Brief Summary Of Slavery In The United States

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES

Slavery in the United States began in 1619. The first known captured Africans were shipped by boat to Jamestown Virginia. Slavery was a system of contracting indentured servants and enslaving individuals to work land for economic growth and power. This system enslaved Africans, some Native Americans and some English and Irish individuals. In thebeginning indentured servants and slaves of different ethnicities were treated the same. During the late 1630s servants and slaves could gain freedom by converting to Christianity, yet slave owners and holders did not honor this agreement. To help keep servants and slaves from rebelling, slave owners found a way to differentiate between them. If you were English, you were considered white andif you were African considered Black1. Africans were now enslaved based on the color of their skin. Slavery in North America was one of the most brutal systems that affected the livelihood, interactions, and psyche of many Americans. Slavery was the worst for African Americans as they were deemed as less than human, property to be bought and sold, with no right or say in what they could do,where they could live and whom they could interact with. Families were separated, sold, and never to see each other again. Many slaves were not treated with care, kindness nor with any regard to their well-being. Slaves were tortured, beaten, or killed if they dared to run away or speak out. Even with the threat of being tortured, beaten, or killed slaves still spoke out, fought back and/or ranaway from slavery. It is important to note that there were also free Africans who traveled from Africa to the “new found land” to live and provide a better life for their families. Many of the free African Americans stood up against slavery helping with anti-slavery efforts and freeing slaves through the Underground Railroad (even with the threat of being captured and sold into slaverythemselves). It is also important to note that some free African Americans owned slaves as well.

We are not as clear on the living conditions and treatment of the slaves owned by other African Americans. The historical books researched for this program do not provide a detailed account of slaves owned by other African Americans. For this play, we have decided to focus on the stories of the fivewomen portrayed in Daring to Think, Move and Speak. We follow the journey of five African American women who dared to defy slavery, lynching, sexism, and segregation.



Pre-Performance Questions:

1. How long did slavery last in the United States? Please list the dates?

2. Who were the individuals enslaved in America?

3. Were all African Americans slaves?

4. How many AfricanAmerican women do you know from history? Please list them.

5. What were the different causes that African Americans fought for from slavery through the late 1960s?



FRANCES ELLEN WATKINS-HARPER

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper was an Abolitionist, Writer, and Speaker, who openly expressed her thoughts and feelings about the injustices of slavery. Ms. Watkins Harper was a free woman born inBaltimore, Maryland and received a teacher’s education. She utilized her education for writing and speaking out against the injustices of slavery. Frances Ellen Watkins Harper traveled and spoke about the anti-slavery movement. Furthermore, she financially and physically helped with the Underground Railroad. In Frances Ellen Watkins Harper’s story, we learn more about the significance of theanti-slavery effort, the Underground Railroad and the extent to which she was involved. Here are a few questions to ask your students before and/or after review of her story.



Pre-Performance Questions:

1. When did the anti-slavery struggle begin?

2. What was Frances Ellen Watkins Harper known for?

3. What caused Frances Ellen Watkins Harper to get involved in the anti-slavery...