Question

Imagine that you are a historian interviewing a former slave in the late 1800’s. Write a 2-3 paragraph essay on how enslaved people coped with the slave system. Consider the following: § The importance of family life § Their daily life on the farms and plantations § The role of religion in the lives of the slaves § The functions of folktales and spirituals

Answer 1

Slaves never really coped with their predicament in the same way as others did. Some slaves believed they were less than human, as they were taught to think that way by their white slavers. Having said that, these were mentally ill slaves who enjoyed being treated less than human and loved their master more than their master loved themselves. These slaves typically worked in houses as butlers and maids - the house negro.

Then you had the field negro, who did not enjoy one bit of being a slave. As you might expect, they worked in the field for a long time throughout the day without ever resting until the night dawned. They hated their masters and sometimes these slaves would try to spark a rebellion. These slaves were of course killed more often than their house negro counterparts.

Answer 2

Slaves never really coped with their predicament in the same way as others did. Some slaves believed they were less than human, as they were taught to think that way by their white slavers. Having said that, these were mentally ill slaves who enjoyed being treated less than human and loved their master more than their master loved themselves. These slaves typically worked in houses as butlers and maids - the house negro.

Then you had the field negro, who did not enjoy one bit of being a slave. As you might expect, they worked in the field for a long time throughout the day without ever resting until the night dawned. They hated their masters and sometimes these slaves would try to spark a rebellion. These slaves were of course killed more often than their house negro counterparts.