The Abuse of Slaves in the West Indies



The Abuse of Slaves in the West Indies

Answers

Answer no. 1

According to the author, the horrific aspect for women slaves was being raped by their overseers or masters. The relationship between master and slave girl was nothing but that of property. So, the slave women were exposed to sexual and physical abuse. The ship crew or the overseer did not call it the abuse. They used to consider them a routine practice. For whites, it was not a crime to disgrace an African girl. Even, a girl of ten years was not safe from that horrible play of violence and brutality. Author called these inhumane acts of sexual abuse an ignominy to religion as well as to the honor of manhood. If a Negro was found to be involved with the white woman, he would be cut into pieces or burnt (Velm, 2013). Answer no 2

As said by the author, in the West Indies, the overseers were the most inhumane persons with the worst character. They were so plunged in the depths of cruelty and brutality that slaves felt horrified by them. Shackling, cutting, burning of slaves, branding, whipping and lashing were the common practices. The author gave so many examples in which the slaves were put in to shocking punishment just on trivial cause. They had no respect doe pregnant women, children and men. There were no proper lodges for them to reside. They often used to sleep on damp places (Cole, 1995).

As far as the slave owners are concerned, they were brutal too, but the author mentioned that he had travelled to fifteen islands as a slave and found some good examples of the slave owner. These slave owners treated Negroes with much care and used to keep them in healthy living conditions. One of the slave owners had drawn some rules to treat his slaves. He allowed his slaves some break and refreshment during working on fields. He also provided them with so many other facilities and comforts. Answer no 3

According to the 329th Act of the Assembly of “Barbados”, if a slave was punished by his master for running away or any other crime he had committed, his master would not be fined for the act. On the other hand, if he ill treated the slave out of cruel intention he would pay fifteen pound sterling. The act was ...