Alan Lomax,Negro Prison & Blues Songs Black Woman – YouTube.
Slave Facts
Classes of Slaves
House Slaves:
• Many were cooks, waiters, butlers, maids, nannies, and coachmen
• Had the most contact with the white family
• Had little contact with field slaves
• Had better food, clothing, and privileges
• They often spied on other slaves to improve their status
• Fear of demotion made them obey their masters
• Masters considered them the most accommodating and submissive
• Some stole from their masters
• The masters’ house was called the “Big House”
• Many helped other slaves escape
• Occasionally poisoned their master’s food or attacked the master’s family
Field Slaves:
• Usually worked from morning until dusk
• Lived in small houses or shacks away from the Big House
• Men, women, and children worked in the fields
• Women left their newborn babies lying on the ground or in a stump while they worked
• Filed slaves were usually divided into different groups based on their physical abilities
• Plow gang – black men and strong women would plow the fields
• Hoe gang – black women used the hoe that was considered easier
• Trash gang – small children were responsible for burning brush, sweeping yards, driving cattle, picking cotton, carrying water
Punishments:
• Given for disobedience, running away, reading, working too slowly, practicing religion, to be an example to other slaves
• Some forms of punishment included selling the slaves and separating them from their families
• Most punishments were physical
• Most common punishment was whipping which permanently scarred the backs of slaves
• Some slaves were beaten on the backs with paddles rather than whips which prevented scarring and increased the sale price of the slaves
• Thumb Screw – thick wristband of iron that pulled the thumb back
• Stocks – slaves would be locked in stocks that bound their feet, hands, and head in order to keep them from running away
• Bell – iron collar with a bell that rang every time the person moved
• Gag – iron bar placed across the mouth to the back of the neck
• Gang Chain – pair of slaves chained together and taken to be sold
From: http://frank.mtsu.edu/~tah/currunits/slavery/facts.pdf
