community
By Hugh Burrell
This week, the Memory
Train is traveling to help create more understanding of the struggle of the abuse Africans underwent during the Middle Passage aboard slave ships during the slave trade between the 15th and 19th centuries.
In 1637, the first slave ship
was built in Massachusetts. These ships, also known as slavers, would sail from Amer- ica to West Africa in exchange for goods.
The Europeans also took
a great part in the transporta- tion of Africans slaves across the Atlantic and once the ad- equate number of slaves was acquired aboard a slaver, they would set out for sail any- where from five weeks to three
The Memory Train
allowed to roam the upper deck during the day, in which they were pursued by White sailors; many were raped. This was not classified as the be- ginning of their suffering. In Africa, before they were forced aboard the slavers, once they captured, the slaves were tied together to prevent escape. After the right amount of slaves were kidnapped, they would then be taken to slave factories in which their state and quality of health would be examined, the measure of their strength and well-being analyzed. If the slave hap-
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
The history of slave trade
pened to fail this examina- tion, he would be set free and would not have to endure the horror aboard the slavers, the hundreds upon hundreds of slaves packed tightly togeth- er. The extent of the terrible conditions resulted in many slaves not surviving.
The slaves endured many
other injustices as well, such as suffocation and brutaliza- tion. There was also disease such as, smallpox, scurvy, dysentery, and other illness- es.
Many of the slaves gave up
gave up hope and no longer wanted to live; some even jumped to their death rather than continue in those condi- tions and be enslaved. Others, would starve
themselves
death. If it was learned that certain
slaves had become too sick they would chain them all to- gether and toss them into the ocean. Slaves that finally ar- rived in America, but became sick along the way were either left to die along the way or shot.
Auctions ripped mothers
away from their children, hus- bands away from their wives, sisters away from brothers. It is extremely difficult to envi- sion how this must have a af- fected these people.
Three hundred years of
human beings being treated as something far less than human.
This is an extremely dark
chapter in the history of the United States, and there are still many ramifications today.
I WOULD like to thank Tameka Norris and Imlifo@att.
net.
I will be performing with
several friends from back in the day at the Polish Century Club on April 30 with some very talented people. We all used to perform at the old Mr. F nightclub many years ago. I will give you that information next week.
Until next time, I’ll plant U
now and dig U later. Peace and chicken grease!
Hugh Burrell can be con-
tacted at (313) 872-3437 and
Hughburrell@Aol.com.
April 14-20, 2010
Page C-3
Hugh Burrell
months, heading back to high- est bidder.
Though slavery existed long
before the arrival of the Euro- peans, the exportation of Af- rican slaves increased and in time Europe and West Africa found themselves exchanging guns for slaves, although the definition of the word slave was not tantamount to the American or European vision of slavery.
In America, slaves under-
went brutal beatings, hard labor and lack of respect.
While some slaves shipped
to Europe and America had previously been African slaves, many of the enslaved had been innocent bystanders.
It was not uncommon for the
Europeans to hide and wait for an African to come along, and then kidnap him. The acqui- sition of slaves also happened through Africans convicted of a crime. It was also likely for Africans from one tribe to be captured by an enemy tribe as a prisoners of war and then ex- change for goods.
This lasted from the 15th to
the 19th century, devastating the lives of 10 to 20 million Af- ricans or more. All forced into foreign enslavement, export- ed in exchange for imported goods.
During their voyage slaves
were governed by a system of fear, torture and brutaliza- tion.
This type of system was
enforced by the crew in order to contain the slaves who were desperate, afraid and would stop seize any oppor- tunity to regain their freedom, such as overthrowing the crew in order to obtain control of the ship.
Slaves were branded with
hot irons and shackled two by two. The leg, wrist and ankle of a slave was bound to the right wrist and ankle of anoth- er during and during a stormy voyage it would not be un- common for the elbows of the slaves to be worn down to the bone.
Women and children were
Affirmative action talk at college
The Oakland Community
College Royal Oak/Southfield Campus Diversity Commit- tee and OCC Student Life are presenting “The Case for Af- firmative Action on Campus,” featuring
author Eboni
Zamani-Gallaher, Wednesday, April 21.
The presentation will
take place in the Royal Oak Campus’ Room A202 from 3 to 5 p.m. Admission is free and the public is invited.
Dr. Zamani-Gallaher is co-
author of “The Case for Affir- mative Action on Campus,” a book that examines the atti- tude of baccalaureate-seeking community college students regarding affirmative action in college admission.
For further information call
Stacey Jackson at (248) 246- 2586 or e-mail her at snjack-
so@oaklandcc.edu.
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