African Americans in the Whaling Industry
Throughout the late 17th Century and into the late 19th century, whaling was a major industry in America. Massachusetts was known very well for its whaling communities and whaling businesses. In towns such as New Bedford and Nantucket, the Whaling industry thrived. The Whaling Industry was a crucial business since the whale oil that was extracted from the Sperm whales in the Pacific Ocean was used to light the houses and streets all over America.(The History of Whaling, PBS) Being a whaler is a difficult and deadly job, and it takes a certain level of strength, confidence and motivation to be on a small ship for many years at a time, all while trying to harvest whales. Whoever could handle this enormous …show more content…
Throughout the book, it told from the point of view from the crew members, and then it gave insight to the reader on some things that the crew members left out. There were no black survivors, therefore, there would be no one to contradict what the white shipmates claimed. The members of the ship the Essex resulted in eating their own shipmates in order to survive. When people began to die from starvation, the firsts one to die were the African Americans. This was most likely due from an inferior diet prior to the sinking and after. Because the majority of the people on the Essex were white, after the ship sunk, it was likely that they gave the African Americans a lesser portion of the food that they saved. Out of all the African Americans on the Essex, only one was high ranking, William Bond. Bond was the last African American alive, most likely to receiving a more nutritious diet prior to the sinking. Once one African American died, it seemed like they all began to die. In a matter of 8 days, all the African Americans except for Bond died. “There was little doubt who had become the tropical birds and who had become the hawks.” (In the Heart of the Sea, Philbrick) Though there is no evidence if the Whaling Industry is racist or discriminatory, it is obvious that when it is a life or death situation, the majority of the white people will outnumber the African Americans, making it an easier task to starve the minority to save
Throughout the late 17th Century and into the late 19th century, whaling was a major industry in America. Massachusetts was known very well for its whaling communities and whaling businesses. In towns such as New Bedford and Nantucket, the Whaling industry thrived. The Whaling Industry was a crucial business since the whale oil that was extracted from the Sperm whales in the Pacific Ocean was used to light the houses and streets all over America.(The History of Whaling, PBS) Being a whaler is a difficult and deadly job, and it takes a certain level of strength, confidence and motivation to be on a small ship for many years at a time, all while trying to harvest whales. Whoever could handle this enormous …show more content…
Throughout the book, it told from the point of view from the crew members, and then it gave insight to the reader on some things that the crew members left out. There were no black survivors, therefore, there would be no one to contradict what the white shipmates claimed. The members of the ship the Essex resulted in eating their own shipmates in order to survive. When people began to die from starvation, the firsts one to die were the African Americans. This was most likely due from an inferior diet prior to the sinking and after. Because the majority of the people on the Essex were white, after the ship sunk, it was likely that they gave the African Americans a lesser portion of the food that they saved. Out of all the African Americans on the Essex, only one was high ranking, William Bond. Bond was the last African American alive, most likely to receiving a more nutritious diet prior to the sinking. Once one African American died, it seemed like they all began to die. In a matter of 8 days, all the African Americans except for Bond died. “There was little doubt who had become the tropical birds and who had become the hawks.” (In the Heart of the Sea, Philbrick) Though there is no evidence if the Whaling Industry is racist or discriminatory, it is obvious that when it is a life or death situation, the majority of the white people will outnumber the African Americans, making it an easier task to starve the minority to save