The middle of the 15th century signifies an important era in the history of African Americans and it is a critical aspect of the black experience. Its great significance derives from the fact that this time period marks the origin of the slave trade. The slave trade, which began as a simple act to impress a king, quickly escalated into a system that used and abused the lives of africans in order to obtain an economic advantage. This system, which is now referred to as the transatlantic slave trade, lasted hundreds of years until its abolition in 1807. The transatlantic slave trade was a horrific occurrence that had a great impact on the black experience between the 1400s and 1800s. The impact resulting from the trade had negative effects on the the black experience because africans were belittled and torment. On the other hand, the slave trade also had a positive impact on the black experience because gave rise to the power mindsets of frican individuals.
The slave trade had a negative impact on the black experience due to the conditions and lifestylels in which the africans had to live, if they even survived. In retrospect, this era was a miserable point in time for the african body that consisted of maltreatment, exploitation, a dehumanization. The novel Ama, written by Manu Herbstein, vividly describes the types of events that took place as these africans were transported across the Atlantic Ocean to the americas. On these voyages, the africans were no longer africans filled with vibrant cultures; they were simply considered one of the hundreds of other slaves onboard. They were demoralized by being subjected to nothingness and the value of their lives were equivalent to that of animal’s. In addition to the physical, mental, and emotional torment experienced on board, the africans had to then go through a process of “seasoning” after being disembarked in the americas. This is a process in which africans were conditioned to submit to the excruciating, exploiting, and abusive affairs of the enslavement in the Americas (Gomez, 88). All of these different aspects of the slave trade that the africans had to endure have led to the negative impact of the black experience that ultimately included the silencing and the oppressing of black opinions and culture. Despite all of its negative aspects, the transatlantic slave trade has actually also had a positive impacts on the black experience, by shaping the overall powerful mindset of the africans. The slave trade was, in a way, a reflective and insightful period that revealed to many of the africans that they should not accept the conditions in which they were subjected to because they were equal and not inferior to …show more content…
The situations which the africans had to encounter strongly affected the mentality of the africans, which subsequently impacted the black experience in many ways. The physical and mental abuse they received can be perceived as a negative impact because, at the time, it resulted in the inferiority of africans. However, these experiences are what led to the overcoming of africans. They were many instances where the would rise as courageous group of individuals and attempt to overpower the whites. The outcome of the transatlantic slave trade as a whole still had a great impact on the black experiences and still resides in the hearts of individuals even til this
The slave trade had a negative impact on the black experience due to the conditions and lifestylels in which the africans had to live, if they even survived. In retrospect, this era was a miserable point in time for the african body that consisted of maltreatment, exploitation, a dehumanization. The novel Ama, written by Manu Herbstein, vividly describes the types of events that took place as these africans were transported across the Atlantic Ocean to the americas. On these voyages, the africans were no longer africans filled with vibrant cultures; they were simply considered one of the hundreds of other slaves onboard. They were demoralized by being subjected to nothingness and the value of their lives were equivalent to that of animal’s. In addition to the physical, mental, and emotional torment experienced on board, the africans had to then go through a process of “seasoning” after being disembarked in the americas. This is a process in which africans were conditioned to submit to the excruciating, exploiting, and abusive affairs of the enslavement in the Americas (Gomez, 88). All of these different aspects of the slave trade that the africans had to endure have led to the negative impact of the black experience that ultimately included the silencing and the oppressing of black opinions and culture. Despite all of its negative aspects, the transatlantic slave trade has actually also had a positive impacts on the black experience, by shaping the overall powerful mindset of the africans. The slave trade was, in a way, a reflective and insightful period that revealed to many of the africans that they should not accept the conditions in which they were subjected to because they were equal and not inferior to …show more content…
The situations which the africans had to encounter strongly affected the mentality of the africans, which subsequently impacted the black experience in many ways. The physical and mental abuse they received can be perceived as a negative impact because, at the time, it resulted in the inferiority of africans. However, these experiences are what led to the overcoming of africans. They were many instances where the would rise as courageous group of individuals and attempt to overpower the whites. The outcome of the transatlantic slave trade as a whole still had a great impact on the black experiences and still resides in the hearts of individuals even til this