What were some of the cruelties experienced by Africans during the middle passage?

Answer 1

The slaves were stacked like wood next to each other. They were in chains and were not allowed to move from the stacked position the whole trip. If a slave got sick corks were used to stop the diarhea freely running on the other slaves. Food and water was given only enough to keep the slaves alive.

Answer 2

The Middle Passage was an incredibly harrowing experience for Africans who were forcibly taken from their homes and transported across the Atlantic to be sold into slavery. The cruelties they endured were numerous and horrific:

Brutal Conditions: Africans were packed tightly into the holds of slave ships, often with little room to move. The conditions were unsanitary, with inadequate ventilation and waste management, leading to the spread of diseases such as dysentery and smallpox.

Physical Abuse: Enslaved Africans were subjected to physical abuse by the crew of the ships. This included beatings, whippings, and other forms of punishment for perceived disobedience or resistance.

Malnutrition and Starvation: Many Africans were deprived of adequate food and water during the voyage, leading to malnutrition and starvation. The diet provided on the ships was often insufficient and of poor quality.

Chains and Shackles: Africans were often chained and shackled for the duration of the voyage, further restricting their movement and causing physical discomfort and injury.

Sexual Violence: Women and girls were particularly vulnerable to sexual violence at the hands of the crew and other enslaved individuals on board the ships.

Dehumanization: Enslaved Africans were treated as property rather than human beings, subjected to constant degradation and dehumanization by the crew and slave traders.

Psychological Trauma: The experience of being forcibly taken from their homes, separated from their families, and transported under such brutal conditions caused immense psychological trauma for enslaved Africans.

These cruelties resulted in the deaths of millions of Africans during the Middle Passage, making it one of the darkest chapters in human history.