On This Day of Days...

[wildaugust]

Misconceptions about Slavery in the U.S.:

-Slaves were content with their condition.
False.While many slaves did fall into such a despair that they contented themselves to bondage, it was only because many of them believed freedom to be a far worse condition. How can that be? Slave masters would often give slaves a "taste of freedom," whether it

Comments

Say what?

[skemono]

Slaves didn't like their lot in life? Man! This is throwing my whole world upside-down!

Re: Say what?

[wildaugust]

Slaves were often inclined to lie about their opinion concerning their condition and treatment on the plantation for fear that the questioner was really a spy of the Master, seeking dissension and harmful influences among the slaves. If a slave was discovered or even suspected of spreading objectionable opinions, he/she was immediately sold off and seperated from the plantation, losing all contact with their friends and family. Because of the distrust, lies, and propaganda, many northerners did not fully comprehend the severe cruelty and barbarity of slavery, and did not consider the misery and wretchedness of the slaves.

Re: Say what?

[msshe]

Yes, there were repercussions for slave that were thought to be "discontent" or "surly". If you had that "looks about you" often times, people were hired to beat you into submission. These people were called slave drivers, meant to break the spirit of the slave. So, it was better to pretend to be content when someone was around.

Re: Say what?

[wildaugust]

The notion of slaves' contentment with their state was also reinforced by many of them refusing to leave the plantation after the Civil War, but this is another example of the oppressive amount of fear pressed upon them that "freedom" represented.