SLAVE CULTURE

Outcomes: 3.5 explain and describe the development

and difficulties of slave culture economically, politically, socially, and spiritually in North America and Caribbean

3.6 examine how people of African descent used various means to resist enslavement through cultural expression, i.e., music and slave insurrections, religion, folktales and writing

Concepts to think about… What is culture? How does every culture express itself?

What does every culture have in common?

Why would it be in the best interest of the slave owners to keep their slaves without power?

How could these impact how you live?

The Daily Grind of a Slave Given enough to eat Provided shelter Could get access to better if job was

in the main house Could often be sold without warning Not uncommon for the master to

father children with the slaves who would then become slaves

Crop work long and dangerous including poisonous animals like snakes

Brutal punishments like whipping, withholding of food, locking in cages with no access to food or water, tied to a tree in the sun…

Day started early and ended late Work decided by a quota –

punishments if they were not met

The Daily Grind of a Colonial Houses made of brick or stone Small farmers lived mostly

hand to mouth with help from neighbours

Plantation owners were rich and lived mostly for recreation

Church meetings like picnics or socials were major events

Clothing depended on your level of society and was often colourful and decorated with flowers or ribbons on Sundays

Long work days but plenty of recreational opportunities for the average person

How could a slave get freedom? freed by their owners to

honor a pledge, to grant a reward, or, before the 1700s, to fulfill a servitude agreement

bought by Quakers, Methodists, and religious activists for the sole purpose of freeing them (a practice soon banned in the southern states)

ran away to free territory "self-purchase“ purchasing their own

relatives.

Slave culture - YouTube

Who’s interests were served by slavery? What link do you see in the “lopsided balance of

power”? Give evidence for a link between economic power,

social power (power to make social change), and political power with marginalization.

How do you see the mixing of African and Colonial traditions?

What was one form of ultimate power that slave owners had that was alluded to at the end of the clip?

Slave ReligionReview the article and complete the questions:

Expression of Culture Slaves were not permitted to read and

write Teaching a slave to read or write was

against the law Passing down of stories or warnings

was through oral tradition, songs and art From one generation to the next subtle

changes

Expressions of culture Food – Spiced, melons,

corn, fished and hunted, usually not given enough

Clothing – Made from what they were given, traded through the plantations among slaves

Religion – mixtures of African and Christianity

Art – Decorated what they could use like pipe bowls, functional art and told stories – quilts hidden in plain view

Slave Music Different Kinds of

Music Different occasions Few instruments Often required few

people Often told a story 3 main kinds:

Work, Worship, Recreation

Cornfield Holler – YouTube (Work Song)

“It makes a long time man feel bad" & "Prison Blues" – YouTube (Work Song)

Do Lord Remember Me Mississippi John Hurt – YouTube (Worship)

Amazing Grace - Wintley Phipps – YouTube (Worship)

Paul Robeson - Shortenin bread :) - YouTube (Recreation)

go to sleep little baby (a cappella ~ harmony) – YouTube (Recreation)

Slave Song Book? HISTORY DETECTI

VES | Slave Songbook | PBS - YouTube

What would make this a very important find?

How important was music in slave culture?

How do we know?

Discussion Groups In groups of 4

discuss the concept given. Make sure you appoint a recorder to write down at least three points you discussed and at least one more question you would have.

Discussion Topics:

Discuss the concept of a slave culture �that is different from colonial culture

Consider how the slave culture �evolved as a different culture from the colonial settlers

Discuss why it would be in the best �interest of a colonial culture to marginalize slaves and their children

Discuss the combination of African traditions and religions with Christianity

Discuss the link between religious ties and conditions of slavery

Discuss the unique importance of �folklore and oral traditions, including music to a non-literate and repressed group of people