It is well known that the lives of slaves have not been easy. Beaten and tortured, forced to work on plantations and in factories, it’s no wonder it’s one of the darkest parts of history to date. Beaten and tortured, slaves from Africa were constantly neglected, forced to work, and torn from their families and their homes. During their voyage, on the plantations, and being torn from home, the quality of slaves’ lives was horrendous.

            The beginning of the slaves’ suffering began right in their own homes in Africa.  People from different countries all across the globe invaded homes, kidnapped men, women, and even children, and tied all the slaves together to prevent their escape. Once the correct number of slaves was gathered up, the invaders would then take them to a slave factory, where their strength and ability to work were measured. If any slave failed this examination, they were set free, leaving behind their brothers and sisters who would have to endure the pain and suffering of slavery.   

During their voyage to the country they were going to be working at, slaves were brutally tortured, and learned to fear the leaders of the ship quickly. Maintaining the frightened and desperate slaves meant that this system had to be put to action, because it was the only way that the slaves would stay frightened and desperate. The living conditions for the slaves in these ships were tight and uncomfortable. Slaves were shackled together at the wrists and ankles and forced to live together in a small room at the head of the ship, with measurements no larger than five feet. Although women and children were permitted to walk across the deck during the day, they were often raped and beaten some more. So, for all of the slaves, there was no choice but to be cramped together into one tiny little space.

When the slaves arrived at their destination—whether it be the Americas or Europe—the beatings and torture escalated. While slaves were allowed to choose their own partners (although they had to get permission first) and create a family, the overseers sought to make sure that they didn’t have a pleasant experience working for them. Women were still allowed to be raped—their master wouldn’t get in any trouble for it. Although they were getting whipped and beaten, the slaves still adapted to their situation, making the most out of it with practicing their culture from Africa. They danced, sang, and did the things that they would have normally done while they were in Africa. What they really did during the entire situation, was not lose hope.

Slave lives during the times of the Atlantic Slave Trade were very sad and brutal. From the time when slaves were torn from their homes, they experienced nothing but sheer torture and punishment for the satisfaction of their owners. When they were on the slave ships going to the different countries, they were still beaten, and diseases wiped out millions. When they arrived at their plantations, they learned that losing hope was not an option, and although they were still brutally beaten and sometimes killed, they strived to keep the culture of their African roots alive.