Impact of Slavery and Human Trafficking in Africa

Posted on Feb 12, 2025 in History

Key Factors Influencing Africa’s Geography and History

  1. Latitude and Distance: Affects climate and agricultural potential.
  2. Tropical Rainforests: Characterized by high biodiversity.
  3. Pygmy People: Indigenous groups inhabiting Central African rainforests.
  4. Savanna Grasslands: Vast ecosystems supporting diverse wildlife.
  5. “Black Gold” (Oil): Europeans’ term for the valuable resource that fueled exploitation.

The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) Atrocities

The Lord’s Resistance Army is one of Central Africa’s cruelest and most enduring armed groups, fighting against the Ugandan government. Thousands of children have been abducted by the LRA and forced to work as soldiers and sex slaves.

Consequences of the Transatlantic Slave Trade

  1. Civil War (post-1865): The legacy of slavery contributed to continued conflict.
  2. Social Upheaval:
    • Forced Migration: Millions were sold into slavery over three centuries.
    • Violence: Kingdoms deteriorated into civil warfare to capture prisoners for the slave trade.
    • Social Collapse: The slave trade caused a collapse of traditional African social and political order.
    • Prejudice and Racism: Traders sought justification by instilling a sense of inferiority in their victims.
    • Political Adjustment: African kingdoms fell victim to political realignment as new sources of wealth and power emerged from the slave trade.
  3. Prejudice/Racism: A lasting consequence of the dehumanization of enslaved people.
  4. Numbers of Enslaved People:
    • Sold into slavery: 12-14 million
    • Died on the voyage: 12-14 million
    • Total number taken: 24-28 million
  5. Justifications for Enslavement: Enslavers falsely claimed they were converting enslaved people to Christianity and dehumanized them by comparing them to animals.
  6. Ivory Coast: A significant location in the history of the slave trade.

Timeline of Slavery in the United States

  1. 1619: A Dutch ship arrives at Jamestown, Virginia, carrying enslaved people from Africa. This is the first cargo of enslaved people in America.
  2. 1777-1820: Slavery is abolished in the Northern states.
  3. 1788: The U.S. Constitution is ratified, extending slavery for 20 years and counting each enslaved person as ⅗ of a person for the purpose of determining population for the South.
  4. 1808: The United States ends the importation of slaves.

Africa’s Geography

  1. Africa is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Indian Ocean to the east, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north.
  2. Nile River: The longest river in the world.
  3. Sahara Desert: The largest hot desert in the world.
  4. Desert Coverage: Approximately 40% of Africa is covered by desert.

The Middle Passage: Horrors of the Voyage

The conditions on the voyage were terrible. Enslaved people were often “loosely” packed, meaning they had slightly more room but still endured horrific conditions. They lay in their own waste, tightly packed and chained. Many died or were thrown overboard. Women were subjected to sexual abuse. When they refused to eat, their front teeth were sometimes smashed out. Revolts were common. White men referred to the enslaved people as “apes” and “monkeys,” further dehumanizing them.

Key Figures in the Fight Against Slavery

  1. Dred Scott: An enslaved man who escaped to the North and believed he was free. The U.S. Supreme Court asserted that a slave taken into a free state did not become free.
  2. Frederick Douglass: An enslaved man who escaped to the North and became a famous abolitionist and orator. He became known as the “South’s worst nightmare.”
  3. Nat Turner: An enslaved man who organized a rebellion, resulting in the deaths of 45 white people.

Fugitive Slave Laws

Slave owners had the right to recapture runaway slaves in the North. If runaway slaves were caught, a reward would be given to the capturer, and the slaves would be returned to their owner.

Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking

  1. Human Trafficking: The illegal trade of human beings for commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, or involuntary military combat. Humans are bought and sold for different purposes. Most often, women are sold for sex, and the money they earn is given to their pimp. This is extremely dangerous for the women involved.

  2. Child Labor: When children, even as young as toddlers, are forced to work under harsh and excruciating conditions, mostly in mines, mills, and factories. They are sometimes paid, but it’s a very low amount, almost nothing.

  3. Child Soldiers: Children are brainwashed into becoming soldiers. They are taught to kill people and even each other. They are taken away from their families, and their innocence is taken away.

The Persistence of Slavery

Slavery is a significant issue, and many cases are not detected because it’s so difficult to identify in some situations. It is unlikely that slavery will ever be completely eradicated due to its ongoing presence and a lack of awareness. People often find ways around the law, and poverty is a primary driver of slavery. Enslaved people often have no other choice if they want to survive. It is also a hidden crime. For example, “bridal slaves” are women forced into marriage and abused, often without the expectation of abuse, and little is done to stop it. Many people are unaware that slavery still exists, and some governments refuse to acknowledge it.