Slavery

In 1619 the first Africans were brought to Jamestown as slaves. These Africans were stripped of
their homes, cultures, and languages. Africans were the perfect victims because they were
transported thousands of miles away from home. Therefore, it was nearly impossible to escape
slavery. In addition, most of these Africans, men and women, came from different tribes, which
made communication between them very difficult. Despite their common bondage, men and
women did not experience slavery the same way.
Slavery of black men in America was one of the cruelest periods in American history. However,
black women in slavery experienced sexual exploitation, childbearing, motherhood, and the
slaveholder's sexism. Women slaves were exploited for their reproductive as well as productive
capacities. Slaves were treated and traded like animals. Black men were not considered part of
the human race and were taught that their enslavement was the way things were meant to be. Out
of all the slaves, black women suffered the most. Women were considered to be inferior to men
and Blacks were inferior to whites. I once read, black men were worth a dollar and women a

hurt themselves they were taken and whipped with cowhides until they bled profusely, then

ncentives coercion always existed—the threat of a whipping, sale, or both. Thus, black women