Slaves led a hard life on the Southern plantations. Most slaves were brought from Africa, either kidnapped or sold by their tribes to slave catchers for violating a tribal command. Some were even traded for tobacco, sugar, and other useful products (Cowan and Maguire 5:18). Those not killed or lucky enough to escape the slave-catching raids were chained together (Foster). The slaves had no understanding of what was happening to them. They were from different tribes and of different speaking languages. Most captured blacks had never seen the white skinned

It was profitable to teach the slaves skills so that during the crop off-season they could be hired out to work. Although they were not being paid, some were doing more skilled work than poor whites were. The better behaved slaves were allowed to be carpenters, masons, bricklayers, or iron workers. The construction of bridges, streets, canals, railroad lines, public buildings, and private homes was made possible by using slave labor (Cowan and Maguire 5:44). Slaves had no rights. This was done to keep them from revolting against their masters or attaining too much power (Katz 3-5). They were not allowed to communicate with each other or have meetings of any sort. To leave the plantation, a worker was required to have a pass signed by the master and overseer. Slaves could not own property, although some masters authorized it. Knives, guns, or any kind of weapon was not allowed. Forced separation of family members was a constant, dreadful threat (Foster). "It was de saddes’ thing dat ever happen to me," one slave recalls of the sale of her sister, whom she never saw again (qtd. in Foster).

A slave was considered lucky if he got to be a house servant. House servants were considered the "aristocrats of slavery" (qtd. in Ploski and Williams 1438). They were the best behaved and most submissive, occasionally even the mixed offspring of the master himself. The house servants were raised in belief that they were superior to other slaves in status and importance (Starobin 63). Intimate friendships often formed between master and messenger (Ploski and Williams 1438). Young black boys and girls were sometimes adopted into the family (Katz 4-5). House slaves were allowed to practice trades such as tailoring and masonry. Some were permitted to study music and teach. Duties of the housekeeper were managing the house, caring for the children, and driving the buggy; they basically catered to the master’s requests (Ploski and Williams 1438). A slaveowner might enlist the help of his servant to spy on overseers and tattle on other slaves (Starobin 63).

Slavery was a terrible institution. It took people’s lives a

Some topics in this essay:
Cowan Maguire, Ploski Williams, South Foster, Foster Whipping, , Foster Blacks, ploski williams, Foster Sometimes, ploski williams 1438, williams 1438, Foster Fortunately, qtd foster, cowan maguire, starobin 7, katz 3-5, williams 1437, house servants, ploski williams 1437, david et al, starobin 63, starobin 123-26,