SLAVE TRADE

MANY AFRICANS DIED IN TRANSIT DUE TO VOYAGE LENGTH, MANY DIED BEFORE LEAVING AFRICA, WAITING IN PORT, AND PACKING ON THE SHIPS. PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA CAUSED THE DEATH OF MANY AFRICANS ON THE MIDDLE PASSAGE. UPROOTED FROM THEIR HOMELANDS, SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILIES, SOLD TO EUROPEANS WHO SHACKLED AND TRANSPORTED THEM TO AN OCEAN THAT MANY HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND THEN FORCED TO INHABIT SQUALID CONDITIONS DURING A LONG AND TUMULTUOUS VOYAGE. MANY WERE OVERCOME WITH DESPONDENCY.

MANY OF COURSE SUFFERED WITH DEPRESSION WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE HIGH RATE OF SUICIDE. THE GREATEST KILLER OF AFRICANS DURING THE MIDDLE PASSAGE WAS DISEASE. SCURVY, DYSENTERY SMALLPOX AND OTHER CONTAGIOUS DISEASES CALLED FEVERS, WHICH SPREAD THROUGH THE CRAMPED AND CONGESTED QUARTERS OF THE SLAVE SHIP.