The students have started the new Project Lucid year with some background on the Slavery in America. Next they read and responded to a primary source document on the "Middle Passage" passage. Through video conferencing and journaling the students shared their responses with their Project:LUCID partners.
Slavery began in the U.S. Colonies in the early 1600’s and lasted until 1865. By that time, the slave population was approximately 4 million people. 95% of slaves in America lived in the Southern states. European slave traders kidnapped people from Africa and shipped them to America. Slaves were chained so that they could not escape or fight back. They were sent by ship across the Atlantic Ocean. The terrible voyage, called the “Middle Passage,” lasted up to a month. As many as half of the slaves died along the way.
Olaudah Equiano (1745-1797)
Olaudah Equiano was abducted at the young age of 11 from his Ibo village in West Africa (Benin) and enslaved, endured the terrible "middle passage" and was sold into slavery. Thirty years later he was able to purchase his freedom and wrote his famous autobiography, "The Life of Olaudah Equiano." His slave narrative was very influential in bringing about an end to slavery, especially in Great Britain. He later became an abolitionist and spent the last part of his life traveling the world speaking out against the cruelty of slavery.
The excerpt below describes his voyage from Africa to the New World.
[3] One day they had taken a number of fishes, and when they had killed and satisfied themselves with as many as they thought fit, to our astonishment who were on the deck, rather than give any of them to us to eat as we expected, they tossed the remaining fish into the sea again, although we begged and prayed for some as well as we could, but in vain; and some of my countrymen, being pressed by hunger, took an opportunity when they thought no one saw them of trying to get a little privately; but they were discovered, and the attempt procured them some very severe floggings (whippings).
[4] One day, when we had a smooth sea and moderate wind, two of my wearied countrymen who were chained together (I was near them at the time), preferring death to such a life of misery, somehow made through the nettings and jumped into the sea: immediately another quite dejected fellow, who, on account of his illness, was suffered to be out of irons, also followed their example; and I believe many more would very soon have done the same if they had not been prevented by the ship’s crew, who were instantly alarmed...''
1. Describe what the middle passage was like. Why was it often so deadly?
2. What would you have found most difficult about the middle passage?
31 comments:
1.The stench in the middle passage makes people unable to eat and be sick. The sickness in the middle passage could make people die. You couldn't eat in the middle passage.
2.Because there isn't any food, and that it has a sickable stench.
3. What I found most difficult was that you couldn't eat in the middle passage.
1. Discribe the Middle Passage was like. Provide at least 3 exaples.
The Middle Passage was a dreaded journey that black slaves had to endure. There was illness, death, and everything you can think of that was bad, and more. The slaves were cramped up in the lower deck, and usually got ill.
2. Why was it often so deadly?
The middle passage was often so deadly, because of the illness that was caused by the open waste, vomit, and other very gross things that were in the Middle Passage of a slave ship.
3. What would you have found most difficult about the Middle Passage?
What I would of found most difficult would probly be the illness. Traveling on the Middle Passage. Because that was the most deadly thing. And I obviously wouldn't want to get sick and die. That is what I would of found most difficult.
1) The Middle Passage was sad because people were sick and dying, and scary because people were getting whipped, and it was sickening because there was bad air.
2) The Middle Passage was so deadly because there was not enough food, and people were jumping off the boat.
3) I would have found the Middle Passage difficult because it was hard to breathe below deck.
-Anthony
The middle passage was a voyage and they started putting slaves on a ship to do the work.
It was often deadly because the slaves could of died from sickness and getting whipped and also getting thrown off the ship.
I would find the middle passage difficult because there was no food and pepole got whipped.
1.)the middle passage was so deadly for the slaves becuse no one cared if they where sick and most of them died because they where trappped in the lower deck and beaten.
2.) i think the travel across the sea would be hard becuse you would be stuck in a little area with about no space. ( i have clausetrphobia)
1.The middle passage was so deadly becauseyou were hand cuffed at all times. You were also given little food and bad living conditions.
2.It was deadly because you had no food and terrible living conditions.
3.The worst part was the conditions. They had no food no clean water to drink and were cramed in a corner.
Garret
1.It was a terriable place,it lasted about a month,more than half of the people died and they took young children
2.Cause of the brutal conditionds
3.I would find the most diffcult thing about the middle passage would be to survive the harsh voyage
the middle passage was horrible for the slaves because many died along the way and the rotting bodies made odor that smell very disgusting. Another example was when people had so little space they went to the bathroom on each other. One more example was when they only could go on the deck very once in a while.
The smell and the people that cxontrolled the ship whipped all the slaves
The whipping would probably be the worst because it would leave scars and it would rip skin open
1.The middle passage painfull. It was painfull because he saw many people that died. Another example is that he got whipped. The last example is he got sick and many people died when they were sick.
2. There were terrible conditions.
3. The thing I found most difficult is getting food because the white people threw the left over fish back in the sea.
The Middle Passage was a distusting and cruel way to travel from Arfica to the United States. The slaves lived in their own waste and filth, and they slept on very tiny shelves that barley had enough room for the slaves to fit on, in the Middle Passage.
the Middle Passage was ofen so deadly because many people (slaves) died because of lack of food, and lack of convience fir service.
If i was on the Middle Passage, i woul've found most difficut, the lack of food' small and uncomfortable shelves to sleep in. and finally, being crowded with lots of people around me' with dirty water and bad food would be most difficult for me.
1. Three examples of what the middle passage was like was filthy and crowded. Slaves had no room to move for three months.
2. The middle passage was often so deadly because the living conditions were terrible and unsanitary. There was no clean water and the snench was unbearable.
3. I think the most difficult thing about the middle passage was the terrible living conditions. The passengers were unable to move for three months.
Question 1- The middle passage was like being torchered. One of the things they would do; is put you in chains. Second, it was very crowed because there was so many people and very little room. And last, the middle passage had a pitiful smell.
Question 2- The middle was deadly because a lot of people got ill. also the men would whipp you.
Question 3- What I would find being most difficult would being able to take the pain of being whipped. After being whipped you would be in a tiny corner in a crowded space, so what if some touch your scar it would hurt. Last, say if I get whipped angain it would hit my scar and that would hurt even more then the first time because it would be hitting my aching scars.
#1 The middle passage was a sicking, smelly, and terrifying too.#2 is about how they were dieing because there was not enough food. Not enough fresh air. It was deadly because people were jumping overboard. And #3 is I would find it diffcult to live under neath the ship... because I miss my friends and my family too.
1.) I think the Middle Passage was horrible because some of the abducted slaves were chained to walls, some cramed together so they had no space and some of them could not sleep. Also, if they did not do what they were told, they were whipped and beaten.
2.) The Middle Passage was deadly because the slaves were so low on the boat that they could sufficate and because they were given barely any food.
3.) I think the hardest thing that could happen to me on the Middle Passage would be having to give up my family and friends and not being able to see them again.
1. Three examples of what the middle passage was like are, the middle passage was sad,crowded,and frightning because the slaves had no space to lay down. Also they were frightned because they did not know what kind of people there owners were like.
2. The middle passage was often so deadly because there were so many slaves it's like they couldn't even breath.
3.I would have found most difficult on the middle passage is the spacing because you couldnt really breath.
#1) The Middle passage was terible because of the smell. A lot of people died from it. Also it was hard to move around because you were chained onto other people. Another thing is that it was hard to escape because of the ships crew and nets were up.
#2) The Middle Passage was often deadly because it stunk really bad. because of the bad smell the air was unfit for breathing and a lot of people died from it.
#3) The thing that I found most difficult was being forced to stay on the lower deck. I think that because if you couldn't breathe nobody would put you up on the top deck they would just let you die
1. I think the middle passage was hard because a little boy got token away from his family without even knowing and him has to go on a ship all of these other people wondering if he is ever doing to see his family again.
2.I think it was often deadly because it so hot that ever one got sick and throw up and some people even jumped off the ship.3 I think it was diffult because over one was smished in and it being so hot that some of them past out.
1.the middle passage is basicly about slavery and how slaves were treated badly ie.1) the ship was old and smelled like dead fish and gunk. ie.2) they would often whip them if they didn't do what they were told to do. ie.3) they were put through hard labor.2. i think that it was deadly because when you get whiped there a little bags on the end of the whip that takes some meat out of there body so they could die of that. 3 the hardest thing for me will be the space to lay down in because i need a lot of space where im sleeping
1.The middle passage was very hard for the slaves because of the smell.Also they would not have much space to move around because it was so crouded. My last example is that there were alot of people sick and you would get sick to.
2. It was so deadly because the stench would make it hard for people to breath.
3. The part that i think was so deadly was the stench.
1. Themiddle passage was very hard for the slaves. There was a very bad stench in the lower deck and it would be very bad for anyone to be down there for too long. It took place on the Atlnatic Ocean, and it lasted up to two months
2. The rotting bodies and the dead fish really made it hard for them to breath.
3. The stench was most deadly.
1. Describe what the middle passage was like. Why was it often so deadly?
The middle passage was terrible. It was described as crowded and full of stench. The crew crowded over a lot of people(slaves) onto the ships, and stacked people on top of eachother. Slaves were also chained together and couldn't move, so that made it a lot more crowded.
2. What would you have found most difficult about the middle passage?
What I would have found the most difficult about the middle passage was how cramped the ships were. The crew's goal was to get as many slaves as they could and cram them onto the ship. It was difficult because their was not much room to do anything. The slaves were chained together and because all of this, they were all basically stuck together and couldn't move.
The Middle passage was a very vigorous and threatful journey from east Africa to the United States. It was cramped, it had an awful odor, and was very overall disgusting.
The biggest challenge for me would be deciding wether or not I would jump overboard. Or basically would I stay and suffer from the cruelty of the white sailors, or would I not only escape from it but die to escape from it.
Patrick
1. The middle passage was excactly like a nightmare. There were many people on the Amistad. For that reason there was not air so the people could not breathe very well. There was such a bad stench that Olaudah became so low and so sick that he was unable to eat, or had just lost the desire to eat.
2. Because if they had died than the slave traders could have lost money. Also it only happened because of the awful stench, and not being able to eat.
-Kevni
1) Describe what the middle passage was like. Why was it often so deadly? (give 3 examples)
The Middle Passage was a trecherous and unnatural journey that had people passing away from simply breathing and living on board. People everyday were dieing face-to-face, and body-to-body. The slaves were vomiting on each other. They were chained down so they couldn't get up to even use the bathroom. This means that they went on top of each other, which is simply unthinkable in my opinion. They didn't have much oxygen, either. They were breathing other's carbon diozide. The diseases being passed person-to-person was like wildfire. They were all chained so gross living in unnatural living conditions, no wonder most died.
2)What would you have found most difficult on the Middle Passage?
If I were put in the slaves' position on the Middle Passage, I would probably either try to jump off or kill myself. I doubt I could ever take the fact people were sharing body fluids all day, every single aganizing day. I would probably go mad from the living conditions because it was so completely unhealthy.
-Lyssa
The middle passage tells of a disgusting and cruel journey of the slaves being taken from their homelands. If a slave refused to eat, a member of the crew would whip them. There was a strong stench below deck. The smells brought sickness, of which many died. There was little space and slaves were chained very close to eachother. It was so deadly because it brough sickness to slaves around them.
What I found was the most difficult of the passage is the smells, sickness and closeness of all the slaves There were smells of urine, rotting, fish, and there were moans of slaves dieing.
Sophia~
1. Describe what the middle passage was like. Why was it often so deadly?
~The middle passage was like a terrifying voyage, the slaves were cramped in the lower deck, with no food or water until they reached a point of there journey. Illnesses traveled throught out the boat.
~~It was often deadly because of, the illness that was caused by the open waste, vomit, and other very gross things that were in the Middle Passage of a slave ship.
2. What would you have found most difficult about the middle passage?
What iw oudl have found most difficult about the middle passage is the departure of my family, I wouldnt be able to take it emotionally &physically, just the thoughts would eat me alive. Like, I wonder if my brother is suffering as much as I.. Or worse? My Mother, how is she being treated? Is she even alive? Is she thinking about me? Emoitionally, it would be most difficult to me.
-Lisaaaa(:
1. Describe what the middle passage was like. Why was it often so deadly?
The Middle Passage was very difficult because the captins would put hundreds of slaves into the small space in the bottom of the ship. many slaves would get sick and die but the ship works wouldn't be able to get down there to get the bodies out right away. This would cause the ship to smell horrible. If the slaves didn't eat they would be beaten, not killed, untill they did eat. The living enviroment for the slaves was so unsanitary, they would sleep in their own filth.
2. What would you have found most difficult about the middle passage?
Having to leave my family behind would have to be the most difficult for me. My family are the only people I can absolutly trust with everything. To not have the people I love with me, would be the most difficult thing to deal with if I was kidnapped from my family to work for another family in a different country.
~Gina
1.The middle passage wa like a torture room is was cramped it smelled like dead people. You had absolutley no room for you to move 3 inches. Also they would barley serve you any food you would have to fight for it.When people were dead it would take a couple days for the dead people to be moved off the boat. It was often so deadlt because how you had no room to move also it smelt really bad and when you get sick your gonna die and then the sickness will get to alot of people.
2. What I found most difficult about the middle passage was that it smelt really bad and had alot of dead people on it and people could get sick and could get infected.
-Brandon
1.) The middle passage was about slavery and how slavery was a cruel experiance that has left lasting effects on the americans lives. The middle passage was a trip from Africa to the New World. The boat was horriable people would get sick because of perspirations. people never feared so much they thought of suicide. By jumping over the rails into the deep ocean they would end up drowning and killing themselves. It was so deadly because of its smell.
2.) What i would have found most difficult about the middle passage would be the stench of the people on the boat. also if i was trying to get myself some food and end up being caught and whipped. i think that would have been most difficult for me to be in the Middle Passage. You feel so clastrophobic because of the way they would pack you in. They needed to fit as many slaves as possible and they left you with no room at all to move around.
~Michelle
Questions:
1. Describe what the middle passage was like. Why was it often so deadly?
2. What would you have found most difficult about the middle passage?
Answers:
1. The middle passage was a way for slave traders to get slaves from Africa to Amrica. This was such a deadly passage because so many people were crowded into one small space. They carried so many slaves aboard that some slaves had to sleep, literally, on top of another slave. There was absolutley no breathig room and there was very little food or water.
2.I feel that the most difficult part of the middle passage is the crowded space. A lot of epople died o this voyage so it was possible that a dead person was laying on top of you while you were sleeping. Also, the stench would be gross. The smell of body odor and dead people would have just made me want to just be working in the feilds already. Some people even jumped off the voat because of these difficult living conditions.
1.) The middle passage was about how he got whipped because he refused to eat food. Also, he said it smelled so bad that he would have killed himself, but the crew was watching him closely. Lastly, one time the crew had caught a lot of fish and they had a lot of leftovers but instead of feeding to the slaves they threw it overboard.
2.) Althought it was all terrible, I think that the worst part would be the smell. The smell of ocean, dirty ships, seafood, and dead bodies. It would be awful.
Kayleigh
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