Resistance during the Transatlantic Slave Trade - Essay Example

Resistance during the Transatlantic Slave Trade Slave resistance was the initial, gradual and ultimate response of the African slaves against transatlantic slavery. There was only one reason for the acts of resistance: “Slaves ‘naturally’ resisted their enslavement because slavery was fundamentally ‘unnatural’”1. In the 16th and 17th centuries when slavery first began and was in full operation, there were various resistances in Africa itself where the slaves were gotten, along the Atlantic when they were on their way to the Americas, and when they reach the New World itself. The resistance was a response to the pain and lack of freedom that every slave wanted to have. Nevertheless, unless one would consider the possibility that it triggered the Emancipation of slaves in the 19th century, the resistance was not successful. Resistance in Africa The resistance did not only take place in the Americas but also even in Africa, where the slaves were first taken by the European colonizers and slave traders. In Africa, certain societies from which potential slaves were taken, such as the Djola society of Senegal and Gambia, and the Balanta society of Guinea-Bissau, resisted the arrival of the Europeans who brought transatlantic slavery with them2. The resistances in Africa were defensive, offensive and protective in nature3. These were meant not only to discourage the Europeans from getting more slaves from Africa but to somehow send a message to the Western world that slavery is really unnatural and that no one has the right to declare that a person can be someone’s property. Some resistances in African in the 18th century were in the form of relocation, particularly by the West Africans. As the market for slaves increased, many West Africans tried to look for areas that were less accessible to the slave traders. These Africans moved to lake areas where it was difficult for the invaders to cross4. Nevertheless, although some were spared through this way, there was no stopping the European invaders from getting more slaves from Africa. Another strategy of Africans is by architectural means like building homes and villages with labyrinths, as well as high walls and several points of ingress or entry points, and egress or exit points5. This further confused the slave traders as most of them did not know how labyrinths worked. There were no reports, however, regarding the true effectiveness of these architectural works in preventing European invaders from capturing slaves. Aside from these, there were also protective strategies like captive redemption, or the system of helping each other avoid slavery by using cash protection. Mostly, these were secret societies like those of the Efik and Ekpe, although they were able to help protect the African slave traders6. Still, just like the other previously mentioned strategies, there was no way to account for the effectiveness of captive redemption. After all, it obviously could not accommodate everyone. There were protective strategies but there were also offensive ones. The offensive forms of resistance included several rebellions in Africa itself. Among these were the Mandingo Rebellion in Mali and Niger from 1785-1796, the Hubbu Rebellion in Guinea in the 1850s, and the Bilali Rebellion in Sierra Leone from 1838-1872. These were all armed resistances that helped resist slavery and assert the freedom of the Africans from slavery7. Other offensive strategies included forming alliances among communities in order to protect people from the slave traders; Africans deliberately dropping poisoned food, wine and water along the paths of the European slave traders for an obvious purpose; and young men undergoing military training in order to be able to protect their communities8. The problem is that in many parts of Africa, all cultural and religious movements instituted to counter transatlantic slavery were brutally quelled by the government. One example of this was the Congolese movement in the 1700s led by the Catholic seer Dona Beatrice Kimpa Vita that sought to find an end to the wars and the slavery campaign. The group was suppressed by the European invaders and the members were taken as slaves9. There were several other reports of these quelled rebellions but there was no report about a particular rebellion that eventually stopped slavery for good. Resistance off the African Coast on the Slaving Ships Speaking of resistance in the slave ships, there are about 500 documented rebellions. Usually in harbors or on voyages, death was a form of resistance opted for by the newly captured African slaves. These slaves committed suicide and infanticide, and often starved themselves to death. They did this in order to ensure that the slave traders would not be able to use their bodies10. Not only was this the case but that many African slaves in the ships on their way to America resented authority, moved too slowly, suffered from severe depression, and shrieked, cried and sang mournful songs11. Resistance in America When the slaves arrived in America, they continued their resistance as those that often sabotaged the places they were in, ran away, and acted as go-slows to delay their employer’s work. In fact, over 5% of the slaves ran away for the next 40 years, between 1735 and 1775. These runaways established communities known as Maroons and these communities sprang up across the Americas particularly in Brazil, Jamaica, Suriname and other countries. These Maroon communities fought brutally against colonial authorities, and they continued to exist until slavery was abolished12. Aside from the establishment of the Maroon communities, there were several rebellions that fought full scale against slavery. Among these rebellions were the Stono Rebellion of South Carolina in 1739, the Virginia Revolts in 1800 and 1831, the Denmark Vesey’s conspiracy in South Carolina in 1822, and foremost of all – the 1791 revolution in Haiti that gave birth to the institution of the black republic in 1804. The independence in Haiti inspired other slave communities in America and then it sparked the rebellions in Grenada from 1795 to 1797, in Barbados in 1816, in Demerera in 1823, and in Jamaica from 1831 to 183213. In many cases, armed rebellions could accomplish much but not to the point that the main goal is accomplished. Usually these organized acts of rebellion would include slaves commandeering weapons and groups of infantry, looting and burning villages and houses of whites, and even kill their own white masters. However, unlike the Haitian Revolution that ultimately freed the slaves and the Civil War that led to the emancipation of slaves, there was no proof that these rebellions changed the course of history and abolished slavery. Nevertheless, apart from the Haitian Revolution, there was no report of a really united opposition to slavery but only a means to alleviate personal conditions at most. Other forms of resistance in America included poisoning one’s master, careless handling of food and ingredients, lying to their masters about anything, stealing, breaking the tools he works with, laziness and obstinacy or disobedience14. Other acts of resistance included feigning illnesses and committing acts of arson15. However, stealing was one of the most common forms of resistance which almost always happened especially when the slaves stole vegetables, fruits, tobacco, livestock, liquor and money. They also stole foodstuffs by directly eating them so as not to leave any evidence16. Aside from silent and armed rebellions, African slaves also turned to native religious practice as a way to menace their masters and thus to show resistance. Many African slaves organized their own ceremonies without the permission of their masters. Their religious practices included those from their native religions – Voodoo, Candomble, or Santeria. Many of them also did the Jonkonnu ceremony, or costumed dances, and the cakewalk dance, which is strongly African in origin17. The usual result of the rebellions and insurrections was mass execution of numerous slaves. These mass executions are usually carried out by burning of the blacks alive, hanging, and all forms of humiliating torture18. Conclusion Resistance to the transatlantic slave trade in the 16th and 17th centuries took place in Africa with the resistance beginning in Africa itself, continuing on the ships where the slaves are brought, and extending even to the Americas. The various forms of resistance included rebellion, crimes like theft and arson, negligence of work and duty, lying, suicide by starvation, and many others. However, despite the various forms of resistance, there was no documented case where such rebellions led to the repeal of the law of slavery nor did it have any concrete effect on the society itself, particularly on the treatment of slaves. The only exceptions were the Haitian Revolutionary War and the Civil War of the United States. The various forms of resistance against the transatlantic slavery did not at all bring about any concrete beneficial effect. Endnotes 1. James H. Sweet, (2013), “Slave Resistance,” TeacherServe, accessed Sept. 23, 2013, http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/tserve/freedom/1609-1865/essays/slaveresist.htm. 2. Alan Rice, (2013), “The Fight: African Resistance,” Revealing Histories, accessed Sept. 23, 2013, http://revealinghistories.org.uk/what-evidence-is-there-of-a-black-presence-in-britain-and-north-west-england/articles/the-fight-african-resistance.html. 3. Michele L. Simms-Burton, (2003), “Fighting the Slave Trade: West African Strategies,” African Studies Quarterly, accessed Aug. 5, 2013., http://www.africa.ufl.edu/asq/v10/v10i1a12.htm. 4. Ibid. 5. Ibid. 6. Ibid. 7. Ibid. 8. Ibid. 9. Rice, “The Fight: African Resistance,” (2013). 10. Ibid. 11. “Resistance to Slavery, the Anti-Slavery Movement, and Abolition,” (2013), University of Calgary, accessed Sept. 23, 2013, http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/migrations/four4.html. 12. Rice, “The Fight: African Resistance,” (2013). 13. Ibid. 14. “Resistance to Slavery,” (2013). 15. “Slave Resistance and Revolts,” (2013), University of Houston, accessed Sept. 23, 2013, http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3045. 16. Sweet, (2013), “Slave Resistance.” 17. “Resistance to Slavery,” (2013). 18. “Slave Resistance and Revolts, (2013). Bibliography “Resistance to Slavery, the Anti-Slavery Movement, and Abolition.” (2013). University of Calgary. Accessed Sept. 23, 2013. http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/migrations/four4.html. Rice, Alan. (2013). “The Fight: African Resistance.” Molly Spotted Elk Archive. Accessed Sept. 23, 2013. http://revealinghistories.org.uk/what-evidence-is-there-of-a-black-presence-in-britain-and-north-west-england/articles/the-fight-african-resistance.html. Simms-Burton, Michele L. (2003). “Fighting the Slave Trade: West African Strategies.” African Studies Quarterly. Accessed Aug. 5, 2013. http://www.africa.ufl.edu/asq/v10/v10i1a12.htm. “Slave Resistance and Revolts.” (2013). University of Houston. Accessed Sept. 23, 2013. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3045... Sweet, James H. (2013). “Slave Resistance.” TeacherServe. Accessed Sept. 23, 2013. http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/tserve/freedom/1609-1865/essays/slaveresist.htm. Read More