AFS BLOG #4

Saundra Wells
AFS 1010 Blog #4
February 10, 2013

    The resistance of enslavement by the Africans appeared to misjudgement on the part of those who felt that because the Africans did not have the ability to organize let alone execute a rebellion.

    In the article Palmares: An African State In Brazil" by R.K.Kent, Kent highlighted the mind set of the Africans who were determined to be free just like they were in their native country. The urge to maintain freedom was a forethought that did not go away even though resistance to enslavement came in many forms i.e. many of the captured committed suicide before arriving to the new land. The ones that actually made it to the new land still put resistance to the idea of being enslaved, the thought of being exposed to the harsh treatment of "master" or "owners" was not acceptable to many. The beatings of slaves to the point of wishing for death to provide freedom was common among the slaves, this showed the level of resistance instilled within many.
    The difference of and African American and an African forced into slavery, was different because the African American tended to accept the degradation of their race better than the African forced into slavery by being kidnapped. The African born slave made allowances and was eased into the belief somehow they deserved the treatment they were receiving. The resistance to slavery was more explosive because the Africans  did not have the opportunity to observe tradition that they were accustomed to in their native land. Although they did not lose sight of their roots the idea that it was considered to be against the "rules" by the en slavers for them to practice rituals, due to fear for the most part.
    The African born slave although enslaved physically was not easily enslaved mentally, for they hung onto their life back in Africa, a life that proved to be far better than the one they were forced into.