Question

The essay "African Migration to Colonial America" indicates that the Middle Passage placed black people in "dehumanizing circumstances." Dehumanizing circumstances are situations that seem to take away a person's human qualities. What evidence from both texts illustrates the Middle Passage's dehumanizing circumstances?

Answer 1

Several africans were forced on a packed boat that was extremely dirty and it smelled awful. They were not fed properly and their hands were usually cuffed so they couldn’t escape and it was quite dark on the boat as well. They were hit and whipped as well. Many people would die on the trip there so it was very humid and unhygienic. Thus, they were treated far less than human with these circumstances.