Barco Negrero (noun): Spanish word for Slave Ship. The horrors and severity of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, beginning as early as the 15th century, is a topic of history that is seldom discussed and often diluted. Over the course of the slave trade, roughly 20 million African people were captured and shipped to countries all over the world. The stories of the callous and inhumane treatment, capture, and enslavement of African people, that would lead to the continuous oppression of a people, are stories that need to be seen, heard, and forever remembered.
1920, From the collection of: LIFE Photo Collection
The Transatlantic Slave Trade in Africa originated with Portuguese slave traders. Slave traders would capture the men, women, and children, chain them and make them walk to the coast.
Illustration to Ghostly Ballads: The Slave Ship. (Das Sklavenschiff)., Steiner-Prag, Hugo, 1924, From the collection of: Leo Baeck Institute, Center for Jewish History
Once captured, slaves were loaded onto ships and piled on top of each other, bound with chains. The inhospitable living quarters and inhumane treatment lead to the deaths and suicides of many slaves.
1901, From the collection of: LIFE Photo Collection
Slave traders would take slaves up to the deck of the boat to inspect them. The slaves traders would whip them and throw salt water on them to clean them. Those that were sick were thrown overboard.
Slave Auction, Charles T. Webber, ca. 1860 - 1911, From the collection of: Cincinnati Museum Center
During the slave trade, those captured were often separated from their children and family. Most of the time, people were sold to different plantations, never to see their families again.
A Visit from the Old Mistress, Winslow Homer, 1876, From the collection of: Smithsonian American Art Museum
To keep slaves from attempting to escape, slave owners instilled fear through punishment, intimidation and dependence. With fear, slave owners were less likely to lose profit and have slaves escape.
Man Struggling with a Boa Constrictor, Study for “The Liboya Serpent Seizing His Prey”, James Ward, 1769–1859, British, ca. 1803, From the collection of: Yale Center for British Art
A man struggling with a Boa constrictor to exemplify the struggle that African slaves faced with oppression and the slave trade.
A Ride for Liberty -- The Fugitive Slaves, Eastman Johnson, ca. 1862, From the collection of: Brooklyn Museum
Although slave owners constantly instilled fear to keep slaves from thinking about escaping, many slaves tried to flee to northern states to become free.
The Hunted Slaves, Richard Ansdell, 1861, From the collection of: Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
Slave owners tracked escaped slaves using horses and dogs. Since majority of slaves had to flee by foot, few of them successfully escaped. Captured slaves faced deadly consequences.
Nubian woman, Charles Cordier, 1851, From the collection of: MuMa - Musée d'art moderne André Malraux
Despite enslavement and oppression, some slaves managed to escape and become free. This sculpture depicts Seid Enkess who was a former French slave that became free and began to model.
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