands.
(our )emorialists havin taken into consideration your )a.esty's $oyal wish+ bes most respectfully to say that
your )emorialists duly appreciate the kind mark and condescension shown by your )a.esty+ yet your )emorialists
cannot but feel it their bounded duty to e,press with e,treme sorrow and reret that as the boon is not held out by
your )ost ?racious )a.esty by which your )emorialists can return back to their own native island+ they decline
oin to the Csland of >amaica in conse:uence of your )emorialists bein totally inorant of the manner and customs
9'
of that place.
Cn conclusion+ your )emorialists most respectfully crave that should your )ost ?racious )a.esty be pleased to
rant that your )emorialists be allowed to return back to Barbados+ the place of our nativity+ your )emorialists will
feel e,tremely rateful for the same+ and by which your )emorialists will endeavour to avail themselves of doin so
without causin any immediate e,pense to your )a.esty+ and thus by that means it will save your )a.esty from any
further trouble for our transportation from this colony to any of your )a.esty's 2est Cndian Cslands.
>ohn Proverbs
>ohn )oran
$obert *hapman
>. 1homas
'5ctin for and on behalf of the other Barbadian sub.ects who have areed to the foreoin statement.'
Source' 1hese correspondence are found in the !Public $ecords+ @ondon. *4.JA&P%A9#.
Study &ndicators'
1he petition from Bath and the memorandum from >ohn Proverbs et al reveal two contrastin tendencies amon
slaves in the *aribbean0 an attachment to 5frica by some+ an attachment to the *aribbean by others.
Students should note that Bath has a carefully worked out plan of repatriationE one that would entail no cost to the
British ?overnment. "e and other )uslim slaves seemed aware of the 'daners' and 'risks' associated with their
pro.ect+ but felt confident about overcomin them.
1he e,iles in Sierra @eone seemed e:ually committed to the idea of returnin to the *aribbean. 1heir identity is
unambiuously *aribbean+ specifically Barbadian. @ike Bath+ their plan involved self-financin as opposed to
re:uestin financial assistance from the British ?overnment.
%. Catalina' Self purchase and freedo" in Peru
;rban slavery was never envisaed as one of the conse:uences of the slave trade. Fevertheless+ urban slavery
became a distinct form of labour e,ploitation in the 5mericas. *ities in South 5merica such as @ima+ Sao Paulo+ $io
de >aneiro+ and Buenos 5ires saw a radual increase in their slave populations. Cn @atin 5merica+ slaves were
initially sent to rural plantations or to the mines located on coastal areas where the indienous population had either
died or moved away to escape Cberian coloniBation0 but an urban population eventually built up in the cities. Cn the
urban centres+ slaves and free blacks became the back-bone of the day-to day e,istence+ functionin as artisans+ water
carriers+ muleteers and house servants.
H=
1he strule for freedom was no less intense amon urban slaves+ althouh the strateies may have been different
from those pursued by their rural counterparts.
Catalina'
Cn a petition dated %<=A+ *atalina+ married to )iuel+ related how - thanks to daily waes - she had manaed to
obtain freedom of both0
@ast year+ in %&'%+ bein sub.ect to the slave servitude of Dofia Sipriana Palacios+ C married )iuel ?eronimo de
1eruB+ a black bozal+ born and raised in the Portuuese Cndies and then after we married and when he bean to work
with me+ we reaped the fruits of our labour and he was freed first+ and afterward we proceeded to liberate me.
"owever+ (our )ost "onourable Sir should understand the conditions in which C did this0 he bein a slave and house
servant+ and C bein a day labourer+ who would be the one who worked to liberate bothS"
Source' *hristine "unefeldt+ Paying the Price of 2reedo"' 2a"ily and 6a,our A"ong 6i"aFs Sla!es* )?EE-
)?31* Berkeley+ %''9
Study &ndicators'
5fter readin this section on *atalina+ students should note the followin0
%. marriaes were contracted under slavery
J. not all slaves worked on rural plantations
-# urban slaves had a developed anti-slavery consciousness
%. slaves cared about each other. *atalina used her waes to buy freedom first for her husband+ and then herself
2ollow#up acti!ity for students'
/ind out more about how freed blacks made a livin in urban Peru.
H%
6>oanna7 >oanna was >ohn Stedman7s reputedly beautiful slave mistress. Fote how the facial features and dress
emphasise ideal of beauty and femininity. 1he naked breast and pose+ however+ hint at the alleed sensuality of
5frican women which led to se,ual+ as well as economic e,ploitation of black women. 8vidence indicates+ however+
that Stedman respected >oanna and purchased her freedom.
Source' B. Bush+ Sla!e 5o"en &n Cari,,ean Society !"einemann+ %''=# pp. %A
=* <oanna' $esponse to Offer to 7uy her 2reedo"
2hen >ohn Stedman+ on his e,pedition to Suriname+ developed a fever+ he was nursed back to health by the slave
woman+ >oanna. "e was so rateful to her that he proposed to buy+ educate and take her to 8urope with him. She
re.ected his offer with this declaration0
C am born a low contemptible slave.
2ere you to treat me with too much attention+
you must derade yourself with all your friends
and relations+ while the purchase of my freedom
you will find e,pensive+ difficult and apparently+
impossible. (et thouh a slave+ C have a soul+
C hope+ not inferior to that of a 8uropean+ and
blush not to avow the reard C retain for you ...
Source' >. Stedman+ EBpedition to Surina"e !/olio Society+ @ondon+ %'A-#+ pp. 9%
Study &ndicators'
Stedman+ like other contemporary writers attest to the nursin abilities of enslaved and free coloured women
the e,tract above indicates that manumission was not a cheap or easy process
>oanna did not seem to be that an,ious to be bouht by Stedman
>oanna seems to have internaliBed some of the neative views that 8uropeans held of slaves
>oanna is at pains to point out that slaves were also human beins+ capable of affection
PA$% 3' 6i,erators and Political 6eaders
HJ
)* Nat %urner' Confession of a 6i,erator
1he best known of all ;nited States slave revolts was that which broke out on 5uust J%+ %<-% in Lirinia+ under the
leadership of a slave named Fat 1urner. Cn the uprisin appro,imately A= slaveholders lost their lives+ while in the
suppression over %== slaves were e,ecuted. 1urner was not captured until -= 4ctober+ and was e,ecuted - oin
calmly to his death on Fovember %%+ %<-%.
2hile a prisoner+ Fat prepared this autobioraphy statement0
C was thirty-one years of ae the second of 4ctober last+ and born the property of Ben.amin 1urner+ of this county.
Cn my childhood a circumstance occurred which made an indelible impression on my mind+ and laid the roundwork
of that enthusiasm which has terminated so fatally to many+ both white and black+ and for which C am about to atone
at the allows. Ct is here necessary to relate this circumstance. 1riflin as it may seem+ it was the commencement of
that belief which has rown with time and even now+ sir+ in his duneon+ helpless and forsaken as C am+ C cannot
divest myself of. Bein at play with other children+ when three or four years old+ C was tellin them somethin+ which
my mother+ overhearin+ said it had happened before C was born. C stuck to my story+ however+ and related some
thins which went+ in her opinion+ to confirm it. 4thers bein called on+ were reatly astonished+ knowin that these
thins had happened+ and caused them to say+ in my hearin+ C surely would be a prophet+ as the @ord had shown me
thins that had happened before my birth. 5nd my mother and randmother strenthened me in this my first
impression+ sayin in my presence+ C was intended for some reat purpose+ which they had always thouht from
certain marks on my head and breast. . . .
)y randmother+ who was very reliious+ and to whom C was much attached--my master+ who beloned to the
church+ and other reliious persons who visited the house+ and whom C often saw at prayers+ noticin the sinularity
of my manners+ C suppose+ and my uncommon intellience for a child+ remarked C had too much sense to be raised+
and+ if C was+ C would never be of any service to any one as a slave. 1o a mind like mine+ restless+ in:uisitive+ and
observant of everythin that was passin+ it is easy to suppose that reliion was the sub.ect to which it would be
directedE and+ althouh this sub.ect principally occupied my thouhts+ there was nothin that C saw or heard of to
which my attention was not directed. 1he manner in which C learned to read and write+ not only had reat influence
on my own mind+ as C ac:uired it with the most perfect ease+---so much so+ that C have no recollection whatever of
learnin the alphabetE but+ to the astonishment of the family+ one day+ when a book was shown me+ to keep me from
cryin+ C bean spellin the names of different ob.ects. 1his was a source of wonder to all in the neihbourhood+
particularly the blacks-and this learnin was constantly improved at all opportunities. 2hen C ot lare enouh to o
to work+ while employed C was reflectin on many thins that would present themselves to my imainationE and
whenever an opportunity occurred of lookin back at a book+ when the school-children were ettin their lessons+ C
would find many thins that the fertility of my own imaination had depicted to me before. 5ll my time+ not devoted
to my master's service+ was spent either in prayer+ or in makin e,periments in castin different thins in moulds
made of earth+ in attemptin to make paper+ unpowder+ and many other e,periments+ that+ althouh C could not
perfect+ yet convinced me of its practicability if C had the means.
C was not addicted to stealin in my youth+ nor have ever beenE yet such was the confidence of the Feroes in the
neihbourhood+ even at this early period of my life+ in my superior .udment+ that they would often carry me with
them when they were oin on any rouery+ to plan for them. ?rowin up amon them with this confidence in my
superior .udment+ and when this+ in their opinions+ was perfected by Divine inspiration+ from the circumstances
already alluded to in my infancy+ and which belief was ever afterwards Bealously inculcated by the austerity of my
life and manners+ which became the sub.ect of remark by white and blackE havin soon discovered to be reat+ C must
appear so+ and therefore studiously avoided mi,in in society+ and wrapped myself in mystery+ devotin my time to
fastin and prayer.
By this time havin arrived to man's estate+ and hearin the Scriptures commented on at meetins+ C was struck with
that particular passae which says+ "Seek ye the kindom of heaven+ and all thins shall be added unto you." C
reflected much on this passae+ and prayed daily for liht on this sub.ect. 5s C was prayin one day at my plouh+ the
Spirit spoke to me+ sayin+ "Seek ye the kindom of heaven+ and all thins shall be added unto you." Question.
"2hat do you mean by the SpiritS" Answer. "1he Spirit that spoke to the prophets in former days+"Dand C was reatly
H-
astonished+ and for two (ears prayed continually+ whenever my duty would permitE and then aain C had the same
revelation+ which fully confirmed me in the impression that C was ordained for some reat purpose in the hands of the
5lmihty. Several years rolled round+ in which many events occurred to strenthen me in this my belief. 5t this time
C reverted in my mind to the remarks made of me in my childhood+ and the thins that had been shown meE and as it
had been said of me in my childhood+ by those by whom C had been tauht to pray+ both white and black+ and in
whom % had the reatest confidence+ that C had too much sense to be raised+ and if C was C would never be of any
value to any one as a slaveE now+ findin C had arrived to man7s estate+ and was a slave+ and these revelations bein
made known to me+ C bean to direct my attention to this reat ob.ect+ to fulfil the purpose for which+ by this time+ C
felt assured C was intended. Knowin the influence C had obtained over the minds of my fellow-servants+ --!not by
the mean of con.urin and such-like tricks-for to them C always spoke of such thins with contempt#+ but by the
communion of the Spirit+ whose revelations C often communicated to them+ and they believed and said my wisdom
came from ?od+ -- C
now bean to prepare them for my purpose+ by tellin them somethin was about to happen that would terminate in
ful. fillin the reat promise that had been made to me.
Source' "erbert 5ptheker !ed# A ocu"entary 9istory of the Negro People in the United States
!*itadel Press+ %'H%# pp. J=%-J=A
Study &ndicators'
Cn this e,tract we hear the voice of a slave activist who contributed reatly to the collective freedom of enslaved
peoples0 here are also e,pressed views on a vision of free society. Students should note how 1urner0
provides important bioraphical details
ives an insiht into slavery which inspired his liberationist ideoloy
reveals his deep spirituality
e,plains his feelins that ?od meant him to lead his people
.* 2rederick ouglass' On Citi@enship: Nationhood and &dentity
H9
5 slave+ who emered as a ma.or ;nited States political leader and 5mbassador+ /rederick Doulas campained
ceaselessly for the institutional establishment of black nationhood and citiBenship. 1hrouhout the mid %'' century
his political oratory was described as second to none. "e was appointed by *onress as ;nited States 5mbassador to
"aiti. Cn his role as chairman of the '*ommittee on Declaration of Sentiments' of the Fational 5nti-slavery
*onvention held in $ochester+ Few (ork+ in %<H-+ he arued0
2e are 5mericans+ and as 5mericans+ we would speak to 5mericans. 2e address you not as aliens nor as e,iles+
humbly askin to be permitted to dwell amon you in peaceE but we address you as 5merican citiBens assertin their
rihts on their own native sod.... 2e would not lay our burdens upon other men's shouldersE but we do ask+ in the
name of all that is .ust and mananimous amon men+ to be freed from all unnatural burdens and impediments with
which 5merican customs and 5merican leislation have hindered our proress and improvement.... 2e ask that+
speakin the same lanuae and bein of the same reliion+ worshippin the same ?od+ owin our redemption to the
same Saviour+ and learnin our duties from the same Bible+ we shall not be treated as barbarians.
Source' Sterlin Stuckey+ Sla!e Culture' Nationalist %heory and the
2oundations of 7lack A"erica !4,ford ;niversity Press+ 4,ford+ %'<&# pp. JJ9
Study &ndicators'
Cn this e,tract we hear the voice of a slave activist who contributed reatly to the collective freedom of enslaved
peoplesE here are also e,pressed views on a vision of free society.
1his former slave saw himself as a citiBen of the ;nited States first and foremost. 5s such+ he claimed the rihts of
citiBenship at the time iven mostly to whites.
Students should discuss the prophetic nature of Doulass7 statement
%. So#journer %ruth
(a ) FAFnFt & a wo"an
So.ourner 1ruth !c. %&'&-%<<-# was a slave who fled in %<J& from the household in Few (ork State where she
worked and found refue with a reliious roup which helped her to find and free two of her children who had been
sold into slavery.
She moved to Few (ork *ity in %<J'+ found work as a domestic and became active in reliious movements. 5fter
'voices' told her to take the name of So.ourner 1ruth+ she became a preacher aainst the evils of slavery+ drawin bi
crowds in 4hio+ Cndiana+ )issouri and Kansas.
She delivered this speech at the State 2omen's $ihts *onvention in 5kron+ 4hio+ J<th )ay+ %<H%.
2all+ childern+ whar dar is so much racket dar must be somethin' out o' kilter. C tink dat 'twi,t de niers of de Souf
and de womin at de Forf+ all talkin' 'bout rihts+ de white men will be in a fi, pretty soon. But what's all dis her
talkin' 'boutS
HH
Dat man ober dar say dat womin needs to be helped into carriaes+ and lifted over ditches+ and to hab de best place
everywhar. Fobody eber helps me into carriaes+ or ober mud-puddles+ or ibs me any best place. 5nd a'n't C a
womanS @ook at meG @ook at my armG C have plouhed and planted+ and athered into barns+ and no man could head
meG 5nd a'n't C a womanS C could work as much and cat as much as a man - when C could et it - and bear de lash as
wellG 5nd a'n't C a womanS C have borne thirteen childern+ and see 'em mos' all sold off to slavery+ and when C cried
out with my mother's rief+ none but >esus heard meG 5nd a'n't % a womanS
Den dey talks 'bout dis tin in de headE what dis dey call itS (ntellect, whispered someone near.! Dat's it+ honey.
2hat's dat o to do wid womin's riht o nier's rihtsS Cf my cup won't hold but a pint+ and yourn holds a :uart+
wouldn't ye be mean not to let me have my little half measure fullS
Den dat little man in black dar+ he say+ women can't have as much rihts as man+ 'cause *hrist wan't a woman. 2har
did your *hrist come fromS 2har did your *hrist come fromS /rom ?od and a womanG )an had nothin' to do wid
him.
Cf de fust woman ?od ever made was stron enouh to turn de world upside down all alone+ dese women toedder
ouht to be able to turn it back+ and et it riht side up aainG 5nd now dey is askin to do it+ de men better let 'em.
(Lon" continued cheerin!
Bleeed to ye for hearin on me: and now old So.oumer han't ot nothin' more to say. (#oars o$ applause.!
,) ) ha!e a right to ha!e #just as "uch as a "an
So.ourner 1ruth settled in Battle *reek+ )ichian+ in the late %<H='s and solicited food and clothin for the Fero
volunteer reiments preparin for the *ivil 2ar - and was later reconiBed in 2ashinton for her efforts by President
@incoln. She continued speakin for black rihts and women's suffrae+ as in this speech to the Fational *onvention
of 5merican 8:ual $ihts 5ssociation at the *hurch of Puritans in Few (ork *ity.
)y friends+ C am re.oiced that you are lad+ but C don't know how you will feel when C et throuh. C come from
another field - the country of the slave. 1hey have ot their liberty - so much ood luck to have slavery partly
destroyedE not entirely. C want it root and branch destroyed. 1hen we will all be free indeed. C feel that if C have to
answer for the deeds done in my body .ust as much as a man+ C have a riht to have .ust as much as a man. 1here is a
reat stir about coloured men ettin their rihts+ but not a word about the coloured womenE and if coloured men et
their rihts+ and not coloured women theirs+ you see the coloured men will be masters over the women+ and it will be
.ust as bad as it was before. So C am for keepin the thin oin while thins are stirrinE because if we wait till it is
still+ it will take a reat while to et it oin aain. 2hite women are a reat deal smarter+ and know more than
coloured women+ while coloured women do not know scarcely anythin. 1hey o out washin+ which is about as
hih as a coloured woman ets+ and their men o about idle+ struttin up and downE and when the women come
home+ they ask for their money and take it all+ and then scold because there is no food. C want you to consider on that+
chil'n. C call you chil'nE you are somebody's chil'n+ and C am old enouh to be mother of all that is here. C want women
to have their rihts. Cn the courts women have no riht+ no voiceE nobody speaks for them. C wish woman to have her
voice there amon the pettifoers. Cf it is not a fit place for women+ it is unfit for men to be there.
C am above eihty years oldE it is about time for me to be oin. C have been forty years a slave and forty years free+
and would he here forty years more to have e:ual rihts for all. C suppose C am kept here because somethin remains
for me to doE C suppose C am yet to help to break the chain. C have done a reat deal of workE as much as a man+ but
did not et so much pay. C used to work in the field and bind rain+ keepin up with the cradlerE but men doin no
more+ ot twice as much payE so with the ?erman women. 1hey work in the field and do as much work+ but do not
et the pay. 2e do as much+ we cat as much+ we want as much. C suppose C am about the only coloured woman that
oes about to speak for the rihts of the coloured women. C want to keep the thin stirrin+ now that the ice is
cracked. 2hat we want is a little money. (ou men know that you et as much aain as women when you write+ or
for what you do. 2hen we et our rihts we shall not have to come to you for money+ for then we shall have money
enouh in our own pocketsE and may be you will ask us for money. But help us now until we et it. Ct is a ood
consolation to know that when we have ot this battle fouht we shall not be comin to you any more. (ou have
been havin our rihts so lon+ that you think+ like a slaveholder that you own us. C know that it is hard for one who
has held the reins Eor so lon to ive upE it cuts like a knife. Ct will feel all the better when it closes up aain. C have
been in 2ashinton about three years+- seein about these coloured people. Fow coloured men have the riht to vote.
HA
1here ouht to be e:ual rihts now more than ever+ since coloured people have ot their freedom. C am oin to talk
several times while C am hereE so now C will do a little sinin. C have not heard any sinin since C came here.
(Accordin"ly, suitin" the action to the word, So%ourner san", &'e are "oin" home.&!
1here+ children+ in heaven we shall rest from all our laboursE first do all we have to do here. 1here C am determined
to o+ not to stop short of that beautiful place+ and C do not mean to stop till C et there+ and meet you there+ too.
Source' Brian )ac5rthur+ 9istoric Speeches !Penuin+ %''H+ F.(.# pp. 9---9-9+ 9-A-9-&
Study &ndicators'
So.ourner 1ruth7s %<H% speech must rank as one of the earliest feminist declarations. She makes it clear that0
%. she did not view herself as a helpless woman0 on the contrary+ she was stron and capable
J. she reconiBed no ma.or differences between her capabilities and those of men
-. she supported women7s riht7s as much as civil rihts for black people
"er %<A& speech repeats some of her %<H% sentiments but students should note that she oes into more details about
the ine:uities between 6colored7 women and 6colored7 men. 1he latter displayed patriarchal tendencies !male
superiority attitudes# towards 6coloured women7. She also comments on the fact that employers paid a hiher wae
to male workers.
Students should do further research into black feminism.
1* 9arriet %u,"an' Achie!ing 2reedo"
"arriet 1ubman was born either in %<J= or %<J%. "er parents were "arriet ?reen and Ben $oss+ but they beloned to
)as Brodas' who owned a plantation in Bucktown+ )aryland. She was oriinally named 5raminta or 6)inty7 for
short+ and she rew up with %% brothers and sisters. 2hen she was A years old she was hired out by her master to
work for a woman called )iss Susan'. )iss Susan later returned her to the Brodas plantation where she was sent to
the fields. She was soon hired out aain+ this time to >ames *ooke. She married >ohn 1ubman+ a free black man. Cn
%<9'+ after she had discovered that she was to be sold to the deep south she ran away. She became one of the most
active conductors on the underround railroad and made around %' trips back to the south to free slaves and take
them to freedom in the north. 5mon those she freed were members of her own family.
!4n reachin free soil as a fuitive slave#
C looked at my hands+ to see if C was the same person now C was free. 1here was such a lory over everythin+ the
sun came like old throuh the trees+ and over the fields+ and C felt like C was in heaven....
C had crossed the line of which C had so lon been dreamin. C was freeE but there was no one to welcome me to the
land of freedom+ C was a straner in a strane land+ and my home after all was down in the old cabin :uarter+ with the
old folks+ and my brothers and sisters. But to this solemn resolution C cameE C was free+ and they should be free alsoE C
would make a home for them in the Forth+ and the @ord helpin me+ C would brin them all there. 4h+ how C prayed
H&
then+ lyin all alone on the cold+ damp roundE "4h+ dear @ord+R C said+ "C ain't ot no friend but you. *ome to my
help+ @ord+ for C'm in troubleG"
Source' Bert >ames @oewenber and $uth Loin+ 7lack 5o"en in )Gth century A"erican 6ife*
Pennsylvania+ %'&A+ pp. J%'-JJ% and P T * )cKissack pp. --
Study &ndicators'
9arriet %u,"an'
Students should note the contradictory emotions which "arriet felt when she finally reached free soil. 4n the one
hand+ she was .oyous at bein free0 on the other hand+ she clearly felt alien in a forein country and deeply missed her
family.
3* 7ooker %* 5ashington' 7lack Enfranchise"ent' %he Atlanta EBposition Address
Booker 1. 2ashinton was born as a slave at the end of the %<H='s in Lirinia+ ;S5+ but emered as one of
the most important leaders of the 5frican diaspora at the end of the %'th century. "is role in the strule for
black enfranchisement throuh economical and political inclusion has been reconiBed as constitutin a
ma.or pillar in the rise of J=th century 5merican democracy and civil rihts. "is autobioraphy+ ;p /rom
Slavery+ is a classic in black and 5merican political literature+ often cited as an historical manifesto of the
movement. Cn %<'H+ he delivered the feature address at the 5tlanta 8,position which is now held as one of
the reatest speeches in 5merican oratory.
%he Atlanta EBposition Address* Septe",er )?* )?G3
)r. President and ?entlemen of the board of Directors and *itiBens.
4ne-third of the population of the South is of the Fero race. Fo enterprise seekin the material+ civil+ or
moral welfare of this section can disreard this element of our population and reach the hihest success. C
but convey to you+ )r. President and Directors+ the sentiment of the masses of my race when C say that in no
way have the value and manhood of the 5merican Fero been more fittinly and enerously reconiBed
than by the manaers of this manificent 8,position at every stae of its proress. Ct is a reconition that
will do more to cement the friendship of the two races than any occurrence since the dawn of our freedom.
Fot only this+ but the opportunity here afforded will awaken amon us a new era of industrial proress.
Cnorant and ine,perienced+ it is not strane that in the first years of our new life we bean at the top instead
of at the bottomE that a seat in *onress or the state leislature was more souht than real estate or industrial
skillE that the political convention of stump speakin had more attractions than startin a dairy farm or truck
arden.
Fearly si,teen millions of hands will aid you in pullin the load upward+ or they will pull aainst you the
load downward. 2e shall constitute one-third and more of the inorance and crime of the South+ or one-
third its intellience and proressE we shall contribute one-third to the business and industrial prosperity of
the South+ or we shall prove a veritable body of death+ stanatin+ depressin+ retardin every effort to
advance the body politic.
?entlemen of the 8,position+ as we present to you our humble effort at an e,hibition of our proress+ (ou
must not e,pect overmuch. Startin thirty years ao with ownership here and there in a few :uilts and
pumpkins and chickens !athered from miscellaneous sources# + remember the path that has led from these
H<
to the inventions and production of aricultural implements+ buies+ steam-enines+ newspapers+ books+
statuary+ carvin+ paintins+ the manaement of dru-stores and banks+ has not been trodden without contact
with thorns and thistles. 2hile we take pride in what we e,hibit as a result of our independent efforts+ we do
not for a moment foret that our part in this e,hibition would fall far short of your e,pectations but for the
constant help that has come to our educational life+ not only from the Southern states+ but especially from
Forthern philanthropists+ who have made their ifts a constant stream of blessin and encouraement.
1he wisest amon my race understand that the aitation of :uestions of social e:uality is the e,tremest
folly+ and that proress in the en.oyment of all the privilees that will come to us must be the result of severe
and constant strule rather than of artificial forcin.+ Fo race that has anythin to contribute to the markets
of the world is lon in any deree ostraciBed. Ct is important and riht that all privilees of the law be ours+
but it is vastly more important that we be prepared for the e,ercises of these privilees. 1he opportunity to
earn a dollar in a factory .ust now is worth infinitely more than the opportunity to spend a dollar in an opera-
house.
Cn conclusion+ may C repeat that nothin in thirty years has iven us more hope and encouraement+ and
drawn us so near to you of the white race+ as this opportunity offered by the 8,positionE and here bendin+ as
it were+ over the altar that represents the results of the strules of your race and mine+ both startin
practically empty handed three decades ao. C pleded that in your effort to work out the reat and intricate
problem which ?od has laid at the doors of the South+ you shall have at all times the patient+ sympathetic
help of my raceE only let this be constantly in mind+ that+ while from representations in these buildins of the
product of field+ of forest+ of mine+ of factory+ letters+ and art+ much ood will come+ yet far above and
beyond material benefits will be that hiher ood+ that+ let us pray ?od+ will come+ in a blottin out of
sectional differences and racial animosities and suspicions+ in a determination to administer absolute .ustice+
in a willin obedience amon all classes to the mandates of law. 1his+ then+ coupled with our material
prosperity` will brin into our beloved South a new heaven and a new earth.
Source' Booker 1. 2ashinton+ Up 2ro" Sla!ery !%'A& edition+ 5irmont+ 1oronto# pp. %---%9H
Study &ndicators'
7ooker %* 5ashingtonAs )?G3 address re!eals that'
%. 5frican-5mericans comprised a sinificant proportion of the 5merican population by the late %'
th

century. 1heir presence and voices could not+ therefore+ be inored.
J. understandably+ political representation was a more pressin ob.ective than economic independence for
sections of the black population+ politically marinaliBed for so lon
-. 2ashinton had a vision of the role that blacks should play in their own proress as well as eneral proress
of the ;S5
9. technoloical achievements thouh slow were evident amon the blacks
H. Social e:uality could only be earned not forced !students may wish to debate this in class#
Students should observe that 2ashinton advocated unity amon 5mericans of both racial roups+ and he was in
favor of the end of sectional differences and old hatreds. "e seemed full of hope for the future of the ;S5.
H'
8* %oussaint 6FOu!erture' Enlighten"ent Philosophy in Action
Cn the many efforts to uproot slavery from the 5tlantic world and socially implement renaissance visions of the
5mericas+ no other fiure stands above 1oussaint @'4uverture+ leader of the St. Dominue anti-slavery revolution that
culminated in the independent republic of "aiti in %<=9. 5ccordin to ?eore 1yson+ "a new nation has been fored
on the anvil of war and revolution and alon with+ new men+ new leaders." Ct was 1oussaint+ 1yson tells us+ who
moulded the army of slaves into an efficient unit that ave birth to universal liberty and citiBenship for the first time
in 5mericas. $ecords of his speeches and letters constitute critical sin posts within the literature of modem political
action. /rom slave to statesman+ 1oussaint's life reflected the important aspects of the democratic impulse of 5tlantic
modernity. "is reat and unparalleled contribution to humanity is that he led the movement that first uprooted
slavery from modem civiliBation.
&n the Ser!ice of 6i,erty
Ct is my duty to render to the /rench ?overnment an e,act account of my conduct. C shall relate the facts with all the
simplicity and frankness of an old soldier+ addin to them the reflections that naturally suest themselves. Cn short+ C
shall tell the truth+ thouh it be aainst myself.
1he colony of Saint Domino+ of which C was commander+ en.oyed the reatest tran:uillityE ariculture and
commerce flourished there. 1he island had attained a deree of splendor which it had never before seen. 5nd all this
-- C dare to say it -- was my work. . . .
M1henN ?en. @eclerc came. 2hy did he not inform me of his powers before landinS 2hy did he land without my
order and in defiance of the order of the *ommissionS Did he not commit the first hostilitiesS Did he not seek to
ain over the enerals and other officers under my command by every possible meansS . . .
Cn reard to the *onstitution+ the sub.ect of one chare aainst me0 "avin driven from the colony the enemies of
the $epublic+ calmed the factions and united all partiesE perceivin+ after C had taken possession of St. Domino+ that
the ?overnment made no laws for the colony+ and feelin the necessity of police reulations for the security and tran-
:uillity of the people+ C called an assembly of wise and learned men+ composed of deputies from all the communities+
to conduct this business. 2hen this assembly met+ C represented to its members that they had an arduous and
A=
responsible task before themE that they were to make laws adapted to the country+ advantaeous to the ?overnment+
and beneficial to all-laws suited to the localities+ to the character and customs of the inhabitants. 1he *onstitution
must be submitted for the sanction of the ?overnment+ which alone had the riht to adopt or re.ect it. 1herefore+ as
soon as the *onstitution was decided upon and its laws fi,ed+ C sent the whole+ by a member of the assembly+ to the
?overnment+ to obtain its sanction. 1he errors or faults which this *onstitution may contain cannot therefore be
imputed to me. 5t the time of @eclerc's arrival+ % had heard nothin from the ?overnment upon this sub.ect. 2hy
today do they seek to make a crime of that which is no crimeS 2hy put truth for falsehood+ and falsehood for truthS
2hy put darkness for liht and liht for darknessS . . .
Cf ?en. @eclerc went to the colony to do evil+ it should not be chared upon me. Ct is true that only one of us can be
blamedE but however little one may wish to do me .ustice+ it is clear that he is the author of all the evils which the
island has suffered+ since+ without warnin me+ he entered the colony+ which he found in a state of prosperity+ fell
upon the inhabitants+ who were at their work+ contributin to the welfare of the community+ and shed their blood upon
their native soil. 1hat is the true source of the evil.
Cf two children were :uarrelin toether+ should not their father or mother stop them+ find out which was the
aressor+ and punish him+ or punish them+ if they were both wronS ?en. @eclerc had no riht to arrest meE
?overnment alone could arrest us both+ hear us+ and .ude us. (et ?en. @eclerc en.oys liberty+ and % am in a
duneon.
"avin iven an account of my conduct since the arrival of the fleet at St. Domino+ C will enter into some details of
previous events.
Since C entered the service of the $epublic+ C have not claimed a penny of my salaryE ?en. @aveau,+ ?overnment
aents+ all responsible persons connected with the public treasury+ can do me this .ustice+ that no one has been more
prudent+ more disinterested than C. C have only now and then received the e,tra pay allowed meE very often C have not
asked even this. 2henever C have taken money from the treasury+ it has been for some public useE the overnor
(l&ordonnateur! has used it as the service re:uired. C remember that once only+ when far from home+ C borrowed si,
thousand francs from *itiBen Smith+ who was overnor of the Department of the South.
C will sum up+ in a few words+ my conduct and the results of my administration. 5t the time of the evacuation of the
8nlish+ there was not a penny in the public treasuryE money had to be borrowed to pay the troops and the officers of
the $epublic. 2hen ?en. @eclerc arrived+ he found three million+ five hundred thousand francs in the public funds.
2hen C returned to *ayes+ after the departure of ?en. $iaud+ the treasury was emptyE ?en. @eclerc found three
millions thereE he found proportionate sums in all the private depositories on the island. 1hus it is seen that C did not
serve my country from interested motivesE but+ on the contrary+ C served it with honor+ fidelity+ and interity+ sustained
by the hope of receivin+ at some future day+ flatterin acknowledments from the ?overnmentE all who know me
will do me this .ustice.
C have been a slaveE C am willin to own itE but C have never received reproaches from my masters.
C have nelected nothin at Saint Domino for the welfare of the islandE C have robbed myself of rest to contribute to
itE C have sacrificed everythin for it. C have made it my duty and pleasure to develop the resources of this beautiful
colony. Zeal+ activity+ courae -- C have employed them all.
1he island was invaded by the enemies of the $epublicE C had then but a thousand men+ armed with pikes. % sent
them back to labor in the field+ and oraniBed several reiments+ by the authority of ?en. @aveau,.
1he Spanish portion had .oined the 8nlish to make war upon the /rench. ?en. Desfourneau, was sent to attack
Saint )ichel with well disciplined troops of the lineE he could not take it. ?eneral @aveau, ordered me to the attackE
C carried it. Ct is to be remarked that+ at the time of the attack by ?en. Desfourneau,+ the place was not fortified+ and
that when % took it+ it was fortified by bastions in every corner. % also took Saint-$aphael and "inche+ and rendered
an account to ?en. @aveau,. 1he 8nlish were intrenched at Pont-de-l'8sterE C drove them from the place. 1hey
were in possession of Petite $ivi[re. )y ammunition consisted of one case of cartrides which had fallen into the
+water on my way to the attackE this did not discourae me. C carried the place by assault before day+ with my
draoons+ and made all the arrison prisoners. C sent them to ?en. @aveau,. C had but one piece of cannonE C took
nine at Petite $ivi[re. 5mon the posts ained at Petite $ivi[re+ was a fortification defended by seven pieces of
A%
cannon+
which C attacked+ and carried by assault. C also con:uered the Spaniards intrenched in the camps of )iraut and
Dubour at Lerrettes. C ained a famous victory over the 8nlish in a battle which lasted from si, in the mornin
until nearly niht. 1his battle was so fierce that the roads were filled with the dead+ and rivers of blood were seen on
every side. C took all the baae and ammunition of the enemy+ and a lare number of prisoners. C sent the whole to
?en. @aveau,+ ivin him an account of the enaement. 5ll the posts of the 8nlish upon the heihts of Saint )are
were taken by meE the walled fortifications in the mountains of /ond-Baptiste and DWlices+ the camp of Droudt in the
)atheu, mountains+ which the 8nlish rearded as imprenable+ the citadels of )irebalais+ called the ?ibraltar of the
island+ occupied by eleven hundred men+ the celebrated camp of l'5cul-du-Saut+ the stone fortifications of 1rou-
d'8au+ three stories hih+ those of the camp of Decayette and of Beau-Bien-in short+ all the fortifications of the
8nlish in this :uarter were unable to withstand me+ as were those of Feybe+ of Saint >ean de la )au\na+ of @as
)athas+ of Bani:ue and other places occupied by the SpaniardsE all were brouht by me under the power of the
$epublic. C was also e,posed to the reatest danersE several times C narrowly escaped bein made prisonerE C shed
my blood for my countryE C received a ball in the riht hip which remains there stillE C received a violent blow on the
head from a cannon-ball+ which knocked out the reater part of my teeth+ and loosened the rest. Cn short+ C received
upon different occasions seventeen wounds+ whose honorable scars still remain. ?en @aveau, witnessed many of my
enaementsE he is too honorable not to do me .ustice0 ask him if C ever hesitated to endaner my life+ when the ood
of my country and the triumph of the $epublic re:uired it.
Cf C were to record the various services which C have rendered the ?overnment+ C should need many volumes+ and
even then should not finish themE and+ as a reward for all these services+ C have been arbitrarily arrested at St.
Domino+ bound+ and put on board ship like a criminal+ without reard for my rank+ without the least consideration.
Cs this the recompense due my laborsS Should my conduct lead me to e,pect such treatmentS
C was once rich. 5t the time of the revolution+ C was worth si, hundred and forty-eiht thousand francs. C spent it in
the service of my country. C purchased but one small estate upon which +to establish my wife and family. 1o-day+
notwithstandin my disinterestedness+ they seek to cover me with opprobrium and infamyE % am made the most
unhappy of menE my liberty is taken from meE C am separated from all that % hold dearest in the world+-from a
venerable father+ a hundred and five years old+ who needs my assistance+ from a dearly-loved wife+ who+ % fear+
separated from me+ cannot endure the afflictions which overwhelm her+ and from a cherished family+ who made the
happiness
of my life.
4n my arrival in /rance C wrote to the /irst *onsul and to the )inister of )arine+ ivin them an account of my
situation+ and askin their assistance for my family and myself. ;ndoubtedly+ they felt the .ustice of my re:uest+ and
ave orders that what C asked should be furnished me. But+ instead of this+ C have received the old half-worn dress of
a soldier+ and shoes in the same condition. Did C need this humiliation added to my misfortuneS
2hen C left the ship+ C was put into a carriae. C hoped then that C was to be taken before a tribunal to ive an account
of my conduct+ and to be .uded. /ar from itE without a moment's rest C was taken to a fort on the frontiers of the
$epublic+ and confined in a frihtful duneon.
Ct is from the depths of this dreary prison that C appeal to the .ustice and mananimity of the /irst *onsul. "e is too
noble and too ood a eneral to turn away from an old soldier+ covered with wounds in the service of his country+
without ivin him the opportunity to .ustify himself+ and to have .udment pronounced upon him.
C ask+ then+ to be brouht before a tribunal or council of war+ before which+ also+ ?en. @eclerc may appear+ and that
we may both be .uded after we have both been heardE e:uity+ reason+ law+ all assure me that this .ustice cannot be
refused me.
Source' 1oussaint @74verture+ Speeches and @etters+ e,tracts from ?eore 1yson+ >r. %oussaint 6AO!erture
!Prentice "all+ %'&-# pp. J&-9H
Study &ndicators'
Students should familiariBe themselves with the details of the "aitian $evolution in order to understand the conte,t
AJ
within which 1oussaint emered as a revolutionary leader and a post emancipation political leader.
1hese e,tracts from his speeches and letters contain many details. Students should look out for the followin
%. 1oussaint's description of pre-revolutionary St. Dominue !"aiti after %<=9#
J. 1oussaint's perspectives on who was responsible for much of the hostilities in St.
-. 1oussaint's .ustification for his actions in "aiti after %&'-+ specifically his constitutional reform and military
assaults on the enemies of "aiti+ e,ample the Spaniards.
9. 1oussaint7s defense of his interity in handlin the financial affairs of "aiti.
H. 1oussiant7s capture and imprisonment in a duneon in /rance and his unsuccessful attempt to et a hearin in
court so that he could defend his actions.
=* %he 9aitian Constitution # %esting 2reedo" ' Cranting Citi@enship
/ollowin the declaration of Cndependence on >anuary %+ %<=9+ the "aitian overnment finaliBed a constitution in
%<=H that ave effect to their vision of universal freedom from slavery+ and the rihts to citiBenship and nationhood
for all blacks. Despite fre:uent chanes of leadership+ and the splittin of the nation into tow rival reimes+ these
principles embedded within the first constitution came in >anuary+ %<%&+ when %H >amaican slaves+ the property of
>ames )7Kewan took possession of his ship at Port $oyal in >amaica and sailed to "aiti in search of freedom and
citiBenship. )r. )7Kewan petitioned President PWtion of "aiti for the restitution of his property. Cn his reply+ the
President outlined why )7Kewan could not ain full satisfaction.
A-
Port-au-Prince
-=th >anuary+ %<%&
%9th year of Cndependence
)r. >ames )'Kewan
Port-au-Prince
Sir+
C have received your letter of J<th inst. claimin the 8nlish schooner Deep Fine+ toether with the individuals who
brouht her from >amaica to 1rou-bon-bon+ as your property. C have .ust iven directions for restorin to you the
vessel+ and everythin appertainin to her+ but as to the men+ they are reco"nised to be (aytians by the 99th article of
the constitution of the republic+ from the moment they set foot in its territory+ and it is out of my power to restore
them to you areeably to your demand. 8ach country has its laws+ as you must know+ sir+ and+ fortunately for the
cause of humanity+ "ayti is not the only one where slavery is abolished. 1he allusion you make in your letter cannot
be attended with any serious conse:uence+ because no body here has been uilty of subornin sub.ects belonin to
other powersE but such persons as arrive in this territory must be protected+ since the laws re:uire it. Cf there be+
amon the men you claim+ any who have committed crimes aainst the rihts of men+ they will+ on your furnishin
me with proofs of their crimes+ be delivered over to the proper tribunals established for the purpose of takin
coniBance of them by the local laws of the country+ of which they are now citiBens.
C have the honour of salutin you+ sir+ with consideration.
5. PetionMsicN
Port-au-Prince
-=th >anuary+ %<%&
A9
Study &ndicators'
Students should understand the role of "aiti+ the first black ma.ority Cndependent state in the 5mericas+ in the process
of 5frican redemption. By declarin slavin and slavery illeal forever+ and makin provision for all blacks to
become citiBens+ the "aitian ?overnment subverted the interity of all claims made by slaveholders about slavery as
a natural order. Students should also appreciate the enormous political pressure put to bear on "aiti by 8uropeans
and 5merican slave ownin powers for takin this stance.
Points to note
1he President7s willinness to return the vessel but not the people who were declared citiBens under the 99
th
article
of the constitution.
1he President7s statement that the constitution does not reconiBe black people as property
1he President7s willinness to discuss what actions could be brouht aainst these new citiBens in local courts if
criminal alleation are made aainst them
1he President7 assertion that the laws of "aiti speak to the Qcause of humanityR.
AH