Indentured Servants Vs. Black Slaves

Indentured Servants Versus Black Slaves

Unfree white laborer’s experiences were very different compared to the unfree black laborers in the British North American colonies. Black laborers, had no rights, and were subjects to their master with very harsh punishments. They were also working against their will while the white laborers, had agency with better treatment than the Black slaves. Records of these differences exist in people's and other historical accounts from the early 17th century and all the way to the late 18th century. Black labor was cheaper compared to the White indentured servants, who lived by an agreement between themself and their master. Most Black laborers were sold by people who captured them, most of them coming from

Olaudah Equiano was a victim of slavery and said to have feared the White man when being transported to Barbados. Him and others feared that they were going to be eaten by the White people who have captured them. He describes the trip that he took to get to Barbados and how he was sold off into slavery. Equiano was put up for auction with other slaves that traveled with him. He describes the other slaves asking the White people questions. They question why they are being treated like this and other questions that are very significant. Olaudah Equiano feared for his life when he was being brought to Barbados on a ship. Him and other slaves cried because they feared that they were going to be eaten. Equiano realizes that there is no hope for returning home. When Other and Equiano were relieved when a person told them that they were not going to be eaten, but put to work. The labor that people like Equiano had to do was harsh and could be as far as inhumane with the severe punishments that come along with

Black slaves came to the colonies in chains without a choice. The servants signed contracts with their masters and agree upon what they signed up for. These contracts state what the servant will do and for how long they will be doing the labor, as well as what the servant will be granted in the end. Usually the servants are granted food and land towards the end. Unlike Black slaves, the Indentured servants had agency. They agreed with their masters with a contract, and majority of the time these servants get a reward towards the end. The reward that the Indentured servant usually gets is a certain amount of food and also some land. The only reward that Slaves could possibly get was freedom, however, it came at a price. Some slaves felt that they were cheated for their freedom.

Venture Smith, was young when he was taken into slavery. When he was captured, he took a blow to the head by the fore part of a gun. Rope was put around his neck to prevent him and other slaves from escaping. The people who captured Smith were lusting for money. Smith watched his father get tortured to death because he would not tell the people where his money was at. Smith was shipped off to Rhode Island. He worked for many years for his master. Venture Smith said that he felt cheated by his master. He felt that his master benefited from