Slavery and Social Rebirth in the Black Urban Atlantic: 1680-1807 - Race in the Making

Slavery, a dark period in human history, has left an indelible mark on societies around the world. The Black Urban Atlantic, specifically during the years 1680-1807, witnessed a complex and turbulent relationship between race, slavery, and social rebirth. In this article, we will explore the multifaceted dynamics of this period and shed light on the profound impact it had on shaping the world we live in today.

The Rise of the Black Urban Atlantic

As slaves were forcibly transported from Africa to the Americas, the urban centers along the Atlantic coastline became hubs of intense human activity. Cities such as Charleston, New Orleans, and Kingston emerged as major ports where enslaved Africans were bought and sold, their lives forever altered by the violence and cruelty of the slave trade.

Despite their oppressive circumstances, enslaved Africans in these urban centers developed unique communities, blending their diverse cultural backgrounds to form new identities. From music and dance to language and cuisine, these subcultures, born out of the resilience and resistance of the enslaved, laid the foundation for rich and vibrant traditions that continue to thrive today.

Almost Dead: Slavery and Social Rebirth in the Black Urban Atlantic, 1680-1807 (Race in the Atlantic World, 1700–1900 Ser. Book 41)

by Michael Lawrence Dickinson(Kindle Edition)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	7742 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	197 pages

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The Paradox of Urban Slavery

The urban slave experience was marked by a paradoxical blend of oppression and opportunity. While urban slaves often endured brutal working conditions and lived under constant surveillance, they were also exposed to a more diverse range of influences compared to their rural counterparts. With access to a faster pace of life, urban slaves benefitted from the potential for social mobility, even if it remained heavily constrained.

This urban environment created a natural breeding ground for resistance and rebellion. Within the shadows of captivity, enslaved individuals found ways to resist their oppression through acts of sabotage, organized revolt, and the preservation of their African cultural heritage. The city streets became a battleground, with every act of resistance pushing the boundaries of what was considered possible under the strict institution of slavery.

Race, Colonialism, and Social Stratification

The Black Urban Atlantic was not limited to the experiences of enslaved Africans alone. It served as a stage upon which the complexities of race, colonialism, and social stratification played out. Free people of color, who occupied a diverse range of social statuses, formed a unique middle ground in this rigid hierarchy and often found themselves navigating between the worlds of whites and enslaved Africans.

For some free people of color, urban centers offered opportunities for economic success and social advancement. Yet, their position was tenuous and subject to the shifting whims of the ruling class. The fear of being re-enslaved and the constant battle against a system that denied them full rights and privileges fueled a simmering discontent in the urban communities.

The Abolitionist Movement and the Quest for Social Rebirth

As the 18th century approached its end, the abolitionist movement gained traction, challenging the very foundations of slavery in the Black Urban Atlantic. Influenced by Enlightenment principles of human rights and liberty, intellectuals and activists began to advocate for the dismantling of this dehumanizing institution.

The voices of enslaved individuals and free people of color, often through their own writings, contributed significantly to the discourse surrounding abolition. Their narratives exposed the hypocrisy and injustice of slavery, emphasizing the inherent humanity and capacity for rebirth that existed within the enslaved population.

A Legacy of Resilience

The abolition of the slave trade and eventually slavery itself in the early 19th century marked a significant turning point in the Black Urban Atlantic. The abolitionist movement, combined with the efforts of individuals who fought for justice on the ground, created a path towards social rebirth.

The legacy of this tumultuous era lives on today. The cultural, artistic, and intellectual contributions of the Black Urban Atlantic continue to shape the world we inhabit. From the influence of African diaspora on contemporary music genres to the ongoing struggle for racial equality, the echoes of the past remind us of the resilience and enduring spirit of those who bore witness to the horrors of slavery.

The period of slavery in the Black Urban Atlantic between 1680 and 1807 was defined by a complex interplay of race, resistance, and social rebirth. Despite the oppressive conditions, enslaved Africans in urban centers found ways to assert their humanity and lay the groundwork for vibrant cultures that endure to this day.

The stories of resistance and resilience emanating from this period serve as a stark reminder of the horrors of the past and the ongoing fight for equality and justice. By acknowledging and understanding this history, we bear witness to the strength of those who came before us and pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future.

Almost Dead: Slavery and Social Rebirth in the Black Urban Atlantic, 1680-1807 (Race in the Atlantic World, 1700–1900 Ser. Book 41)

by Michael Lawrence Dickinson(Kindle Edition)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	7742 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	197 pages

FREE

Beginning in the late seventeenth century and concluding with the abolition of the Atlantic slave trade, Almost Dead reveals how the thousands of captives who lived, bled, and resisted in the Black Urban Atlantic survived to form dynamic communities.

Michael Lawrence Dickinson uses cities with close commercial ties to shed light on similarities, variations, and linkages between urban Atlantic slave communities in mainland America and the Caribbean. The study adopts the perspectives of those enslaved to reveal that, in the eyes of the enslaved, the distinctions were often of degree rather than kind as cities throughout the Black Urban Atlantic remained spaces for Black oppression and resilience. The tenets of subjugation remained all too similar, as did captives’ need to stave off social death and hold on to their humanity. Almost Dead argues that urban environments provided unique barriers to and avenues for social rebirth: the process by which African-descended peoples reconstructed their lives individually and collectively after forced exportation from West Africa. This was an active process of cultural remembrance, continued resistance, and communal survival. It was in these urban slave communities—within the connections between neighbors and kinfolk—that the enslaved found the physical and psychological resources necessary to endure the seemingly unendurable. Whether sites of first arrival, commodification, sale, short-term captivity, or lifetime enslavement, the urban Atlantic shaped and was shaped by Black lives.