Louise Minks writes, “A slave was simply a piece of property, not a human being with rights or protection. The owner had full power over that property.” Slavery has been a fundamental practice in society from 3000 B.C. to present day. (Insert specifics?) In Africa, it was not uncommon for individuals to purchase fellow companions as slaves: In Africa, the circumstances of slavery differed widely. In many parts of the continent, slaves were treated as family members, accorded privileges and comforts similar to freeborn members of the household. Although enslaved, such individuals were often able to work in roles that were familiar to them, and they might even rise to lofty social stations depending on their talents and the benevolence of their master.
Various forms of slavery existed in Africa for thousands of years. War and
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African slaves were not forcibly removed from their homes. They maintained their humanity and retained individual rights, including equality and freedom. Some slaves could marry, which allowed social mobility. However, the nature of slavery changed drastically following the arrival of European traders. For roughly four hundred years, millions of African men, women, and children were forcibly abducted from their homes, culture and society, and victimized by the European system of trading. There was clearly a distinct difference between the African system of slavery and the European system of slavery. Considered a commodity by the Europeans, an African slave was an investment with the sole intent of being sold to increase one’s economic status. Even though the Triangular Trade was profitable, greed does not justify the violent crimes against humanity, as conditions affected the physical and psychological health of African slaves. The overcrowded and unhealthy spaces below the decks made illnesses and high death rates inevitable. In addition, the hard times endured by the African slaves caused many of them to lose their will