December 10, 2009

“A chattering bird builds no nest.”

African Proverb

December 11, 2009

“If your mouth turns into a knife, it will cut off your lips.”

–African Proverb

Modern Africa Unit

Slave Trade & Slavery in Africa

When and where did the slave trade

originate?Took place 50 years before Columbus' first voyage to the AmericasDuring the early 1400’s, Portuguese sailors would trade with traders items such as gold on the western coast of Africa. Year 1442: Portuguese explorers returned from Africa with more gold and another cargo: ten Africans.

Who was responsible for initiating the slave

trade?When Europeans arrived along the West African coast, slavery already existed on the continent. However, slavery in Africa and slavery that would develop in the Americas were different. African slavery was similar to indentured servitude-persons who are contracted to work for a specific amount of time. In the Ashanti Kingdom of West Africa, for example, slaves could marry, own property and even own slaves. This ended after a certain number of years of servitude.

Why were the Europeans attracted to the slave trade?New World plantations. Slaves worked for free and the African natives had a vast knowledge of agricultural trade. Slavery became a highly profitable system for white plantation owners in the colonial South.

How was the African Population Kept Under

Control in America?

Carolina authorities developed laws to keep the African American population under control. Whipping, branding, dismembering, castrating, or killing a slave became legal. Freedom of movement, to assemble at a funeral, to earn money, even to learn to read and write, became outlawed.

How was the Slave Trade Eventually Abolished?

In 1787 former Cambridge University student Thomas Clarkson helped organize a group called the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade. The group wanted to make a case to the English Parliament, but first it needed evidence. So Clarkson travelled to England's two major slave ports to interview anyone with first-hand knowledge of the trade. With this evidence the Parliament agreed to review their case.

In 1807, Parliament finally passed a bill that made it illegal for any English vessel to take part in the slave trade. Incidentally, that same year the United States Congress enacted a law prohibiting the importation of slaves.

Captured and brought to the Americans by

ship…

La Amistad In 1839, 53 Africans (49 adults and 4 children),

were held as captives and were being transported aboard La Amistad from Cuba. The Africans revolted and after gaining control of the ship demanded to be returned home, but the ship’s navigator deceived them about the course and sailed to New York. The ship was taken into custody by the US Navy and the Africans were taken to Connecticut to be sold as slaves. There ensued a widely publicized court case in about the ship and the legal status of the African captives. In 1841,the Supreme Court ruled the Africans had been illegally held, and the United States arranged for them to be returned to Africa, as they wished.

TANG

T: Tribal Scars A: Ousmane Sembene N: African G: Frame narrative

[Frame narrative: a story told within a story.]

Slave Trade Timeline Create a timeline depicting the history

of the slave trade. Use your answers as a guide. Draw a line down the middle of your

paper. Draw a symbol or place a magazine

cut out as a visual for the event. Connect to your African poster. Should be ten events/facts. African posters must have PICTURES! BOTH assignments due today!!!

Interpretation: Discussion Questions

1. Form an opinion: Why do many Africans scar their bodies?

2. Why does Momutu threaten to kill “the man next in line” if someone tries to escape?

3. Make a prediction: Being African himself, why does Momutu betray his own people?

4. Discuss with your partner Amoo’s motivation for killing his own wife. Write a paragraph explaining your feelings, his motivation and the condition of the African people during this time.

5. Why do the men ask Amoo questions regarding his motivations concerning his wife and daughter? What do these questions suggest about the men Amoo is currently traveling with?

6. Explain Momutu’s evalution of Amoo’s daughter.

7. Interpret the following statement regarding characterization and plot: “…We mustn’t let them get away. There aren’t many of that kind to be found along the coast now” (119).