Introduction to African

American History & Culture

Slavery:
Slave life

Maintenance
The

slave was:

entitled to an abundance of good plain food; to

coarse but comfortable apparel; to a warm
but humble dwelling; to protection when well
and to succor when sick
From the Farmers Register IV (1836)

Food
Basic

weekly allowance per adult:

1 peck of cornmeal (8.8 liters)

3-4 pounds of salt pork (1.4-1.8 kg)
So named because it is salt-cured, this is a layer of
fat (usually with some streaks of lean) that is cut
from the pig's belly and sides. It varies in degree
of saltiness and often must be blanched to extract
excess salt before being used. It's similar to bacon
but much fattier and unsmoked.

Slaves were obliged to provide their own food

Gardens
Cabbage, collard greens, turnips, melons, okra, sweet corn, blackeyed peas
Collard is a loose-leafed plant in the cabbage family (brukev zeln)
Turnip tun
Black-eyed pea is a member of the bean family (Vigna sp.)

Slaves were generally expected to work in their gardens during

their off day (Sunday)

Hunting and fishing also supplemented the diet

Catfish
Small game

Squirrels, raccoons, opossums, rabbits, wild birds

Evidence for these activities is primarily from recent

archaeological excavations of slave quarters (e.g.
Ashland Plantation in Louisiana)
Evidence for hunting also raises the question of
weaponry and the distribution of guns among slaves

Slave Quarters

Average size was 4.9 by 5.5/6 m

5-6 slaves per household
Log and daub construction
Dirt floors
No windows
Furniture

1 bed with a cotton, cornhusk or straw mattress

1 blanket every three years
Quilts

Photograph of Slave Cabin and Occupants Near

Eufala, Barbour County, Alabama (19th C.)

Williamsburg (VA): These are the reconstructed slave quarters at

Carter's Grove. Note the fireplace is not made of brick, but of wood
and mud.

Williamsburg (VA): Interior of cabin for typical slave family

Williamsburg (VA): Indentured servants were often used as the

foremen to supervise the slaves. This would be a typical room of such
a foreman.

Saddlebag double quarter cabin from Welham Plantation,

St. James Parish, ca. 1835)

Map showing the layout of the Ashland Belle

Helene Plantation, Louisiana

Clothing allowance

James J. Hammond plantation in South Carolina

Each man gets in the fall 2 shirts of cotton drilling, a
pair of woolen pants and a woolen jacket. In the
spring 2 shirts of cotton shirting and 2 pr. Of cotton
pantsEach woman gets in the fall 6 yds of woolen
cloth, 6 yds of cotton drilling and a needle skein of
thread and dozen buttons. In the spring cotton
cloth similar to that for mens pants, needle thread
and buttons. Each worker gets stout pr of shoes
every fall and a heavy blanket every third year
Cotton drilling or drill is a coarse cotton fabric
6 yards = 5.5 m

Contemporary observations of slave clothing

Mr. Weld has shown by abundant and unimpeachable testimony, that the clothing of slaves by day,
and their covering by night, is not adequate either for comfort or decency. (p. 40, &c.)
Virginia: Hon. T. T. Bouldin, a slaveholder, in a speech in Congress, Feb. 16, 1835, said: He knew that
many negroes had died from exposure to weather, and added, They are clad in a flimsy fabric that will
turn neither wind nor water.
Maryland: The slaves, naked and starved, often fall victims to the inclemencies of the weather. (Geo.
Buchanan, M. D., of Baltimore, 1791.)
Georgia, &c.: We rode through many rice swamps, where the blacks were very numerousworking
up to the middle in water, men and women nearly naked. (Wm. Savery, of Philadelphia, Minister Friends'
Soc., 1791.)
Tennessee, &c.: In every slaveholding State many slaves suffer extremely, both while they labor and
when they sleep, for want of clothing to keep them warm. (Rev. John Rankin.)
The South generally: Men and women have many times scarce clothes enough to hide their nakedness,
and boys and girls, ten and twelve years old, are often quite naked among their masters' children. (John
Woolman, 1757. Journal, &c., p. 150.)
Both male and female go without clothing at the age of 8 or 10 years. (John Parrish, Minister
Soc.Friends, 1804.) Same testimony from many others more recently.
Alabama, 1819: Hardly a rag of clothing on them.Generally the only bedding was a blanket. (S. E.
Maltby.)
Virginia: Two old blankets. (Wm. Leftwich.) Advertisements of fugitives every year often describe
them as ragged or nearly naked.
Florida: They were allowed two suits of clothes a year; viz: one pair of trowsers with a shirt or frock of
osnaburgh, for summer; and for winter, one pair of trowsers and a jacket of negro-cloth, with a baize shirt
and a pair of shoes. Some allowed hats, and some did not; and they were generally, I believe, allowed one
blanket in two years. Garments of similar materials were allowed the women. (Wm. Ladd, late of Minot,
Me.)
The slaves are generally without beds or bedsteads.I have seen men and women at work in the
fields, more than half naked. (Testimony furnished by Rev. C. S. Renshaw, from his friend.)

Group of Virginia contrabands in

1862

Slave sale
broadside 1852

$30,755 worth of
slaves
$1000 in 1852 has a
purchasing price
equivalent of $26,000
in 2005
In 1850, a family
coming West needed
$1000 to start a 160acre farm.
Total value of sale in
2005 dollars:
$801,929.44

Sale bill for a

slave auction.

Slave Auction (British View)

Slave Auction (American View): "The

Auction Sale." Harper's Weekly