Slaves and Slave Holders
Slaves in the South constituted about one-third of the southern population. Most slaves lived on large farms or small plantations and many masters owned less than 50 slaves. During my visit to South Carolina, I noticed that slave owners sought to make their slaves completely dependent on them, and a system of restrictive codes governed life among slaves. They were permitted from learning to read or write, and their behaviour and movement was restricted. I observed masters taking sexual liberties with slave women, and reward obedient slave behaviour with favours, whist rebellious slaves were brutally punished. A strict hierarchy amongst slaves (from privileged house slaves and skilled artisans down to lowly field hands) helped keep them divided and less likely to organise against their masters.
I learnt that slave marriages had no legal basis, but slaves did marry and raise large families. In fact, most slave owners encouraged this practice, to replace their losses from the high death rate amongst slaves. Some plantation owners promised women their freedom after they had produced fifteen children. Nonetheless, they did not hesitate to divide slave families by trade or removal. I actually saw children, less than twelve months old, separated from their mothers, who were hired out on some farm a considerable distance away.
In addition, it was apparent that there were no schools that admitted black children. Fearing that black literacy would provide a threat to the slave system whites in the South passed laws forbidding slaves to learn to read or write and making it a crime for others to teach them.
In addition, it was apparent that there were no schools that admitted black children. Fearing that black literacy would provide a threat to the slave system whites in the South passed laws forbidding slaves to learn to read or write and making it a crime for others to teach them.