African American Hardships Essay - 1283 Words

African American Hardships During pre-colonial African kinship and inheritance, it provided the bases of organization of many African American communities. African American men were recognized for the purpose of inheritance. They also inherited their clan names based on their accomplishments, as well as other things when one decease. Land was not owned in many parts of Africa during the pre-colonial period. It was yet held and distributed by African American men. Access to the land by women depended on their obligations or duties within the gendered division of labor. Agriculture was the job of many African women. Men believed in having several wives that would all work together as farm workers and do whatever duties necessary as†¦show more content†¦During this colonial era, more than half of all African Americans lived in Virginia and Maryland. Most of them lived in the Chesapeake area where they made up fifty to sixty percent of the population. In 1790, the first census was taken which showed that eight percent of the black population was free. This may not seem like a great deal but, this gave parents hope that their child will one day be free of slavery or that slavery may not exist by the time their child is grown. The majority of the African American slaves worked on tobacco plantations and large farms. Working in a tobacco plantation was one of the hardest things to do. It was an eleven month crop, which had four different stages to it and required constant care. According to The Colonial Williamsburg, there were some advantages to working on a farm or plantation verses working in a household or an urban setting. Generally, slaves in plantations lived in complete family units, their work dictated by the rising and setting of the sun. They generally were allowed Sundays off. Though, the disadvantage was that slaves were more likely to be sold or transferred than those in a domestic setting. They were also subjected to brutal and severe punishments because they were regarded as less valuable than household or urban slaves. Urban and household slaves generally did not live in complete family units. Most domestic environments used female labor. Therefore, there were very few men. In fact, jobs fo rShow MoreRelatedOppression And Hardships Of African American Hair1693 Words   |  7 Pages African American hair has so much diversity and flexibility, throughout many years of oppression and hardships they have chosen to alter their natural texture to fit into â€Å"white† standards of beauty. Often feeling the pressures to fit into society, many of these people will purposely damage and harm themselves with a chemical substance called a relaxer. It is important that the millions of women who live their lives solely based on outward appearances know that it is normal to want to feel acceptedRead MoreAfrican American Hardships1306 Words   |  6 PagesDuring pre-colonial African kinship and inheritance, it provided the bases of organization of many African American communities. African American men were recognized for the purpose of inheritance. They also inherited their clan names based on their accomplishments, as well as other things when one decease. Land was not owne d in many parts of Africa during the pre-colonial period. It was yet held and distributed by African American men. Access to the land by women depended on their obligations orRead MoreEssay about Battle Royal - Symbolism827 Words   |  4 PagesRalph Ellisons short story, quot;Battle Royalquot;, is symbolic in many different ways. In one way it is symbolic of the African Americans struggle for equality throughout our nations history. 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