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As Black History Month approaches, it's time to focus on one of the most significant aspects of American black history: slavery. While it's a difficult subject, it might be why so many misunderstandings exist regarding who owned slaves, where they came from, how many there were, and what their lives were truly like. The truth about 'the Peculiar Institution' is far more complex than what is often taught in school.
10. All Southerners Had Slaves
In reality, most Southerners did not own slaves. Although the numbers varied from state to state, the 1860 census shows that Mississippi and South Carolina were the states with the highest percentage of slave owners, with 49% and 46% of the white population owning slaves, respectively.
Nevertheless, slavery was deeply embedded in the power structures of the South. In Texas, slavery was legal for just 20 years, from 1845 to 1865. However, by 1860, 27% of Texans owned a total of 182,566 slaves. These 27% controlled 68% of government positions and 73% of the state's wealth. Within two decades, slavery became a key component of Texas’s elite ruling class.
Owning slaves was seen as a symbol of wealth and political power, prompting many European families to aspire to such status. Slaves were viewed as a luxury, much like the BMWs and Birkin bags of today—desired by many, but owned by a privileged few.
9. Slaves Were Taken from Various Regions of Africa
European slave traders were focused on business; they sought to acquire the most slaves with the least amount of effort. They had little interest in traveling across the entire African continent when they could focus on a few key areas.
During the peak of the transatlantic slave trade, one in six slaves came from Senegambia, the region between the Senegal and Gambian Rivers. Today, it includes Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Mali. About 25% of all slaves brought to the United States came from this area. Another quarter originated from west-central Africa, covering modern-day Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Gabon. Although these groups spoke different languages, they shared many cultural, traditional, and religious similarities.
A significant number of slaves also came from the 'Slave Coast,' where many ships would dock. If there was still space aboard, traders would carry out coastal raids to capture more slaves. This area today forms the coastline of Ghana.
8. Not All Enslaved Africans Were Brought to the United States
It is estimated that 10.6 million Africans were forcibly packed onto ships and transported across the Middle Passage during the 1600s, 1700s, and 1800s. Of these, about 388,000 were taken to the United States (or its future territories), making up roughly 3.6% of the total number.
This number is small compared to the number of slaves sent to South America and the Caribbean. Approximately 4.8 million Africans were shipped to Brazil to work on its gold mines and sugar plantations, which accounted for around 40% of all Africans transported across the Middle Passage. Another 1.2 million were sent to Jamaica.
Historians estimate that between 60,000 and 70,000 slaves were brought to the United States from the Caribbean, raising the total number of Africans to about 450,000. This means that almost all 42 million African-Americans alive today are descendants of fewer than half a million African individuals.
7. Slavery Was Not Limited to the South
In 1776, slavery was legal in all of the original thirteen colonies. Slave labor played a crucial role in building cities like Boston, and the Merchant’s Coffee House in New York City hosted weekly slave auctions. Slaves were employed in various sectors including the docks, homes, and farms.
Although all northern states had passed laws banning slavery by 1804, these laws did not immediately free all enslaved individuals. To avoid controversy, many laws abolished slavery gradually. For example, New York's Gradual Emancipation Act freed children born after July 4, 1799, but instead of being set free, they were considered indentured servants until they came of age. This gradual approach is why New Jersey, the last northern state to outlaw slavery in 1804, still had eighteen slaves in 1860, who were legally classified as 'apprentices for life.'
6. Slavery Was Not Only in Rural Areas
While most American slaves worked in agriculture (primarily in cotton, tobacco, and rice cultivation), around 10% of them lived and worked in urban environments. They held various skilled jobs, including dockworkers, firefighters, coopers, and blacksmiths. Some plantation slaves were even granted permission to move to the city during off-seasons to earn money.
Most of the enslaved individuals in urban areas were women who worked in European households performing domestic chores. Wealthy families employed a group of women to clean, cook, and do the laundry. Even middle-class families could afford at least one domestic servant. Some of these women were permitted to live outside the city, either with other African slaves or with free Africans.
Industries like the timber and brick industries would purchase slaves to reduce labor costs. Railroads adopted this practice as well. There were also municipal slaves, owned by local governments just like public services such as waterworks and sewage systems. For instance, the city of Savannah, Georgia, owned slaves who helped maintain roads, construct buildings, and clean municipal structures. It’s even possible that these slaves worked in the local jail.
5. Slaves Did Have Some Free Time
The amount of free time slaves had varied depending on their specific circumstances. On rice plantations in South Carolina and Georgia, slaves were given a daily task, and once that was completed, they could spend the rest of the day however they liked. On cotton and tobacco plantations, they typically had time off after sunset. Some slave owners allowed slaves to rest on Saturdays or Sundays.
During holidays, particularly the period between Christmas and New Year, slaves would celebrate. Work was suspended, and they enjoyed music, dancing, sports, and drinking whiskey. This time also saw many weddings, as the break from work allowed for formal ceremonies and celebrations. Some owners would provide gifts, such as an annual supply of clothing or small amounts of money.
4. Slaves Were Not Allowed to Earn Money
Like anyone else, slaves had a need to earn money, especially the few who were fortunate enough to purchase their freedom.
Some slave owners established a system where slaves could work additional hours, known as "overwork," to earn cash. They could perform these tasks for their owner or for others in the community. This was particularly common if the slave possessed a valuable skill, such as blacksmithing or barrel-making.
Growing small gardens was a common practice, allowing families to either sell the produce or consume it themselves. As their success grew, they could acquire animals like pigs and chickens. Others crafted brooms or baskets to sell at local markets, along with other handmade goods.
With the money they earned, slaves could purchase food, cooking tools, clothing, toiletries, and even luxury items such as alcohol and tobacco. This not only relieved owners from having to provide these items, but also gave slaves a small degree of personal freedom. Some owners believed that granting this sense of ownership was essential to prevent uprisings.
3. Slaves Didn’t Completely Lose Their African Heritage
The experience of crossing the Middle Passage, being sold at auction, and being thrust into slavery was undoubtedly traumatic for many Africans. To cope with this trauma, slaves clung to their West African traditions, adapting them to fit their new lives in America.
In West Africa, family was highly valued. The custom of honoring elders by naming children after grandparents was preserved, as was the respect for older generations. When biological families were unavailable, the community stepped in to take on roles like aunts and uncles. These surrogate families played a key role in preserving African stories and heritage.
On large plantations, there might be a 'conjurer,' a person who practiced traditional West African spiritual customs. For a price, they could treat illness, ward off malevolent spirits, or even curse an enemy (who might, in some cases, be the slave owner). The power of a conjurer was believed to grow stronger with each generation connected to Africa.
2. Not All Slaves Were Christians
During the 1600s and 1700s, Christian slave owners believed it was immoral for one Christian to own another. Because of this, they discouraged their slaves from converting to Christianity and tried to conceal the moral conflict. They feared that allowing their slaves to embrace Christianity could lead to abolitionist movements, so they disregarded the spiritual lives of their enslaved workers, giving them the freedom to practice any religion they desired.
In the 1800s, the Second Great Awakening sparked a wave of Christian enthusiasm. Methodist and Baptist churches reached out to enslaved people, who embraced the faith in large numbers. Unable to stop the spread of Christianity, slaveholders hired preachers to focus on New Testament passages that instructed slaves to accept their plight, assuring them that their patience and faith would be rewarded in the afterlife.
1. Slaves Were Denied the Right to Read
Slave owners feared the consequences of slaves becoming literate. Literacy had played a crucial role in the success of Haiti’s slave revolution, and with the increasing popularity of abolitionist literature, many Southern states made it illegal to teach slaves how to read. As a result, the United States became the only country in the world to outlaw education for slaves.
Despite the ban, many people opposed it. On one side, anti-government slaveholders were outraged that state governments were interfering with their control over their property. On the other side, some slaveholders relied on their slaves for secretarial duties such as writing letters and organizing files, tasks that required literacy. Baptist churches also resisted the law, as it was vital to their faith that members be able to read the Bible.
