The Middle passage

Facts:

  • 10 to 16 milions Africans were transported across the Atlantic to the America between 1500 and 1900
  • at least 2 million Africans-10 to 15 percent-died during the Middle Passage
  • another 15 to 30 percent died during the march to or confinement along the coast
  • for every 100 slaves who reached the New World, 40 died in Africa or during the Middle Passage
  • in ships, slaves lives in spaces less then 5 feet high
  • horrific odors filled those spaces
  • the most serious danger was dehydration
  • many Africans attempted suicide
  • there was a revolt on one in every ten voyages
  • the Middle Passage between Africa and America usually took more than seven weeks
  • the men were chained together and forced to lie shoulder to shoulder
  • the enslaved Africans were usually fed only once or twice a day
  • the death rate on these slave ships was very high, reaching 25 percent
  • The level of slave exports grew from about 36,000 a year in the early 18th century to almost 80,000 a year during the 1780s
  • slavers usually contained at least 400 slaves, with some carrying more than 700

Little math. Whole middle passage can be done two times per year. And avarage number of slaves on board was 550. So if in 1780s there were transported 80,000 slaves, there were approximately 80 boats tradeing slaves that year. It seems that it is not so big number. But imagine how big were those ships. Those ships were long approximately 35 yard long and their weight was more then 290 tons without load. It IS great number. Imagine that ship full of slaves arrived to American coast averege every 54hours.

If for 100 slaves whose reached America 40 died, it means that just because of slavery died 4 to 6 milions of africans. In WW2 died near 6 milions jews. Almost same number. They lived in comparable conditions. And who is responsible for those deaths?  Someone may think that slavers. But who hired the slavers? Colonies. Goverment of colonies killed 6 millions Africans just in middle pasage. That’s called genocide. Something like Africans holocaust.

See any difference?

69 Responses to “The Middle passage”

  1. Gladwin Williams Says:

    Dear Sir/Madam,

    I will be grateful for your permission to include your photograph of the Middle Passage in my book, From Genesis to Destiny. The book highlights the genesis of Blacks from the Bible to contemporary history. It is not racist or does it seek to incite racial tension but raher seeks to present a balanced view of Blacks.

    Thanks for your assistance.

    Gladwin Williams

    • jakubv Says:

      Dear Mr. Galdwin Williams,
      feel free to use any photograph from Middle Passage in your book.
      Sincerelly,
      Jakub Valdner

  2. devin Says:

    I really hope English is your second language.

  3. jakubv Says:

    yes it is, don’t worry.

  4. marieka marston Says:

    i was really sorry for the AFRICAN SLAVERY, I HATE WHITE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!

    • gregory Says:

      im black but i do not hate white people its not there falt the y didnt know any better i just reasontly had some time to reminess on all are fello ancestors i feel just as vile and sinister as you but really if you rect your as stupid as they are we are BETTER THAN THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  5. Lucy Devin Says:

    yes, NEVER, EVER, EVER, IN ANY SITUATION EVER AGAIN!!!!!

  6. Mitch Says:

    Wow this was very helpful! thanks alot! 🙂

  7. comrade thawangi Says:

    slavery still going on in the world
    people beaware of neo colonialism and imperialism

  8. Beth Bowler Says:

    Slavery is disgusting !It is horrible to think that we were once a part of this. This website showed me figures of how packed the ships were. At first I thought there was only 100 per ship which is still disgusting figure but 550 is terrible. But it was a real help with my history hwk.
    Thanks from Beth B

  9. jakubv Says:

    btw, this project was just my homework and I am just really durprised how many people already saw it, I just made it to get good grade.

  10. nacharlotte Says:

    well i think site is very helpfull but my friend didnt find it tht helpful, she is a bit retarded, her name is natashah hitti xxx

  11. rochelle Says:

    this info is really good!
    tnx a lot!

  12. sophie mazzone Says:

    hello slavery should carry on get rid of all the

  13. sparkle Says:

    Feel sorry for dem black niggas man i hate white peeps JHEEZ

  14. tasha_louise09 Says:

    well that slavery is a total douch bag. im glad it got stopped. i gotta black mate and shes kick ass so suck on that. ohh yeah… thnks 4 the info 🙂

  15. Sarah Says:

    Hi does anyone know any good history websites about slavery?

  16. Zak Ofield Says:

    I Like men And Especially Black Slave Men!!!! Make Sure They Are Anrexic

  17. bam Says:

    i am so sorry for those slaves how they use to get beating and got thrown over board for doing bad stuff i fell so so so sorry i fell like i want to cry for them

  18. bam Says:

    i hate white people to i wish black peole did rule back then

    • Rachel Says:

      Skeen !!!
      You hate white people for being racist…!
      But if you had it your way black people would be just as worse !

  19. grace Says:

    thanks lot this really helped with my research for my coursework.

  20. Georgiaaa Says:

    This Website Is Really Helpfull Thankss ALOT!:D:D:D:D

  21. oiuzj\hx Says:

    slavery oh slavery i hate slaaaaaaavery

  22. donia sullivan Says:

    This was an egregarious error on human kind. I am so glad that someone is thoughtful enough to help balance the propaganda that plagues our history books.

  23. Kyle Says:

    This is in response to all of you that say you hate all white people.

    Slavery in America ended about 150 years ago. Everyone that was ever involved in the slave trade is DEAD.

    Slavery was brought to Colonial America in 1619 by the British, so you can thank them for that. The United States didn’t even exist yet.
    Also bear in mind that it wasn’t all white people. It was RICH white people, (plantation owners and the ruling class) that exploited everyone else, including poor white people.
    In addition to African slaves… Europeans, mostly Irish, Scottish, English, and Germans, were brought over in substantial numbers as indentured servants. Yes, white people were also used as slave labor.
    During that time in history, many more white people were put in “debtors prisons” sometimes for being in debt for as little as $0.60. These were essentially forced labor camps. It took a long time to pay off even the smallest of debts. Their only “crime”… Being poor.
    Throughout history, it has always been the rich and powerful that are responsible for most of the atrocities that were committed against mankind. Also, it is the rich and powerful that were responsible for creating the laws that discriminated against black people, and also for spreading the propaganda that made racism run rampant for so long.
    No one in my family ever owned a slave. In fact, although I outwardly appear to be Caucasian, I am part Cherokee. Some of my ancestral line were either slaughtered or marched to reservations by soldiers that were following orders, from RICH white government officials.
    Regardless of race, gender, creed, or national origin, people have always been shit on by the rich and powerful. It is still happening today, just in different ways.
    Before you hate white people for simply being white, I suggest you read up on your history and see for yourself who is really to blame.
    Hatred and ignorance only breeds more hatred and ignorance.
    If you hate me because I look white, then you have become the very thing you despise. A racist.

  24. jakubv Says:

    by the way, author does not necessarily agree with any comments posted here. I approve every comment which IS NOT INAPPROPIATE. so please, if you want your comment here, be appropiate

  25. A.Darko Says:

    Kyle although some of your data is accurate other parts are completely inaccurate.
    1) With my limited knowledge on history what I do know is that ‘Africans’ were never offered the option to be indentured servants because ‘indentured servants’ were paid WAGES and a blind man on horse can tell African slaves received no wages during and some cases after slavery.

    2) You are mixing up servitude with slavery, Kyle if I were walk up to your house in 1500’s and brutally kill your father (removing the bread winner) I would become your man servant for a number of years determined by the judicial body in place at the time. I would also be forced to make money for your family part of which I would take for myself and after the determined time I would be released. If you do not know, back there was no prisons example Australia the island (Whole Island) was a prison state if you do not believe me do some research. So back then, it was servitude or death…, which would you, choose?

    Overall do not mix up servitude with slavery and we should be upset or angry about slavery because the country that was the reason for the holocaust (World War II) apologized to the Jews, and England apologized to some race for something they did whenever but NO ONE APOLOGIZED TO THE AFRICANS FOR SLAVERY. So that statement about all those involved in slavery is dead, so all those involved in WWII are also dead but the afflicted people got some repatriation I think it is time the children of the those enslaved get what is owed unto them.

  26. Kyle Says:

    RE: A.Darko

    I am not here to mince words with you, or quibble over irrelevant minutiae.
    While it is true that some chose to be indentured in order to pay for a debt, or for passage to America, or were sentenced to indentured servitude in lieu of a prison term… Many others were simply kidnapped and forced into it, much like the African people, they didn’t have a choice… Or, a voice.
    Also, many of the Africans that were rounded up and sold into slavery were done so by other Africans. Slavery was widely practiced in Africa before the beginning of the slave trade in the Americas. Slavery and the slave trade were an integral part of African societies and states which supplied the Arab world with enslaved people for centuries before the arrival of the Europeans.
    And, NEWS FLASH… Slavery still exists in Africa to this day.

    West Africans to African-Americans: “We Apologize for Slavery”
    http://www.probe.org/site/c.fdKEIMNsEoG/b.4223655/k.90ED/West_Africans_to_AfricanAmericans_We_Apologize_for_Slavery.htm

    “Thoughts on the Atlantic Slave Trade: the Roles of Africans and the Issue of Apology for Slavery”
    http://www.westafricareview.com/vol1.2/vol1.2a/naallah.html

    “House apologizes for slavery and Jim Crow”
    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25921453/

    “Apologies” for Slavery? And, Possible Reparations?”
    http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/173502/apologies_for_slavery_and_possible.html

    “McCain: Senate should apologize for slavery”
    http://www.examiner.com/a-996211~McCain__Senate_should_apologize_for_slavery.html

    “Slavery in modern Africa”
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_modern_Africa

    Slavery in America was wrong, but there is nothing we can do to change the past. All we can do is to move forward and learn not to repeat the mistakes of those that came before us.
    Instead of whining and crying about things that happened centuries ago, by people that are long since dead, why don’t you speak out against the injustices being committed against the black people by other black people right now?

    And, in reference to your “NO ONE APOLOGIZED TO THE AFRICANS FOR SLAVERY” comment… You are mistaken, sir.

  27. A.Darko Says:

    Kyle like you I am not here to be rabble-rouser or start a squabble on something that had not direct impact on my life.

    However, in relation to the indentured labour arrangement you speak of I will have to get back to you on that one. It may have been so in America or the United Kingdom but I am 99% sure that was not the case in Caribbean in relation to African Slavery.

    Thank you for links about West African Government and “The House” (I do not know what the house is I am not American). However, in relation to the “apology” I was talking about Spain, the United Kingdom, (if the house is America then ok if not) and America apologizing for slavery (you have any links to those?). These countries were the main players in the Slave trade, yes, it may have started out in Africa but after while these guys decided to cut out the ‘middle man’ and go straight to the ‘source’. They did all the killing, raping, and massacring of entire villages for a handful of slaves. These are the countries I would love to see or hear an apology come from.

    The statement that slavery still is going on in Africa; buddy slavery in one form or another is still going on all over world from the sweat shops in Asia, the coca field in South America not to mention the sex slave trade that’s global, its happening all around us and like you said we should learn from the past so that we wont repeat it. However, it is my view that in every Era of man’s existence on this planet thus far there were those that were the whipping boys the slaves I’m sure the people that laid the stones that made the great pyramids of Egypt weren’t loyal employees of the empire, the same can be said about the Great Wall of China but I could be wrong.

    I may be paraphrasing here but as a great person once said “It is only when you are incorrect you will gain true enlightenment” or something like that so I am glad I was proven wrong because I gained some knowledge.

  28. Kyle Says:

    That’s cool A. Darko. No worries here.
    I remember reading an article a while back, where Tony Blair, when he was still the British PM, publicly apologized for England’s involvement in the slave trade. I don’t remember the exact article, but here are a couple more similar links for you.

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3634825/Blairs-sorry-apology-for-slavery.html

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6185176.stm

    Still, it is over 150 years too late.

    Also, I was only addressing the issue of the African slave trade, in order to keep to the original context of jakubv’s article.
    Yes, I am aware that even in this modern era, there are people that are enslaved all over the world in one form or another. Whether it is backed by a dictatorial regime, religious faction, warlord, crime syndicate, or a drug cartel, it is still wrong. No one should ever have the right to own someone else. The mere thought of it is vile.
    Unfortunately, too many people in positions of power turn a blind eye to it, or are the ones promoting it, or making profit from it.

    The issue of indentured servitude came to an end after a rebellion against the rich land owners. Afterwards, the laws were changed, but that change accelerated the African slave trade to levels never seen before. White men had rights, but women and black people still didn’t.
    It took a civil war to end slavery here in America, (and the “Suffrage Movement” for woman’s rights) but racism and hatred was still allowed to fester. Ridiculous and unconstitutional laws were passed (by the rich, white people in power) under the guise of being “separate but equal”, which brought about the era of segregation and the infamous Jim Crow Laws.
    It took the Civil Rights Movement to put an end to segregation, but thanks to the small minded, racism still exists today. Every race is guilty of racism. Change comes slowly, but at least change is coming.
    We are all members of the Human Race. The color of our skin does not define who we are inside.

    Historically, the rich and powerful have always exploited those that are weak and less fortunate, and for the most part, they get away with it, simply because they are rich and powerful. Greed and corruption usually prevails… Until it reaches the point of revolution. This has been the case throughout history. It has happened many times before, and may happen again soon if corrupt governments continue to reject the will of the people they are supposed to serve.

  29. Kyle Says:

    Sorry, I forgot to mention that the “House” refers to the US House of Representatives. They are a part of the legislative branch of the US government. Their counterpart is the US Congress.

    They are the elected idiots that make the laws here in the US.

  30. Kyle Says:

    That’s cool A. Darko. No worries here.
    I remember reading an article a while back, where Tony Blair, when he was still the British PM, publicly apologized for England’s involvement in the slave trade. I don’t remember the exact article, but here are a couple more similar links for you.

    ht tp://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3634825/Blairs-sorry-apology-for-slavery.html

    ht tp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6185176.stm

    Still, it is over 150 years too late.

    Also, I was only addressing the issue of the African slave trade, in order to keep to the original context of jakubv’s article.
    Yes, I am aware that even in this modern era, there are people that are enslaved all over the world in one form or another. Whether it is backed by a dictatorial regime, religious faction, warlord, crime syndicate, or a drug cartel, it is still wrong. No one should ever have the right to own someone else. The mere thought of it is vile.
    Unfortunately, too many people in positions of power turn a blind eye to it, or are the ones promoting it, or making profit from it.

    The issue of indentured servitude came to an end after a rebellion against the rich land owners. Afterwards, the laws were changed, but that change accelerated the African slave trade to levels never seen before. White men had rights, but women and black people still didn’t.
    It took a civil war to end slavery here in America, (and the “Suffrage Movement” for woman’s rights) but racism and hatred was still allowed to fester. Ridiculous and unconstitutional laws were passed (by the rich, white people in power) under the guise of being “separate but equal”, which brought about the era of segregation and the infamous Jim Crow Laws.
    It took the Civil Rights Movement to put an end to segregation, but thanks to the small minded, racism still exists today. Every race is guilty of racism. Change comes slowly, but at least change is coming.
    We are all members of the Human Race. The color of our skin does not define who we are inside.

    Historically, the rich and powerful have always exploited those that are weak and less fortunate, and for the most part, they get away with it, simply because they are rich and powerful. Greed and corruption usually prevails… Until it reaches the point of revolution. This has been the case throughout history. It has happened many times before, and may happen again soon if corrupt governments continue to reject the will of the people they are supposed to serve.

  31. jakubv Says:

    I am sorry, I was somewhere where I couldn’t use the computer so it took me a while to approve your comments.

  32. jakubv Says:

    once again people, be appropiate. otherwise I will not approve your comments. If anyone is going to use offensive or foul language, you are killing your own time by writing it, and more importantly, you are killing my time because I have to log in and delete your stupid coments. got it?

  33. K.James Says:

    thankss for the help….world history is a biq female doq….thankss thouqh

  34. KRYSTAL BURSEY Says:

    DAMN I SO GLAD I WASNT LIVIN DURING THE SLAVE YEARS CAUSE I WOULD BE MAD THEN A MUD

  35. Ben Says:

    Thanks 4 the facts!

  36. Ben Says:

    where do u live?

  37. jakubv Says:

    I am from Slovakia but im at college near Philly

  38. Ben Says:

    Philly? cool!

  39. Ben Says:

    I live on the west coast in so. oregon

  40. Phobo Says:

    I was proud of the British empire till I leant this. It makes me sad. Sorry Africans.

  41. Phobo Says:

    And Kyle the only reason the British brought over slavery is cause the Americans wanted it. They couldn’t be bothered to pick there own damn cotton. And it is also partly the British fault as well and the African leaders. They sold the slaves in the first place. So don’t blame any one.

  42. Phobo Says:

    Ok I kind of agree it was mostly the British. But they wouldn’t of done it if they didn’t get cotton and surger in the end

  43. Gaffers Says:

    Really helped me with my history homework, thanks! xoxo

  44. emily Says:

    hey guys im in 8th grade thanks for ur guyzes help have a project for a mrs berumen

  45. ve Says:

    kk not anyhelp

  46. omg Says:

    Thx this really helped with my homework, but some of the facts are shocking

  47. soul.clap Says:

    one of the major reasons for which the States are where they are, today, (one of the world’s best economy-technology-politics sistems) is, infact, brought by this slavery works that lasted for over 150-200 years…i mean, wow! 200 years of FREE access to all the continent riches (gold, cotton, territory AND DON’T FORGET THE INDIANS TOO!!!)…but also there were the english lords, a proud and fully high SCUM that always in history created problems…the white rase destoried everything she touched, and that is so so sad…i am deeply ashamed as a white guy and i’m tired of this sh..ty sistem that leades us in another slavery dimension, not as brutal as in history, but really so different??…:\

  48. brittney Says:

    erg bedankt dit helpt mij met mijn spreek beurt en nu weet ik meer over slavery.

  49. Naomi Says:

    thanks this really helpt me with my homework ,and i gained more knowledge about slavery .

  50. eee Says:

    fegege

  51. samaja Says:

    i learned about this in world history and i learned that john newton wrote amazing grace because he was slave captain and he was blind that slavery was wrong but now he see

  52. taitum Says:

    bam, sparkle, mariesta get a life just cause my ancestors were racist doesnt mean i am i feel sorry 4 u cause as long as u act like this youll never hav anybody by ur side hating wite people does’nt make you cool it just makes u stupid and ignorant cause its like hating ur step siblings cause u hate ur step parent its just retarded so wake up and smell the flowers cause whrom we faught 4 ur freedom in america im from up north so just wat ev

  53. taitum Says:

    i ment marieka marston not mariesta sorry

  54. diann Says:

    did they have kids in the middle passage?

  55. Odile Rodriguez Paulino Says:

    Thank you so much! You saved my social studies grade

  56. SLS Says:

    thatz krazie..

  57. kobone Says:

    i need some information

  58. Bill Mohammed Says:

    Some say, “it will never happen again in history;” I invite anyone to visit these judicial systems proceeding in any of the major cities in America on a daily bases; and wittness how young illiterate “Blacks” are carted off to jail for 10, 15, 20 years sentences based upon prosecutors trumped up, weak, and poorly prepared cases. These Black young men have, by design, poor legal representation (bases for an appeal alone).

    They fine themselves confronted by a system that benefits greatly by their incarceration. They’re confronted with irrevelant and comprimised evidence, and instructed by their court appointed attorneys to simply plea bargain. To me, this systemic imprisonment of “Black” youth in America is just as kindred, undifferentiated, and paralled as the Middle Passage is in history; difference being, the former lasting seven weeks, the latter a life time.

  59. jasmine Says:

    awwweeeeeee sht up pleaase ths happen so long ago

  60. natalie ramirez Says:

    This website helped me a lot on this

  61. weeziebusitbaby Says:

    Reparations?

  62. yllim Says:

    i think slavery is cruel and racist and it shouldn’t have even started!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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