What is genocide?What is genocide? Brief history of the slave tradeBrief history of the slave trade How was the slave trade a form of genocide?How was the slave trade a form of genocide?

Middle Passage

Journey to the coast to board slave ships Weak slaves left to die on trail Frequent whippings for those who could not keep up the pace

The Dungeon Ground floor dungeons held up to 1000 slaves Held for up to three months before slave ship arrival Minimal ventilation and food Men chained and branded for identification

Condemned Cell Rebellious Africans who resisted their enslavement No escape Starved until death Condemned Cell Rebellious Africans who resisted their enslavement No escape Starved until death

Exercise Had to be in acceptable physical condition to maximize profitHad to be in acceptable physical condition to maximize profit “Dancing”: Men were forced to jump up and down to the beat of a drum until their ankles bled from their chains“Dancing”: Men were forced to jump up and down to the beat of a drum until their ankles bled from their chains Crew members whipped slaves who refused to danceCrew members whipped slaves who refused to dance

Bad Weather The worst time of the Middle Passage Slaves remained below deck all day and night These “tween decks” were filled with slaves (live and dead), blood, vomit, urine, and human waste Slaves not fed as usual- forced to scrounge for crumbs

“Bedwarming” Crew member or captain took slave women from the tween decks at night Physically and sexually abused This practice demonstrated the figurative and literal rape of the African-American culture by the slave traders of the Middle Passage

Made weapons of chains and shackles to attempt to kill crewMade weapons of chains and shackles to attempt to kill crew Uprisings usually put down quickly by crew  Most Africans who attempted to revolt were killed in the processUprisings usually put down quickly by crew  Most Africans who attempted to revolt were killed in the process Africans harmed themselves to threaten cargo (suicide, starvation)  Crew force fed slavesAfricans harmed themselves to threaten cargo (suicide, starvation)  Crew force fed slaves

One of the few successful slave mutiniesOne of the few successful slave mutinies A group of Africans led by Congolese chief Cinque killed captain and most of crew on the AmistadA group of Africans led by Congolese chief Cinque killed captain and most of crew on the Amistad Long legal battle  Supreme Court ruled the Africans to be freeLong legal battle  Supreme Court ruled the Africans to be free

Extreme overcrowding, deplorable conditions caused many to dieExtreme overcrowding, deplorable conditions caused many to die Dysentery, smallpox, ophthalmia, malaria, yellow fever, scurvyDysentery, smallpox, ophthalmia, malaria, yellow fever, scurvy Gone mad  flogged or clubbed to death and thrown overboardGone mad  flogged or clubbed to death and thrown overboard Sick  starvedSick  starved Contagious  thrown overboard so as not to infect othersContagious  thrown overboard so as not to infect others Suicide, death from revoltingSuicide, death from revolting

10-15 million Africans estimated to arrive in the Americas10-15 million Africans estimated to arrive in the Americas Nearly as many estimated to die during the voyage  million victims totalNearly as many estimated to die during the voyage  million victims total Paramount example of inhumanity, sufferingParamount example of inhumanity, suffering Set precedent for horror of slave tradeSet precedent for horror of slave trade Hurt dignity and culture of AfricansHurt dignity and culture of Africans Led to discrimination against a new group: African-AmericansLed to discrimination against a new group: African-Americans

Focus: reduce obvious effects of journeyFocus: reduce obvious effects of journey Exercised, shaved, oiledExercised, shaved, oiled Auctioned to American slave ownersAuctioned to American slave owners