Slave Society

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Slave Society
How did slaves create their own community?
The slavery institution often tried to deny slaves their cultural identity. Removed from their cultural background, they were forced to abandon their cultural ideals and adopt much of their masters’ culture. Nevertheless, studies have indicated that part of the slaves’ culture differed from that of the enslavers culture. Some of these different cultural aspects helped the slaves to resist oppression, while others have been seen as ways of native cultural preservation within a new society by helping them create and nurture their communities. One way that they created their own communities was through having a family life. Despite not having a legal foundation, most planters accepted slave marriages because they believed that it was an easy way of controlling them and getting more slave progeny (Hunter 5). As such, these slave families were always under threat from the planters who readily tore them apart by selling them to fellow planters. Despite this looming challenge of being torn apart, the slaves strived to maintain their families in a stable condition. This was achieved via the division of social responsibilities, whereby man and wife assumed relatively similar roles as those of the white society. The wife was the bearer of domestic responsibilities while the wife was the head and provider of the house. They also created their communities via religiosity, whereby they inculcated Christian beliefs with those of their native culture in order to preserve their culture and pass it on to their future generations.

What actions would you practice or have you practiced to maintain your identity in a country and society that is not your country of origin?
One way of preserving your cultural identity in a new setting is by maintaining cultural traditions. Some of these traditions include special events, occasions, and holidays that are unique to your background. This is important because it enables to transition easily into a new cultural setting at the same time maintaining the old culture. Also, joining organizations and communicating with the people that you share cultural identity with is very effective in maintaining your cultural identity. Such social gatherings are essential as they help people connect with new people that they share heritage and can celebrate specific cultural events with.
Work Cited
Hunter, Frances L. “Slave society on the Southern plantation.” The Journal of Negro History 7.1 (1922): 1-10.