The institution of slavery in America harbored much violence in order to maintain its existence in the South through physical, psychological, and sexual abuse. Slavery was a profusely profitable business for the Southern plantation owners who profited from slave labor and did everything in their hands to maintain it. Violence in its variety was a form of a conservation force for slavery, which was initiated by the slave owners against the African American slaves. The slaves found various ways to cope with this violence in order to maintain their livelihood and humanity. They balanced their lives by avoiding punishment, finding comfort in Christianity, and maintaining their humanity through education, all while working hard for
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Thomas Jones was often punished physically and he could not avoid it, because the purpose of violence was greater than him. Violence was a form of corporal punishment against the slaves that was enforced in front of other slaves in order to make an example (a form of the politics of terror). Perhaps the slave owners believed that public punishment would guarantee full compliance between them and their slaves. The institution of slavery was based on fear and punishment, which ensured that slaves would submit utterly to their masters or be punished physically in a case of defiance. Of course, this physical punishment could also mean psychological abuse for the other slaves, who would watch without being able to …show more content…
The slave masters were aware of the importance of violence in order to continue their profitable institution, as they implemented many forms of punishment on their slaves to retain their power over their “property.” During this dark chapter of American history, slaves endured many forms of violence: physical, psychological, and sexual. Even with all this abuse, slaves were able to find ways to maintain hope and humanize their existence, just as Thomas Jones who was fortuitous enough to
Thomas Jones was often punished physically and he could not avoid it, because the purpose of violence was greater than him. Violence was a form of corporal punishment against the slaves that was enforced in front of other slaves in order to make an example (a form of the politics of terror). Perhaps the slave owners believed that public punishment would guarantee full compliance between them and their slaves. The institution of slavery was based on fear and punishment, which ensured that slaves would submit utterly to their masters or be punished physically in a case of defiance. Of course, this physical punishment could also mean psychological abuse for the other slaves, who would watch without being able to …show more content…
The slave masters were aware of the importance of violence in order to continue their profitable institution, as they implemented many forms of punishment on their slaves to retain their power over their “property.” During this dark chapter of American history, slaves endured many forms of violence: physical, psychological, and sexual. Even with all this abuse, slaves were able to find ways to maintain hope and humanize their existence, just as Thomas Jones who was fortuitous enough to