Slavery in the United States Especially Black Women in Bondage - Essay Example

? d Slavery in United s Specially Black Women in Bondage Introduction History of Slavery in the U.S. started when slaves from Africa were transported to the British colony of North American, Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619, to help the settlers in the production of such productive crops like tobacco. Slavery was exercised across the American settlements in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries; these slaves served in building the economical foundations of the newly born nation. In 1793, the central importance of slavery was solidified in the economy of the South by the invention of a cotton gin machine. Through the mid-19th century, westward expansion of America, beside with a rising abolition movement in North-America would arouse a long discussion over slavery that could have divided the nation during the American Civil War (1861-65). After the end of this bloody war, though the Union’s victory freed four million slaves of the nation, but the inheritance of slavery sustained to influence the history of America, from the chaotic years of Reconstruction (1865-77) to the movement of civil rights (1960s), that came out a century after the end of slavery. Slavery in America In beginning of the seventeenth century, European colonists of Jamestown Virginia, in North America were the first who turned towards African slaves. (Alexander, and Rucker 55-56) These slaves were considered as a cheaper, extra hard working alternative of indenture servants. ("Slavery and Indentured Servants:Law Library of Congress.") These indenture servants were mostly poorer Europeans. Twenty African men and women were transported by a Dutch ship to a British colony, slavery stretch all over the American colonies. Although it is not possible to give exact number, it is estimated by some historians that around six to seven million slaves were transported to the New World during the eighteenth century alone, divesting the continent of Africa from large number of its healthy and able men and women. Both men and women slaves experienced an equally devastating time. Both were deprived from a family and land of origin. Together were forced to carry out tough labor, subjected to psychological and physical humiliation, and were also denied of their very basic rights. During slavery these men and women were beaten cruelly, divided from loved ones randomly, and despite of gender, treated as private property in the eyes of the law.  African Women Early on, females slave were available to buyers in the colonies for working on their fields. These female slaves were available lower prices. Actually, skillful labor, like carpentry and blacksmith, was allotted only to men slaves; that further reduced the number of black men available for agriculture work. As an outcome, men were outnumbered in the field by women slaves.  On farms having a small agricultural area, only women slaves were forced to perform labor equal to men slaves. On large farms, field and plantations, work was divided amongst both genders, while male groups were given physically tough tasks. Commonly, men were assigned plowing while women were given hoed task. Motherhood of Enslaved Women Major role of women in Africa was that of mother. While in slavery, this primary role of African womanhood was dishonored. Inside the plantation system of America in the 18th century, women slaves during their pregnancy were considered as an economical advantage for their masters as a number of labor pool are multiplied. (Gilchrist) While in Africa birth of a child brought in respect for these black women. The average age of enslaved woman giving first birth was nineteen years old and afterward, used to give a new birth every two years. As this cycle was advocated by the master, was also benefiting the mother. During pregnancy, she was given more food and lower working hours. She was also no likely to be sold as tested fertility made her more precious for her master Harassing the Dignity of Black Women Black women slaves were expected to fulfill the need of owner and his family ahead of her child. These slave women were forced to return to their work shortly after giving birth, the slave mother on a large farm returned to the fields shortly after birthing, depending on other to raise her child. For their siblings, female slaves frequently chose to stay in bondage, whereas their male counterparts tried escape. For the purpose of reproduction, women slaves were forced to have a sexual relationship. (Poddar, Patke, and Jensen 393-394) More disturbing was, she might sometime have to witness the same fate for her daughters. Exploitation of sexuality of a black woman by the master was of the most important factors distinguishing the men and women, slavery experience. Slave women were stripped of their clothes in front of the slave buyers on the auction block. Their bodies were oiled down, poked and pushed by the potential buyers.  During the whole of the slavery era in America, white men believed black women being naturally immodest. Slave owners consider it their right to pursue sexual practice with black women. ("Louisiana Black Women.") Sometimes, these actions were accepted by female slaves for the sack of liberation of themselves or their children from the owner. But slaves were mostly taken over forcedly by the maters. Relationship between Black Wife and Husband Predominantly, black women were considered as the object of sexual interest. (Farley 214-215) However, they also rape married black women occasionally. This also points towards the violation of the relation between enslaved wife and husband, as slave husband have no ability to protect his wife from these violations. As a result, enslaved black women were independent in conducts that white females could not be. Like the interest of the owner sometimes drove at a slave woman, the apparent "liberty" of the black woman occasionally annoyed the feelings of mistresses. All together, the agency discussing on female slaves also served to strengthen the belief that they were inherently corrupt.  Self Respect In an effort to their own self-respect and that of a family, black women used their unique position wherever possible. Like slave men, enslaved women also rebelled against the atrocities of their masters.  As their roots in Africa, a majority of black women took their maternity seriously. They left their safety and liberty aside for their children, and gave love to those children who doesn’t belonged them and to those who were born from violence. Escape to liberty was the brightest opportunity for enslaved men, for maintaining manly identity. For a black woman, faced with the burden of being black and women and the additional onus of children, womanhood and identity were easier earned inside the slave community.   Works Cited Alexander, Leslie M, and Walter C. Rucker. Encyclopedia of African American History: Volume 3. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO, 2010. Print. Farley, Melissa. Prostitution, Trafficking and Traumatic Stress. Binghamton, NY: Haworth Maltreatment & Trauma Press, 2003. Print. Gilchrist, Eletra S. Experiences of Single African-American Women Professors: With This Ph.d., I Thee Wed. Lanham, Md: Lexington Books, 2011. Print. Poddar, Prem, Rajeev S. Patke, and Lars Jensen. A Historical Companion to Postcolonial Literatures: Continental Europe and Its Empires. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2008. Print. "Slavery and Indentured Servants:Law Library of Congress." American Memory from the Library of Congress. N.p., n.d. Web. . "Louisiana Black Women." Loyola University New Orleans. N.p., n.d. Web. Apr. . Read More