Capture of Slaves

Throughout the 1600s and 1700s the forced slavery of western Africans continued unabated throughout the western hemisphere. The new slaves became pawns in a vicious triangle of economic riches that wrenched them, and frequently their entire family and village, from their homelands, as assets to be offered in payment for goods and products.

Men and women could be purchased from various European traders as well as independent African slavers. Tribal Chiefs often appointed an African who gathered those who were to be sold. The captured were then led on a long march to the coastline. Those who were in top physical condition were sought— the strong, brave and healthy. After the long march, the captured were taken to ‘Negro Houses’ or prisons where the strongest were branded with the stamp of the trading company. Incarceration in the Negro House was followed by a march to the ship for the long transatlantic voyage.

'Black History' segment written in June, 1998 by David Lodge

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