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These 22 Unbelievable Ads For American Slaves From The 19th Century Will Infuriate You
From ancient times to the present day, slavery was a part of many different cultures, nationalities, and religions. It was first mentioned in the earliest records, such as the Mesopotamian Code Of Hammurabi (c. 1860 BC), and it can, unfortunately still be found in some countries around the world. Although the legal positions of slaves have differed in different times and places, today, domestic slavery is no longer legal anywhere in the world. However, in some form or another, it still appears.
American history is not an exception here. In the USA, having black slaves, was a legal institution in most states during the 18th and 19th centuries. Before the law to prohibit the slave trade was enacted, they were treated like any other commodity you might buy. There were times when slaves were sold to the person who bid the most for them. Sometimes, chattel slavery also destroyed families since the bidder only wanted to buy the strongest and healthiest family member.
As shocking as these slavery facts sound, when the slave ship was about to arrive, the ads for auctions where slaves could be bought appeared all over the city in the form of posters. You can see some of these vintage ads below, but we must warn you – they’re not for the fainthearted, but you cannot erase historical facts. (h/t)
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It's interesting to see where the issues with law enforcement started. It shows that this is nothing knew.
Just so you all know "picinniny" was used as a slur for prepubescent black girls back then.
OMG! THEY LITERALLY ARE TREATING THEM LIKE TOOLS! JUST FARM TOOLS!
the sentance likely young women with three children (CHILDREN) also at the same time on the SAME TERMS three Mules. THEY ARE ACTING AS IF HUMAN SLAVES ARE THE SAME VALUE AS HORSES OR 'MULES'
"which will be at the purchaser's option" how could people be so cynical and cruel?
It baffles me too. They weren't even seen as humans. I dont understand it. Animals treat their young better than we treated and STILL treat most humans.
Load More Replies...Horrific. What happened if the purchaser chose not to take the baby? I suppose he/she would stay behind and be raised by the other slaves. I don't think we can fully appreciate how this kind of treatment would affect families for generations to come. Never knowing your ancestry, families torn apart, no records to trace them again one day. No "old money" in these families whereas, if their ancestors had never been stolen out of Africa, they may well have been living prosperous lives. If so many of the intelligent, strong, healthy young people hadn't been stolen, Africa would probably be a very different place today - as would the US and other slave-owning countries.
Poor woman - and if the purchaser didnt want a 9 month old child?? what would happen to it?
Basically, "Feel free to separate the child from the mother if you wish."
All the women had children. The Masters had their way. This hurts like a mother..
The only positive (and I find it hard to use the term at all) is that they appear to be keeping families together. It is so sad to think people lived their entire lives like this, never knowing freedom, never having any real hope to.
Full hand meaning full time worker. 3-4 hand was like a small child, be it male or female.
it breaks my heart to see how these poor people were treated..cant even imagine what they went through
Hmmnnn...I wonder how so many are described as "mulatress and mulatroo" - I'm afraid they may be products of master/slave rape since whites and blacks did not inter-marry at the time. So heartbreaking to see a little family listed as 5, 6 & 7.
I wish we never brought them here ,,just imagine a world where violent protest were rare ,and music wasn't bragging about fat a*s hoes ,baggy clothes,not to mention the left over 400 billon dollars social services would have to help pore white families out ..if only
I heard that children as young as 4 were taken from the UK to Australia during the first and second world war. to work as slaves! They were beaten, threatened, starved and scared beyond words!
I just hate this. Yes I know it is history. And there were people trying to be fair and humane, and we still have work to do , there are still people kidnapped and taken into slavery. Find a charity/ change non gov. organization ,do some research and put some money and / or effort into helping. Think about some of the original orgs. like Red Cross.
thank you Hidreley, you have opened a window to the past, it was intense.
yet in my country the majority still thinks Blackface is not even an issue
Then I think you live in the same country as I do, The Netherlands.
Load More Replies...I upvoted them all because everyone has to see this. I thought I knew enough about the slave auctions, but apparently I didn't. We all need to realize what humans are capable of if we stop thinking independently. And let's look at us, how are we doing? Are we all civilised or are we a product of our time and are we accepting things that aren't acceptable for our future generations? Maybe after 150 years people will be shocked about our contemporary culture and share it in future social media platforms. Never forget to think instead of going with the flow.
Those of you flying your confederate flags because you think it's trendy to living in the south.... learn from this. This is what your confederate flag is supporting. Learn from history.
I love you're article, specially beginning third generations from Slavery. It was very informative. Thank -You for your work on it.
I wish we could time travel and stop the lynching from happening. I wish we could go back and stop everyone from enslaving and being cruel and inhumane
There are more slaves in existence THIS VERY moment than all the African-american slaves that ever existed combined. They are mostly sex slaves, but also people tricked into coming to the US, their passport taken away, and then held as slaves to do housework and the like. Not just the US of course. Much worse in many other countries. If you feel badly for the past, consider that you're living in a time when there are slaves. (In addition to the traditional definition of slavery, I also consider women living in Afghanistan and Iran as being house and sex slaves. They just happened to get married off to their masters to make it "legal".)
If America is serious about addressing the problems of the past the government should investigate every Co in the S&P 500 that was built off the back of slaves and tax them all accordingly. Using the money to pay for better housing, education and welfare for the most underprivileged, regardless of colour.
Couldn't see all of it. I felt sick and horrified that it's not over. Not to speak about other parts, but in Syria African people are being sold like animals.
it serves as a reminder - as to how culture was 150/200 years ago
Load More Replies...i dont know what the alt right would get out of this. but then again i can't understand how another human being hates a different human being for nothing other than having different race.
Load More Replies...I just hate this. Yes I know it is history. And there were people trying to be fair and humane, and we still have work to do , there are still people kidnapped and taken into slavery. Find a charity/ change non gov. organization ,do some research and put some money and / or effort into helping. Think about some of the original orgs. like Red Cross.
thank you Hidreley, you have opened a window to the past, it was intense.
yet in my country the majority still thinks Blackface is not even an issue
Then I think you live in the same country as I do, The Netherlands.
Load More Replies...I upvoted them all because everyone has to see this. I thought I knew enough about the slave auctions, but apparently I didn't. We all need to realize what humans are capable of if we stop thinking independently. And let's look at us, how are we doing? Are we all civilised or are we a product of our time and are we accepting things that aren't acceptable for our future generations? Maybe after 150 years people will be shocked about our contemporary culture and share it in future social media platforms. Never forget to think instead of going with the flow.
Those of you flying your confederate flags because you think it's trendy to living in the south.... learn from this. This is what your confederate flag is supporting. Learn from history.
I love you're article, specially beginning third generations from Slavery. It was very informative. Thank -You for your work on it.
I wish we could time travel and stop the lynching from happening. I wish we could go back and stop everyone from enslaving and being cruel and inhumane
There are more slaves in existence THIS VERY moment than all the African-american slaves that ever existed combined. They are mostly sex slaves, but also people tricked into coming to the US, their passport taken away, and then held as slaves to do housework and the like. Not just the US of course. Much worse in many other countries. If you feel badly for the past, consider that you're living in a time when there are slaves. (In addition to the traditional definition of slavery, I also consider women living in Afghanistan and Iran as being house and sex slaves. They just happened to get married off to their masters to make it "legal".)
If America is serious about addressing the problems of the past the government should investigate every Co in the S&P 500 that was built off the back of slaves and tax them all accordingly. Using the money to pay for better housing, education and welfare for the most underprivileged, regardless of colour.
Couldn't see all of it. I felt sick and horrified that it's not over. Not to speak about other parts, but in Syria African people are being sold like animals.
it serves as a reminder - as to how culture was 150/200 years ago
Load More Replies...i dont know what the alt right would get out of this. but then again i can't understand how another human being hates a different human being for nothing other than having different race.
Load More Replies...