Kamala Harris made false accusations about Florida's new standards for teaching black history, claiming that the standards require teaching that blacks "benefited from slavery." in reality, the standards require teaching the full spectrum of black history, including the following facts about the type of work enslaved people performed during the era of slavery.
____________________
Many slaves who were brought to America and the Caribbean already had marketable skills and trade expertise. These skills included:
- Agriculture: Many slaves were skilled farmers and agricultural laborers. They knew how to plant, cultivate, and harvest crops such as sugar, tobacco, cotton, and rice.
- Building: Many slaves were skilled carpenters, masons, and bricklayers. They were responsible for building and maintaining the infrastructure of the plantations and settlements, including houses, barns, roads, and bridges.
- Metalworking: Many slaves were skilled blacksmiths, silversmiths, and gunsmiths. They made tools and weapons for the plantations and settlements, as well as jewelry and other decorative objects.
- Textiles: Many slaves were skilled weavers, spinners, and tailors. They made clothing and textiles for the plantations and settlements.
- Domestic work: Many slaves were skilled in domestic tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and childcare. They were responsible for providing for the basic needs of the plantation owners and their families.
- Skilled trades: Some slaves had more specialized skills, such as carpentry, masonry, or blacksmithing. These slaves were often valued more highly by their owners and were given more responsibility.
In addition to their skills, many slaves also had knowledge of traditional African medicine and herbalism. This knowledge was often used to treat the sick and injured on the plantations. Some slaves were also skilled in music and dance, and they played an important role in the cultural life of the plantations.
The skills and knowledge of slaves were a valuable asset to the Americas. These skills helped to build the infrastructure of the colonies, provide for the basic needs of the population, and create a vibrant cultural life. The contributions of slaves to the development of the Americas are often overlooked, but they are essential to understanding the history of the region.
References:
- The Interesting Narrative
of the Life of Olaudah Equiano by Olaudah Equiano. In
his book, Equiano describes how he was trained in a variety
of trades in his native Africa, including carpentry,
masonry, and blacksmithing.
- The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets by David M. Smith and Michael D. Coe. This book discusses the history of sugar production in the Americas, and it includes a chapter on the role of slaves in the sugar industry. The chapter states that "many slaves brought to the Americas were skilled farmers and agricultural laborers, and they played a vital role in the development of the sugar industry."
- The Social Science Encyclopedia by George Ritzer. This encyclopedia article on slavery discusses the skills and knowledge that slaves brought with them to the Americas. The article states that "slaves were often skilled in a variety of trades, including agriculture, building, metalworking, textiles, and domestic work."
- Encyclopedia of African American History, 1619-1895: From the Colonial Period to the Age of Frederick Douglass by Paul Finkelman. This encyclopedia article on slavery in the United States discusses the skills and knowledge that slaves brought with them to the Americas. The article states that "many slaves were skilled farmers, artisans, and laborers, and their skills were essential to the development of the American economy."
