SLAVERY

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The Door of No Return in the House of Slaves on Goree Island in Dakar, Senegal

What do you know about slavery? Who was involved in slavery? Was it a global phenomenon? Do forms of slavery still exist today?

What impact do you think the trade in African peoples would have had on individuals, families, cultures, and societies? SocietiesIndividuals CulturesFamilies The Impact of Slavery

WHAT IS SLAVERY? To be a slave is to be controlled by another person or persons so that your will does not determine your life's course, and rewards for your work and sacrifices are not yours to claim. According to Kevin Bales, one of the world's leading experts on contemporary slavery, "people are enslaved by violence and held against their wills for purposes of exploitation." The Slavery Convention (article 1.1) in 1926 defined slavery as "...the status or condition of a person over whom any or all of the powers attaching to the right of ownership are exercised…." The convention defined slave trade as "...all acts involved in the capture, acquisition or disposal of a person with intent to reduce him to slavery; all acts involved in the acquisition of a slave with a view to selling or exchanging him; all acts of disposal by sale or exchange of a slave acquired with a view to being sold or exchanged, and, in general, every act of trade or transport in slaves by whatever means of conveyance." (article 1.2)

Slavery in Africa enslaved people were domestic servants or indentured labourers The traditional form of slavery in African Societies was different from the global trade in African peoples because, in most African societies, enslaved people were domestic servants or indentured labourers who were in service for a specified period of time. They were symbols of wealth and power, but hey were not bought and sold for profit by their owners.

Indentured Servant Indentured Servant – a person who is contracted into the paid service of another for a specified period of time. Domestic Servant Domestic Servant – A form of slavery that forces people to work in other people’s households for litter or no pay.

The Origins of Slavery Slavery has existed throughout history, in different forms, in different places and at different times. Present in Ancient Civilizations of China, Greece, Rome, some indigenous cultures in north and South America and is sanctioned in some religious texts like the Qur’an and The Bible.

Slavery also existed amongst African peoples NOT Neighbouring tribes or kingdoms would conquer other peoples and make them domestic workers or indentured servants NOT Chattel to be bought and sold for profit.

Classification's of Enslaved people Chattel Slavery – a personal possession that is the legal property of the owner and can be bought, sold, or bequeathed at he owner’s discretion. Slave – A person who is held in bondage to another; one who is wholly subject to the will of another Chattel Slavery – a personal possession that is the legal property of the owner and can be bought, sold, or bequeathed at he owner’s discretion. Slave – A person who is held in bondage to another; one who is wholly subject to the will of another

The Global Trade in African Peoples The nature of slavery in Africa changed dramatically around 700 CE African peoples were captured and exported against their will to foreign lands in exchange for trade goods. Symbolized the start of trade in human lives that would last for more than 1000 years The nature of slavery in Africa changed dramatically around 700 CE African peoples were captured and exported against their will to foreign lands in exchange for trade goods. Symbolized the start of trade in human lives that would last for more than 1000 years

EAST AFRICAN TRADE Involving Middle Eastern Arab Slave Traders 9-17 million people TRANSATLANTIC TRADE Involving mostly European Slave Traders million people

“The abolition of the trans-Atlantic slave trade in the 19th century did not eradicate the practice globally. Instead, it took on other forms, which persist to this day: serfdom, debt bondage and forced and bonded labor; trafficking in women and children, domestic slavery and forced prostitution, including of children; sexual slavery, forced marriage and the sale of wives; child labour and child servitude, among others.” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Message for the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery 2 December 2010 “The abolition of the trans-Atlantic slave trade in the 19th century did not eradicate the practice globally. Instead, it took on other forms, which persist to this day: serfdom, debt bondage and forced and bonded labor; trafficking in women and children, domestic slavery and forced prostitution, including of children; sexual slavery, forced marriage and the sale of wives; child labour and child servitude, among others.” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Message for the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery 2 December 2010

While people today most likely believe that slavery is a thing of the past, the practice is still thriving wherever poverty, social conditions, and gullibility can be exploited. Bale estimates that there are 27 million slaves in the world today. While people today most likely believe that slavery is a thing of the past, the practice is still thriving wherever poverty, social conditions, and gullibility can be exploited. Bale estimates that there are 27 million slaves in the world today. (Kevin Bales, Disposable People: New Slavery in the Global Economy, University of California Press, 1999) While people today most likely believe that slavery is a thing of the past, the practice is still thriving wherever poverty, social conditions, and gullibility can be exploited. Bale estimates that there are 27 million slaves in the world today. While people today most likely believe that slavery is a thing of the past, the practice is still thriving wherever poverty, social conditions, and gullibility can be exploited. Bale estimates that there are 27 million slaves in the world today. (Kevin Bales, Disposable People: New Slavery in the Global Economy, University of California Press, 1999)