African Americans at Mid-Century

racism: prejudice based on race

discrimination: unequal treatment based on a person’s race, gender, religion, place of

birth, or other arbitrary characteristic

segregation: the social separation of groups of people,

especially by race

19A: Working Conditions of Slaves

• Slaves work from sunup to sundown.• Some slaves worked in the fields.• Some slaves worked in the house.• Some slaves were skilled craftspeople.• Slaves began to work at age six.

19B: Living Conditions of Slaves

• Slaves lived crowded together in crude cabins.• Few slaves went hungry. They ate cornmeal,

bacon, molasses, & food from gardens & hunting.

• Slaves wore course linen called “negro cloth.”• Medical treatment was provided, but was not

very good.

19C: Controlling Slaves

• Beating• Whipping• Branding• Keeping slaves as ignorant & dependent as

possible• Instilling fear

19D: Resistance to Slavery

• Slaves broke tools.• Slaves worked sloppily.• Slaves took food from their owners’ kitchens.• Slaves acted dumb or sick.• Slaves refused orders, ran away, or openly

revolted.

19E: Slave Families & Communities

• Positive Aspects:– Most slaves grew up in families with both a father

& a mother.– Tight-knit slave families & communities helped

slaves cope with slavery.• Negative Aspects:– Laws did not protect slave families.– Owners could break up families through the sale

of one slave.

19F: Leisure Time Activities

• Quilting bees• Corn-husking parties• Singing & dancing• Telling tales• Going to church• Playing games

19G: Slave Churches

• The word invisible refers to the fact that slaves had to hide their religious beliefs.

• Slave masters tried to use religion to control their slaves.

• Slaves worked hard to establish their own, invisible church that expressed their own experience.

19H: African American Culture

• Slaves used African images, such as animals, in their quilts.

• Slave spirituals used African rhythms & harmonies.

• Slaves dances were based on African traditions.

• Slaves told stories that incorporated African legends & folktales.