SlideShare a Scribd company logo
1 of 6
Download to read offline
Sample Essay on Slavery
Slavery is a vital issue to debate about when looking at American
history from the days of colonialism as well as the growth of colonies in
Chesapeake and New England. Africans who were transported from
Africa were exposed to tough treatment as well as manual jobs in
American plantations and as servants in farm houses. The leading goal
of this paper is to fathom Ira Berlin’s argument that slavery entailed an
element of negotiation, regardless of how irregular was the outcome of
the mediation. This, in line with Berlin validated slaves to enjoy a
certain level of sovereignty.
Berlin’s context offers a less influential means of fathoming what
slavery is all about. This can be attributed to the verity that he
perceives slavery and the slave trade as a kind of trade between a slave
and the slave owner. As far as this kind of trade was helpful to the
white people, by providing them with household and farm workers, it
was deliberated as an atrocity directed to Africans as they were
deprived of essential human rights. Other than the hurt and desolation
that the slaves went through while at the mercy of their bosses cannot
be perceived to have been helpful to the slaves. According to
the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, there are cases when
the narrator remembers a number of slaveholders who whipped the
nude backs of slaves as well as watch as flesh was cut of their body and
large pints of blood was lost.
Slaves to the white society were compared to domestic animals
(Douglass 49). He as well remembers a case whereby his boss perished
without dotting a will. This clarified that proprietorship of the bosses’
assets was to be relocated to his two kids. In line with words of
Douglass, men were compared to horses, whereas women were seen
as cattle and children slaves to pigs (Douglass 39). The white
community from this viewpoint failed to see slaves as human beings
rather as animals whose duty was to serve in fulfilling the desires of
their owners. With the gloom as well as hurt that slave underwent in
hands of the white people, Berlin’s argument of mediation and
autonomy offers a less influential way of comprehending slavery.
Even though Berlin’s framework fails to offer a helpful prevalent means
of comprehending slavery, it offers a hint in fathoming certain
components of mediation among the slaves and their bosses. In the
narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, the storyteller understands
that his boss offered slaves with monthly food allowance as well as
annual clothing. The food stipend was a component of mediation in
itself. Even though the food was in smaller amount, it was fairly ample
to sustain slaves from hunger and offer them energy essential for their
day to day chores in master’s plantations. The food allowance
according to Douglass incorporated 8 pounds of pork or its equal
amount in fish as well as one heap of corn meal. These food stipends
were a kind of remuneration for the hard work that the slaves offered
their bosses (Douglass 8).
The other element of mediation was that of allowance as clothing. To
make sure that slaves were in decent clothes as well as safeguarded
from natural disasters like cold weather, masters offered clothing on
yearly basis. This in line with Douglass included two rough line shirts, a
jacket, a pair of trousers for the cold weather, plus a pair of stocking
and shoes. The food and annual clothing allowances of kids was
presented to their mothers as well as the aging women that catered for
them. To the kids who could not work, the clothing allowance was
made up of two bristly linen shirts annually. Douglas approximates the
general cost of the clothing of one of the slaves to be around $7
(Douglass 8).
Robert Glen, in a spoken interview, admitted that one of the core ways
to the growth of the black society was the institution of unification in
the mid of 20th
century. Availability of education to the black American
was a component of negotiation. Unification in learning institution was
focused on offering blacks with equal stages to those of the white
people to make them accomplish their dreams and be part of the
refined community (History Interview with Robert L. Glenn by William
Link para 18). In the course of slavery as well as slave trade, these
slaveholders did not offer any kind of training to Africans. Actually, it
was against the law for any slave to understand the art of writing and
reading as they be educated and lead to the slavery of the white
people. Slaves to their bosses were better if they could only meet the
only duty of listening and adhering to their masters and serving
towards their interests.
Glenn pinpoints the registration of Josephine Boyd, a black female, into
Grimsely High School, a whites owned school, as an exceptional
strategy towards the ultimate end of slavery and disparity. Although
she was the only student of African descent in a school dominated by
white students, her registration into the learning framework was the
basis for the institution of civil rights to all American citizens regardless
of their race (History Interview with Robert L. Glenn by William Link
para 18- 20).
The other component of negotiation in the course of slavery was the
employment of slaves into other plantations. These slaves served for a
week as well as took their entire wages to their bosses who would later
pay them with a certain fraction of the total amount. The master had
the power to figure out the sum a particular slave employed, was to
bring by the end of the week. Douglass for example states that at every
week end, he would pour remuneration of his hard work to his master’s
bag. Every time he made $6, his master would give him the entire
amount as a kind of motivation to work harder as well as make more
(Douglass 72). In spite of its bigoted nature it was seen as considerably
just as a slave was an asset of his master and he would be happy with
his asset.
Ira Berlin’s framework of negotiation offers a diverse tactic on slavery.
This is due to the fact that it affirms that there exist a kind of pact
between a slaveholder and the slave as the two parties mediated every
time there was work to be undertaken. After Berlin’s assertion, an
individual can contend that there are certain components of disparity
amongst the slaveholders as well as the slaves. Nevertheless, slaves
were eligible to certain level of autonomy as their undertakings made
wealth for their owners and thus the master had to offer them the
much needed care for fear that they may lose their riches if they have
underperforming slaves. Therefore, because of this circumstance, the
slave owners could not be responsible for their wellbeing and this is
proven by the provision of the monthly food allowances as well as
annual clothing. Every time a slave is employed, the slaveholder got the
salaries as well as provided certain amount to the slave. Berlin’s
framework hence sees slavery as an undertaking whereby both the
slave owners and the slave are merited.
Via looking at slavery as engaging in certain components of negotiation,
Berlin’s framework does not get hold of essential facets of slavery. A
suitable comprehension of slavery engages the know-how of the
wellbeing of the slaves; the form of penalty that the slave had to
experience every time they went against the master’s commands. From
the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, the storyteller narrates
of the insignificant nature of a slave’s life to his owner. He narrates a
number of events when masters as well as supervisors beat up and
even slayed their slaves (Douglass 15, 18). No action was taken on
these murderers because of the perception that a slave’s life was
useless. On top of this, Berlin’s framework fails to offer a
comprehension of the awful situation whereby the slaves lived
regardless of the huge amount of riches they made for their owner.
In summary, it is essential to fathom that in as far as Berlin’s context
attempts to contend for the presence of certain facets of negotiation
between slaveholders and slaves, thus offering certain kind of
sovereignty, he does not seize the vital facets of slavery. Slavery from
Berlin’s standpoint shows the presence of an amiable relation among
the slaveholder and the slave in spite of its unjust nature. Frederick
Douglass in his account on slavery tells of unpleasant as well as
despondent ways of life that slaves had to undergo whilst their owners
enjoyed comfortable lives due to their huge riches amassed by their
slaves. Berlin’s basis thus tries to depict slavery as founded on certain
favorable pacts as well as overlooks the outrages that the slave had to
withstand.
The piece of work above shows how a good essay paper should be
written. Instead of struggling with the work on your own, simply place
an order for professional academic research writing services with us
at Premium Essays. We are always ready to help you with academic
papers for all niches at your own convenience.
Works cited
Douglass, F. Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass. Boston. Anti-
Slavery Office, pp. 8, 15,
18, 39, 49, 721845. Retrieved from
http://www.ibiblio.org/ebooks/Douglass/Narrative/Douglass_Narrative
.pdf
Oral History Interview with Robert L. Glenn by William Link, para,18- 20.
1987 Retrieved from
http://library.uncg.edu/dp/crg/oralHistItem.aspx?i=515
- See more at: http://www.premiumessays.net/articles/sample-essay-
on-slavery/#sthash.4dgJt4QP.dpuf

More Related Content

Viewers also liked

Top 10 Blacks
Top 10 BlacksTop 10 Blacks
Top 10 Blacksjaloisi
 
Anti slavery rebellions - nat turner
Anti slavery rebellions - nat turnerAnti slavery rebellions - nat turner
Anti slavery rebellions - nat turnerRhiana Prendergast
 
Gabriel’s Rebellion Presentation by Cary McEntee
Gabriel’s Rebellion Presentation by Cary McEnteeGabriel’s Rebellion Presentation by Cary McEntee
Gabriel’s Rebellion Presentation by Cary McEnteeCary McEntee
 
Slavery Slideshow Chapter 11
Slavery Slideshow  Chapter 11Slavery Slideshow  Chapter 11
Slavery Slideshow Chapter 11msross9
 
Slavery cotton ppt section 8 2 updated
Slavery cotton ppt section 8 2 updatedSlavery cotton ppt section 8 2 updated
Slavery cotton ppt section 8 2 updatedsgiaco01
 

Viewers also liked (8)

Top 10 Blacks
Top 10 BlacksTop 10 Blacks
Top 10 Blacks
 
Anti slavery rebellions - nat turner
Anti slavery rebellions - nat turnerAnti slavery rebellions - nat turner
Anti slavery rebellions - nat turner
 
Slavery In The South
Slavery In The SouthSlavery In The South
Slavery In The South
 
Gabriel’s Rebellion Presentation by Cary McEntee
Gabriel’s Rebellion Presentation by Cary McEnteeGabriel’s Rebellion Presentation by Cary McEntee
Gabriel’s Rebellion Presentation by Cary McEntee
 
Antebellum south
Antebellum southAntebellum south
Antebellum south
 
Slavery Slideshow Chapter 11
Slavery Slideshow  Chapter 11Slavery Slideshow  Chapter 11
Slavery Slideshow Chapter 11
 
Slave Rebellions
Slave RebellionsSlave Rebellions
Slave Rebellions
 
Slavery cotton ppt section 8 2 updated
Slavery cotton ppt section 8 2 updatedSlavery cotton ppt section 8 2 updated
Slavery cotton ppt section 8 2 updated
 

More from Premium Essays

Factors affecting foreign direct investment
Factors affecting foreign direct investmentFactors affecting foreign direct investment
Factors affecting foreign direct investmentPremium Essays
 
Demand and supply for housing
Demand and supply for housingDemand and supply for housing
Demand and supply for housingPremium Essays
 
Definition and factors affecting gas exchange
Definition and factors affecting gas exchangeDefinition and factors affecting gas exchange
Definition and factors affecting gas exchangePremium Essays
 
Objectives of united nations
Objectives of united nationsObjectives of united nations
Objectives of united nationsPremium Essays
 
Disadvantages of a written constitution
Disadvantages of a written constitutionDisadvantages of a written constitution
Disadvantages of a written constitutionPremium Essays
 
Schizoid personality disorder
Schizoid personality disorderSchizoid personality disorder
Schizoid personality disorderPremium Essays
 
Sample essay on abraham lincoln
Sample essay on abraham lincolnSample essay on abraham lincoln
Sample essay on abraham lincolnPremium Essays
 
Messaging while driving essay
Messaging while driving essayMessaging while driving essay
Messaging while driving essayPremium Essays
 
Marriage and family life in america sample essay
Marriage and family life in america sample essayMarriage and family life in america sample essay
Marriage and family life in america sample essayPremium Essays
 
Article critiques sample essay
Article critiques sample essayArticle critiques sample essay
Article critiques sample essayPremium Essays
 

More from Premium Essays (12)

Factors affecting foreign direct investment
Factors affecting foreign direct investmentFactors affecting foreign direct investment
Factors affecting foreign direct investment
 
Demand and supply for housing
Demand and supply for housingDemand and supply for housing
Demand and supply for housing
 
Definition and factors affecting gas exchange
Definition and factors affecting gas exchangeDefinition and factors affecting gas exchange
Definition and factors affecting gas exchange
 
Objectives of united nations
Objectives of united nationsObjectives of united nations
Objectives of united nations
 
Objectives of nafta
Objectives of naftaObjectives of nafta
Objectives of nafta
 
Consumer price index
Consumer price indexConsumer price index
Consumer price index
 
Disadvantages of a written constitution
Disadvantages of a written constitutionDisadvantages of a written constitution
Disadvantages of a written constitution
 
Schizoid personality disorder
Schizoid personality disorderSchizoid personality disorder
Schizoid personality disorder
 
Sample essay on abraham lincoln
Sample essay on abraham lincolnSample essay on abraham lincoln
Sample essay on abraham lincoln
 
Messaging while driving essay
Messaging while driving essayMessaging while driving essay
Messaging while driving essay
 
Marriage and family life in america sample essay
Marriage and family life in america sample essayMarriage and family life in america sample essay
Marriage and family life in america sample essay
 
Article critiques sample essay
Article critiques sample essayArticle critiques sample essay
Article critiques sample essay
 

Recently uploaded

TỔNG ÔN TẬP THI VÀO LỚP 10 MÔN TIẾNG ANH NĂM HỌC 2023 - 2024 CÓ ĐÁP ÁN (NGỮ Â...
TỔNG ÔN TẬP THI VÀO LỚP 10 MÔN TIẾNG ANH NĂM HỌC 2023 - 2024 CÓ ĐÁP ÁN (NGỮ Â...TỔNG ÔN TẬP THI VÀO LỚP 10 MÔN TIẾNG ANH NĂM HỌC 2023 - 2024 CÓ ĐÁP ÁN (NGỮ Â...
TỔNG ÔN TẬP THI VÀO LỚP 10 MÔN TIẾNG ANH NĂM HỌC 2023 - 2024 CÓ ĐÁP ÁN (NGỮ Â...Nguyen Thanh Tu Collection
 
ICT Role in 21st Century Education & its Challenges.pptx
ICT Role in 21st Century Education & its Challenges.pptxICT Role in 21st Century Education & its Challenges.pptx
ICT Role in 21st Century Education & its Challenges.pptxAreebaZafar22
 
1029-Danh muc Sach Giao Khoa khoi 6.pdf
1029-Danh muc Sach Giao Khoa khoi  6.pdf1029-Danh muc Sach Giao Khoa khoi  6.pdf
1029-Danh muc Sach Giao Khoa khoi 6.pdfQucHHunhnh
 
Application orientated numerical on hev.ppt
Application orientated numerical on hev.pptApplication orientated numerical on hev.ppt
Application orientated numerical on hev.pptRamjanShidvankar
 
General Principles of Intellectual Property: Concepts of Intellectual Proper...
General Principles of Intellectual Property: Concepts of Intellectual  Proper...General Principles of Intellectual Property: Concepts of Intellectual  Proper...
General Principles of Intellectual Property: Concepts of Intellectual Proper...Poonam Aher Patil
 
Holdier Curriculum Vitae (April 2024).pdf
Holdier Curriculum Vitae (April 2024).pdfHoldier Curriculum Vitae (April 2024).pdf
Holdier Curriculum Vitae (April 2024).pdfagholdier
 
Activity 01 - Artificial Culture (1).pdf
Activity 01 - Artificial Culture (1).pdfActivity 01 - Artificial Culture (1).pdf
Activity 01 - Artificial Culture (1).pdfciinovamais
 
Basic Civil Engineering first year Notes- Chapter 4 Building.pptx
Basic Civil Engineering first year Notes- Chapter 4 Building.pptxBasic Civil Engineering first year Notes- Chapter 4 Building.pptx
Basic Civil Engineering first year Notes- Chapter 4 Building.pptxDenish Jangid
 
1029 - Danh muc Sach Giao Khoa 10 . pdf
1029 -  Danh muc Sach Giao Khoa 10 . pdf1029 -  Danh muc Sach Giao Khoa 10 . pdf
1029 - Danh muc Sach Giao Khoa 10 . pdfQucHHunhnh
 
Advanced Views - Calendar View in Odoo 17
Advanced Views - Calendar View in Odoo 17Advanced Views - Calendar View in Odoo 17
Advanced Views - Calendar View in Odoo 17Celine George
 
Ecological Succession. ( ECOSYSTEM, B. Pharmacy, 1st Year, Sem-II, Environmen...
Ecological Succession. ( ECOSYSTEM, B. Pharmacy, 1st Year, Sem-II, Environmen...Ecological Succession. ( ECOSYSTEM, B. Pharmacy, 1st Year, Sem-II, Environmen...
Ecological Succession. ( ECOSYSTEM, B. Pharmacy, 1st Year, Sem-II, Environmen...Shubhangi Sonawane
 
ComPTIA Overview | Comptia Security+ Book SY0-701
ComPTIA Overview | Comptia Security+ Book SY0-701ComPTIA Overview | Comptia Security+ Book SY0-701
ComPTIA Overview | Comptia Security+ Book SY0-701bronxfugly43
 
Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) 2024Final.pptx
Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) 2024Final.pptxSeal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) 2024Final.pptx
Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) 2024Final.pptxnegromaestrong
 
How to Give a Domain for a Field in Odoo 17
How to Give a Domain for a Field in Odoo 17How to Give a Domain for a Field in Odoo 17
How to Give a Domain for a Field in Odoo 17Celine George
 
Food Chain and Food Web (Ecosystem) EVS, B. Pharmacy 1st Year, Sem-II
Food Chain and Food Web (Ecosystem) EVS, B. Pharmacy 1st Year, Sem-IIFood Chain and Food Web (Ecosystem) EVS, B. Pharmacy 1st Year, Sem-II
Food Chain and Food Web (Ecosystem) EVS, B. Pharmacy 1st Year, Sem-IIShubhangi Sonawane
 
Unit-V; Pricing (Pharma Marketing Management).pptx
Unit-V; Pricing (Pharma Marketing Management).pptxUnit-V; Pricing (Pharma Marketing Management).pptx
Unit-V; Pricing (Pharma Marketing Management).pptxVishalSingh1417
 
Measures of Dispersion and Variability: Range, QD, AD and SD
Measures of Dispersion and Variability: Range, QD, AD and SDMeasures of Dispersion and Variability: Range, QD, AD and SD
Measures of Dispersion and Variability: Range, QD, AD and SDThiyagu K
 
2024-NATIONAL-LEARNING-CAMP-AND-OTHER.pptx
2024-NATIONAL-LEARNING-CAMP-AND-OTHER.pptx2024-NATIONAL-LEARNING-CAMP-AND-OTHER.pptx
2024-NATIONAL-LEARNING-CAMP-AND-OTHER.pptxMaritesTamaniVerdade
 
The basics of sentences session 2pptx copy.pptx
The basics of sentences session 2pptx copy.pptxThe basics of sentences session 2pptx copy.pptx
The basics of sentences session 2pptx copy.pptxheathfieldcps1
 
Presentation by Andreas Schleicher Tackling the School Absenteeism Crisis 30 ...
Presentation by Andreas Schleicher Tackling the School Absenteeism Crisis 30 ...Presentation by Andreas Schleicher Tackling the School Absenteeism Crisis 30 ...
Presentation by Andreas Schleicher Tackling the School Absenteeism Crisis 30 ...EduSkills OECD
 

Recently uploaded (20)

TỔNG ÔN TẬP THI VÀO LỚP 10 MÔN TIẾNG ANH NĂM HỌC 2023 - 2024 CÓ ĐÁP ÁN (NGỮ Â...
TỔNG ÔN TẬP THI VÀO LỚP 10 MÔN TIẾNG ANH NĂM HỌC 2023 - 2024 CÓ ĐÁP ÁN (NGỮ Â...TỔNG ÔN TẬP THI VÀO LỚP 10 MÔN TIẾNG ANH NĂM HỌC 2023 - 2024 CÓ ĐÁP ÁN (NGỮ Â...
TỔNG ÔN TẬP THI VÀO LỚP 10 MÔN TIẾNG ANH NĂM HỌC 2023 - 2024 CÓ ĐÁP ÁN (NGỮ Â...
 
ICT Role in 21st Century Education & its Challenges.pptx
ICT Role in 21st Century Education & its Challenges.pptxICT Role in 21st Century Education & its Challenges.pptx
ICT Role in 21st Century Education & its Challenges.pptx
 
1029-Danh muc Sach Giao Khoa khoi 6.pdf
1029-Danh muc Sach Giao Khoa khoi  6.pdf1029-Danh muc Sach Giao Khoa khoi  6.pdf
1029-Danh muc Sach Giao Khoa khoi 6.pdf
 
Application orientated numerical on hev.ppt
Application orientated numerical on hev.pptApplication orientated numerical on hev.ppt
Application orientated numerical on hev.ppt
 
General Principles of Intellectual Property: Concepts of Intellectual Proper...
General Principles of Intellectual Property: Concepts of Intellectual  Proper...General Principles of Intellectual Property: Concepts of Intellectual  Proper...
General Principles of Intellectual Property: Concepts of Intellectual Proper...
 
Holdier Curriculum Vitae (April 2024).pdf
Holdier Curriculum Vitae (April 2024).pdfHoldier Curriculum Vitae (April 2024).pdf
Holdier Curriculum Vitae (April 2024).pdf
 
Activity 01 - Artificial Culture (1).pdf
Activity 01 - Artificial Culture (1).pdfActivity 01 - Artificial Culture (1).pdf
Activity 01 - Artificial Culture (1).pdf
 
Basic Civil Engineering first year Notes- Chapter 4 Building.pptx
Basic Civil Engineering first year Notes- Chapter 4 Building.pptxBasic Civil Engineering first year Notes- Chapter 4 Building.pptx
Basic Civil Engineering first year Notes- Chapter 4 Building.pptx
 
1029 - Danh muc Sach Giao Khoa 10 . pdf
1029 -  Danh muc Sach Giao Khoa 10 . pdf1029 -  Danh muc Sach Giao Khoa 10 . pdf
1029 - Danh muc Sach Giao Khoa 10 . pdf
 
Advanced Views - Calendar View in Odoo 17
Advanced Views - Calendar View in Odoo 17Advanced Views - Calendar View in Odoo 17
Advanced Views - Calendar View in Odoo 17
 
Ecological Succession. ( ECOSYSTEM, B. Pharmacy, 1st Year, Sem-II, Environmen...
Ecological Succession. ( ECOSYSTEM, B. Pharmacy, 1st Year, Sem-II, Environmen...Ecological Succession. ( ECOSYSTEM, B. Pharmacy, 1st Year, Sem-II, Environmen...
Ecological Succession. ( ECOSYSTEM, B. Pharmacy, 1st Year, Sem-II, Environmen...
 
ComPTIA Overview | Comptia Security+ Book SY0-701
ComPTIA Overview | Comptia Security+ Book SY0-701ComPTIA Overview | Comptia Security+ Book SY0-701
ComPTIA Overview | Comptia Security+ Book SY0-701
 
Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) 2024Final.pptx
Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) 2024Final.pptxSeal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) 2024Final.pptx
Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) 2024Final.pptx
 
How to Give a Domain for a Field in Odoo 17
How to Give a Domain for a Field in Odoo 17How to Give a Domain for a Field in Odoo 17
How to Give a Domain for a Field in Odoo 17
 
Food Chain and Food Web (Ecosystem) EVS, B. Pharmacy 1st Year, Sem-II
Food Chain and Food Web (Ecosystem) EVS, B. Pharmacy 1st Year, Sem-IIFood Chain and Food Web (Ecosystem) EVS, B. Pharmacy 1st Year, Sem-II
Food Chain and Food Web (Ecosystem) EVS, B. Pharmacy 1st Year, Sem-II
 
Unit-V; Pricing (Pharma Marketing Management).pptx
Unit-V; Pricing (Pharma Marketing Management).pptxUnit-V; Pricing (Pharma Marketing Management).pptx
Unit-V; Pricing (Pharma Marketing Management).pptx
 
Measures of Dispersion and Variability: Range, QD, AD and SD
Measures of Dispersion and Variability: Range, QD, AD and SDMeasures of Dispersion and Variability: Range, QD, AD and SD
Measures of Dispersion and Variability: Range, QD, AD and SD
 
2024-NATIONAL-LEARNING-CAMP-AND-OTHER.pptx
2024-NATIONAL-LEARNING-CAMP-AND-OTHER.pptx2024-NATIONAL-LEARNING-CAMP-AND-OTHER.pptx
2024-NATIONAL-LEARNING-CAMP-AND-OTHER.pptx
 
The basics of sentences session 2pptx copy.pptx
The basics of sentences session 2pptx copy.pptxThe basics of sentences session 2pptx copy.pptx
The basics of sentences session 2pptx copy.pptx
 
Presentation by Andreas Schleicher Tackling the School Absenteeism Crisis 30 ...
Presentation by Andreas Schleicher Tackling the School Absenteeism Crisis 30 ...Presentation by Andreas Schleicher Tackling the School Absenteeism Crisis 30 ...
Presentation by Andreas Schleicher Tackling the School Absenteeism Crisis 30 ...
 

Sample essay on slavery

  • 1. Sample Essay on Slavery Slavery is a vital issue to debate about when looking at American history from the days of colonialism as well as the growth of colonies in Chesapeake and New England. Africans who were transported from Africa were exposed to tough treatment as well as manual jobs in American plantations and as servants in farm houses. The leading goal of this paper is to fathom Ira Berlin’s argument that slavery entailed an element of negotiation, regardless of how irregular was the outcome of the mediation. This, in line with Berlin validated slaves to enjoy a certain level of sovereignty. Berlin’s context offers a less influential means of fathoming what slavery is all about. This can be attributed to the verity that he perceives slavery and the slave trade as a kind of trade between a slave and the slave owner. As far as this kind of trade was helpful to the white people, by providing them with household and farm workers, it was deliberated as an atrocity directed to Africans as they were deprived of essential human rights. Other than the hurt and desolation that the slaves went through while at the mercy of their bosses cannot be perceived to have been helpful to the slaves. According to the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, there are cases when the narrator remembers a number of slaveholders who whipped the nude backs of slaves as well as watch as flesh was cut of their body and large pints of blood was lost. Slaves to the white society were compared to domestic animals (Douglass 49). He as well remembers a case whereby his boss perished without dotting a will. This clarified that proprietorship of the bosses’ assets was to be relocated to his two kids. In line with words of Douglass, men were compared to horses, whereas women were seen as cattle and children slaves to pigs (Douglass 39). The white community from this viewpoint failed to see slaves as human beings rather as animals whose duty was to serve in fulfilling the desires of
  • 2. their owners. With the gloom as well as hurt that slave underwent in hands of the white people, Berlin’s argument of mediation and autonomy offers a less influential way of comprehending slavery. Even though Berlin’s framework fails to offer a helpful prevalent means of comprehending slavery, it offers a hint in fathoming certain components of mediation among the slaves and their bosses. In the narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, the storyteller understands that his boss offered slaves with monthly food allowance as well as annual clothing. The food stipend was a component of mediation in itself. Even though the food was in smaller amount, it was fairly ample to sustain slaves from hunger and offer them energy essential for their day to day chores in master’s plantations. The food allowance according to Douglass incorporated 8 pounds of pork or its equal amount in fish as well as one heap of corn meal. These food stipends were a kind of remuneration for the hard work that the slaves offered their bosses (Douglass 8). The other element of mediation was that of allowance as clothing. To make sure that slaves were in decent clothes as well as safeguarded from natural disasters like cold weather, masters offered clothing on yearly basis. This in line with Douglass included two rough line shirts, a jacket, a pair of trousers for the cold weather, plus a pair of stocking and shoes. The food and annual clothing allowances of kids was presented to their mothers as well as the aging women that catered for them. To the kids who could not work, the clothing allowance was made up of two bristly linen shirts annually. Douglas approximates the general cost of the clothing of one of the slaves to be around $7 (Douglass 8). Robert Glen, in a spoken interview, admitted that one of the core ways to the growth of the black society was the institution of unification in the mid of 20th century. Availability of education to the black American was a component of negotiation. Unification in learning institution was focused on offering blacks with equal stages to those of the white
  • 3. people to make them accomplish their dreams and be part of the refined community (History Interview with Robert L. Glenn by William Link para 18). In the course of slavery as well as slave trade, these slaveholders did not offer any kind of training to Africans. Actually, it was against the law for any slave to understand the art of writing and reading as they be educated and lead to the slavery of the white people. Slaves to their bosses were better if they could only meet the only duty of listening and adhering to their masters and serving towards their interests. Glenn pinpoints the registration of Josephine Boyd, a black female, into Grimsely High School, a whites owned school, as an exceptional strategy towards the ultimate end of slavery and disparity. Although she was the only student of African descent in a school dominated by white students, her registration into the learning framework was the basis for the institution of civil rights to all American citizens regardless of their race (History Interview with Robert L. Glenn by William Link para 18- 20). The other component of negotiation in the course of slavery was the employment of slaves into other plantations. These slaves served for a week as well as took their entire wages to their bosses who would later pay them with a certain fraction of the total amount. The master had the power to figure out the sum a particular slave employed, was to bring by the end of the week. Douglass for example states that at every week end, he would pour remuneration of his hard work to his master’s bag. Every time he made $6, his master would give him the entire amount as a kind of motivation to work harder as well as make more (Douglass 72). In spite of its bigoted nature it was seen as considerably just as a slave was an asset of his master and he would be happy with his asset. Ira Berlin’s framework of negotiation offers a diverse tactic on slavery. This is due to the fact that it affirms that there exist a kind of pact between a slaveholder and the slave as the two parties mediated every
  • 4. time there was work to be undertaken. After Berlin’s assertion, an individual can contend that there are certain components of disparity amongst the slaveholders as well as the slaves. Nevertheless, slaves were eligible to certain level of autonomy as their undertakings made wealth for their owners and thus the master had to offer them the much needed care for fear that they may lose their riches if they have underperforming slaves. Therefore, because of this circumstance, the slave owners could not be responsible for their wellbeing and this is proven by the provision of the monthly food allowances as well as annual clothing. Every time a slave is employed, the slaveholder got the salaries as well as provided certain amount to the slave. Berlin’s framework hence sees slavery as an undertaking whereby both the slave owners and the slave are merited. Via looking at slavery as engaging in certain components of negotiation, Berlin’s framework does not get hold of essential facets of slavery. A suitable comprehension of slavery engages the know-how of the wellbeing of the slaves; the form of penalty that the slave had to experience every time they went against the master’s commands. From the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, the storyteller narrates of the insignificant nature of a slave’s life to his owner. He narrates a number of events when masters as well as supervisors beat up and even slayed their slaves (Douglass 15, 18). No action was taken on these murderers because of the perception that a slave’s life was useless. On top of this, Berlin’s framework fails to offer a comprehension of the awful situation whereby the slaves lived regardless of the huge amount of riches they made for their owner. In summary, it is essential to fathom that in as far as Berlin’s context attempts to contend for the presence of certain facets of negotiation between slaveholders and slaves, thus offering certain kind of sovereignty, he does not seize the vital facets of slavery. Slavery from Berlin’s standpoint shows the presence of an amiable relation among the slaveholder and the slave in spite of its unjust nature. Frederick
  • 5. Douglass in his account on slavery tells of unpleasant as well as despondent ways of life that slaves had to undergo whilst their owners enjoyed comfortable lives due to their huge riches amassed by their slaves. Berlin’s basis thus tries to depict slavery as founded on certain favorable pacts as well as overlooks the outrages that the slave had to withstand. The piece of work above shows how a good essay paper should be written. Instead of struggling with the work on your own, simply place an order for professional academic research writing services with us at Premium Essays. We are always ready to help you with academic papers for all niches at your own convenience.
  • 6. Works cited Douglass, F. Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass. Boston. Anti- Slavery Office, pp. 8, 15, 18, 39, 49, 721845. Retrieved from http://www.ibiblio.org/ebooks/Douglass/Narrative/Douglass_Narrative .pdf Oral History Interview with Robert L. Glenn by William Link, para,18- 20. 1987 Retrieved from http://library.uncg.edu/dp/crg/oralHistItem.aspx?i=515 - See more at: http://www.premiumessays.net/articles/sample-essay- on-slavery/#sthash.4dgJt4QP.dpuf