The black experience of slavery in North America begins with the

enforced transportation of thousands of Africans across the

Atlantic to North America. The Africans were:

"torn from their families and villages, marched to the coast,

confined in Barracoons to await a passing ship, then crammed

below decks for upwards of two months."(1)

This was the beginning of the dehumanisation of the blacks that

was continued once they reached North America, if they survived

the journey. The blacks would then be auctioned and sold to the

highest bidder. It is estimated that four hundred thousand Africans

were shipped to North America between the years of 1619 and

1860. During the initial stages of this system until around 1660,

the blacks that arrived did not have any tangible legal status,

although they were always seen as inferior. Gradually legislation

was introduced that separated them from white servants and

"Virginia and Maryland passed laws declaring Negroes to be

slaves for life and the children of Negroes and mulattos were

Gradually more legislation was passed essentially defining the

own. The slaves having been stripped of their identity and

beliefs. Legislation was also introduced to prevent slaves

religion initially forced upon them in to a distinctive style of their

music that the slaves secured themselves an identity and culture

This is a sign of great strength and courage when you consider

very first slaves that were brought from Africa the blacks have

The slaves relied on a strong sense of family to give them comfort

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Approximate Word count = 1045
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)