Prompt:

Imagine that you live in Africa and have been captured by a slave trader and are being shipped across the Atlantic.  Write a 500 to 750 word personal narrative on recording what your thoughts and experiences might be along your journey.

Response:

While working in the fields I was confused to hear our chief telling us to follow him. He took me and my family to the coast and we were traded to the strangers who did not speak our language. I could not believe my own people would trade us for guns to keep themselves from becoming slaves to the white men. I felt hurt, betrayed, and really scared at what my life had been condemned to become in so short a time. I did not know what to expect, I had been separated from my husband and children. After a long period of time (or so it seemed as I lost track of the distinction between day and night) I was forced onto boats that would take us to the dreaded ships that would take me away from my home forever. I did not know what had happened to my family, if they were to receive the same fate as I have or if they were set free. As I sat in the boat I tried to think of ways I could escape because I knew that as soon as I was put onto that ship I would have no chance of escaping. I saw many of my people trying to jump over the side of the boat and swim back to shore but they were severely beaten when the white men caught them. I could not even attempt this because I was huddled in the middle of the boat and there were men on either side of me. I was beginning to panic as I saw that we were almost to the ship. When we finally reached the ship I was dragged aboard and shoved into a compartment with people from other tribes. We were squished so close together into, too small of a space that it was impossible to move. I knew no one and I could not communicate with anyone because of the different languages between tribes. The only thing we had in common was the fact that we were being treated as animals and being ripped from our homes and way of life. I heard someone I was able to understand telling what the white men had done to her and her sisters. They had been seriously sexually abused by these disgusting so called men. The circumstances of our surroundings were appalling; to think we could survive in such a disgusting environment. There was no way to move so as to be able to relieve ourselves away from our “living quarters”. The food was hardly edible. Diseases spread rapidly because of the horrible lack of hygiene available. I saw some become ill will sicknesses I have never seen before, which were brought to us by the white men. With the lack of adequate food and movement my strength and health began to dwindle. I became very ill and I have no recollection of how long I was sick or how long we were kept in such confinement appropriate for animals. Eventually we reached port, but we were kept on board until the crew knew where to take us. Some of us were then herded out over a few days and taken different places. I got off the boat in the southern colonies. I was so weak with lack of proper food and water I could barely stand and walk alone. I was so to a cotton plantation owner and within my first two weeks of work I was beaten continuously to the point of collapsing during my daily work. I despise the treatment of these incredibly evil men. I often wonder where my family has ended up and who, if any, have survived the despicable treatment these white men have inflicted upon us. It is impossible to describe my hatred of these so called people and what they have done to my life.

Tags: Slavery America Africa Abuse Towards Slaves

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