| Immigration of Africans to North America |
|
Article About Africa
IMMIGRATION It is a well known fact that the immigration of Africans to North America has been a difficult one. It had been full of struggles and suffering, and some of the harshest hardships known to humanity to this day. The very first Africans arriving to North America came with Spanish explorers about 500 years ago. Together, they opened up land for Europeans. However, within 100 years, they had begun to enslave Africans, tearing them away from their homes and bringing them over to North America against their wills.It was the beginning of the notorious slave trade (1600-1800s). At first, the idea of capturing slaves, and making profits of them seemed like a good idea to European and African business associates. The plan was for the Africans, with their keen knowledge of the land, along with help of some Europeans, to travel from village to village and enslave captives. Together, they planned to sell these slaves (often from parts of West Africa) to residents in North America. Local chiefs were encouraged to capture people from villages so that the Europeans could sell them. But as the trade continued, Europeans decided to turn on their African associates. Pretty soon, they too were captured, and Europeans were running things on their own. Slaves taken from their villages, and wealthier, more important Africans betrayed, these were only the first results of the long, terrible struggle to come for African people. Not only was the general concept flawed, the details of this trade are astonishing as well. Villagers were first captured and chained, some were killed, then forced to walk barefoot in lineups towards the coast. Many died along the way from exhaustion, heat, or injuries. Once reaching the ports, the slaves were imprisoned in overly crowded buildings and shortly after, branded by the captors. Those who qualified (rated by captors), were put on ships, which were to sail to North America. The slaves, after the already long and painful trip, had no idea what was happening to them. Conditions on the ships were unbearable. Over crowded, and disease ridden, the slaves were undernourished and in critical health. Some tried to jump overboard, only be left to die, a fate arguably better than those remaining alive. They were kept in holds, though men and women were kept separated, each group getting a short period of time on the upper level for fresh air and exercise. They were given minimal amounts of food, were barely clothed, and were chained and beaten. Men were treated slightly more severely, though women were continuously raped and abused. It was amazing that those who survived, actually were able to live through these conditions and poor treatment. The entire trip across the Atlantic, took about 7 weeks, under good conditions. Once they hit the lands of the East Coast of the continent, the Africans were examined by doctors, being checked for disease and overall potential. The younger, stronger ones were chosen to be brought to auctions, where they were bidden on by their potential North American owners. Once bought, they were usually taken to their new “homes” were they worked as servants or commonly on crops. The African people were seen as ideal for crop work because of their knowledge of soil and planting from their homelands. The slaves were usually treated very poorly by their owners, and by the societies in which they lived. By this point, many of the slaves had picked up some of the language of their new land. Some tried to run away, though if caught, were brought back to their owners and strongly punished. However, there were some lucky few, who found their way to freedom. This generally occurred from 1780-1862, known as the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network of people opposing to slavery, helping runaways reach safety in Canada. This movement helped free 100s of slaves each year, causing the South to lose 100 000 of slaves in total. This organization provided food, lodging, jobs, and money. Runaways were given directions to these different unknown “stations” towards their destination. The organization consisted of many White people, but predominantly Black. Slavery already did not exist in Canada at this time, and was terminated in Northern parts of the US (which had been newly established after the civil war from 1861-1865). However, it took much longer for the leaders of the South to lift the law. Eventually, slavery was abolished from all of North America, and Africans became free citizens. Though they had accomplished this, what had previously seemed, impossible dream, racism alone, had a long way to go. Even today, hundreds of years later, this is still an issue. The long, difficult history of the migration of Africans to North America, is a very important one, and will not likely be soon forgotten. Generally brought here against their own will or consent, they have established a decent life in these new lands. Today, Africa-Americans, or African-Canadians are strongly part of our society, and their heritage firmly weaved in to our history as well. It is definitely fair to say, Africans have had one of the most intense, and powerful stories of their arrival to this part of the world. Vlada Televko, 17, 10, 2008 BIBLIOGRAPHY
|
