settlement, and later became an independent country. Colonization continued sporadically for the next few decades, but support was inconsistent. The Civil War, and the emancipation that came with it, basically brought an end to the era of colonization in the United States. The "Middle Passage" was the journey of slave trading ships from the west coast of Africa, where the slaves were obtained, across the Atlantic, where they were sold or, in some cases, traded for goods such as molasses, which was used in the making of rum. However, this voyage has come to be remembered for much more than simply the transport and sale of slaves. The Middle Passage was the longest, hardest, most dangerous, and also most horrific part of the journey of the slave ships. With extremely tightly packed loads of human cargo that stank and carried both infectious disease and death, the ships would travel east to west across the Atlantic on a miserable voyage lasting at least five weeks, and sometimes as long as three months. Although incredibly profitable for both its participants and their investing backers, the terrible Middle Passage has come to represent the ultimate in human misery and suffering. The abominable and inhuman conditions which the Africans were faced with on their voyage clearly display the great evil of the slave trade

Even before the first Africans were brought to the shores of Virginia in 1619, the slave trade had become the basis for most aspects of the Atlantic economy. The Middle Passage across the Atlantic became the essential part of a system of trading routes between Europe, Africa, and North America. The exchange of goods along these routes became known collectively as the triangular trade. Developed primarily by sea captains from England and New England, ships in the triangular trade carried goods between Europe, Africa, and the new world, although not necessarily in that order. The triangular trade system was highly successful because each region produced goods which were not produced elsewhere, and therefore were considered extremely valuable to the others, hence netting a great profit for the seamen who transported these goods.

While the Middle Passage served as a great source of wealth for many whites, it was an inhuman practice and the Africans who were enslaved were subjected to atrocious conditions during the voyage. During periods of good weather, the slaves would be brought up on deck in the morning. At this time the men would be shackled together with iron chains, while the women and children would be allowed to roam about on deck. At about nine o' clock in the morning they were given their first meal of the day. Interestingly, slaves from different sections along the west African coast would often be fed different meals. Those from the Northern part of the Guinea Coast would be fed boiled rice, millet, or cornmeal. Slaves from the Bight of Biafra had stewed yams, and those from still farther south in the Congo River region would be fed starchy manioc, cassava flour, or banana-like fruits. Sometimes a few lumps of raw meat would be thrown in with their food to keep them healthy. It was also at this time in the morning that the slaves were given their daily ration of a half-pint of water in a small pan, called a pannikin.

In the late afternoon came the slaves' second and only other meal of the day. Sometimes it was the same as their first, but most captains were not that humane. The afternoon meal usually consisted only of horse beans, very large beans which are used to feed horses. They were the cheapest form of food available. The beans were boiled until they were pulpy and then covered with a mixture of palm oil, flour, and water. To cover up the horrible taste, large amounts of red pepper, called "slabber sauce", were added.

The captains needed to keep the slaves in acceptable physical condition if they were to be sold at high prices, so each morning after breakfast the slaves were "danced" on deck, in order to give them exercise. Still shackled together, the men were forced to jump up and down until often the flesh of their ankles was raw and bleeding from the iron chains which bound them together. The women and children, who were free of such bonds were better able to dance to the rhythm that was pounded out on an African drum or iron kettle, sometimes with the accompaniment of a fiddle or African banjo played by a crew member. The slaves, otherwise kept miserably in the "tween decks", enjoyed this dancing, as it was their only form of physical recreation during the entire day. Each day at sunset the slaves would be placed back below deck to rest in the misery and filth that was the "tween decks".

During the morning exercises members of the crew roved about the deck carrying whips and would beat those slaves who refused to "dance". Although most whips were made only of simple rope, the wicked cat-o'-nine-tails was also used aboard many slavers. Consisting of nine cords coated with tar, each with a knot at the end, the cat-o'-nine-tails could slash the skin of a slave's back to ribbons in only a few lashes.

Yet the worst time of the Middle Passage came for the slaves when the ship was met with periods of bad weather. During storms the blacks were forced to remain below deck all day and night. The holds were dark, filthy, slimy, and they stank of death. The "tween decks" were often full not only with slaves, both living and dead, but also with blood, vomit, urine, and human waste. Also during periods of inclement weather the slaves were not fed as usual. They were often forced to scrounge for small crumbs and pieces of spoiled food and drink from stagnant puddles of extremely impure water.

Another inhuman practice of the crews of the slave ships was that of "bedwarming". In this custom a member of the crew, or sometimes even the captain, would take a slave women out from the 'tween decks during the night. The woman would be taken back to either the captain's chamber or the crew's living quarters and be beaten and physically forced to have sexual relations with the crew member. This practice demonstrated the complete rape of the African-American culture by the slave traders of the Middle Passage, both figuratively and literally.

Although most of the victims of the Middle Passage found themselves helpless to resist their captors, there were occasional uprisings on the slave ships Some of the slaves who were transported along the Middle Passage attempted to rebel against the captain and crew. The negroes would make crude weapons out of their chains and shackles and attempt to kill crew members during the time when they were on deck. However, these uprisings were usually put down quickly by the crew, which used advanced weapons such as pistols and rifles to slaughter numerous slaves. Hence, although there were some successful slave mutinies along the Middle Passage, most Africans who attempted to revolt were killed in the process and thus put out of their misery.

The Africans also frequently resorted to other acts of rebellion on the ships, including harming themselves, thus threatening the "cargo" of their captors. Many who had been taken from their homeland chose to take their own lives rather than to continue to suffer the unbearable conditions of the slave ship. Many jumped overboard when they had an opportunity. Others found ways to cut their throats. Some refused to eat and eventually starved to death. However, the slave captains, wanting to maintain as many of their slaves alive as possible, soon began employing methods to force feed the negroes. On some ships coal or fire would be placed near the lips of those who refused to eat. There were also captains who reportedly poured melted lead on slaves who were on hunger strikes. Another method used to force feed the Africans was a device called the speculum oris. The speculum oris was a wooden instrument, which looked much like a pair of dividers, and was forced into the slave's mouth. Then a thumb screw would be turned, causing the legs of the speculum oris to open like a pair of pliers. Once the black man's jaws were forced open food would be crammed down his mouth, often causing intense gagging and vomiting.

In addition to those killed in the act of rebellion, many more slaves died during the Middle Passage Many of the Africans taken aboard the slave ships and transported along the Middle Passage did not live to see the shores of North America. A great many expired during the voyage as a result of the extreme overcrowding and deplorable conditions present aboard the vessel. Many suffocated or succumbed to dysentery while in the hold.

Many died along the voyage due to epidemics of disease, which spread like wildfire in the tightly packed 'tween decks. On board the slavers there were numerous outbreaks of the dreaded smallpox, as well as ophthalmia, a highly contagious disease which quickly resulted in complete blindness. These terrible ailments could rapidly afflict an entire cargo of slaves, as well as the crew, and wipe out entire ships in a matter of days.

A few of the Africans were driven insane by the claustrophobic misery they experienced while on the ships. Those who had gone mad were often brought up on deck, at which time they were either flogged or clubbed to death and then thrown overboard. Those suffering from smallpox or ophthalmia were not quite so fortunate. Anyone showing even the slightest sign of either of these diseases was thrown overboard alive. This was done by the captain to prevent at all costs an epidemic aboard the ship.

It is difficult for scholars to even estimate the number of Africans that died during the Middle Passage. Very few exact records were kept of those who expired during the voyage, but most historians feel reasonably confident in saying that nearly as many Africans died en route as made it to the Americas. From the records that do exist, it is telling that a voyage in which only one-quarter of the African captives died during the trip was considered a success. Although we will never know for sure how many unfortunate Africans met their deaths along the Middle Passage, it is certain that the death toll was staggering and that many of those taken from their homeland never even made it across the Atlantic. The millions of blacks that perished in the Middle Passage show the extreme callousness of those involved in the slave trade and the gross inhumanity with which the Africans were treated.

What has not been a subject of debate is that the experience of the African slaves along the Middle Passage remains today as the paramount example of human mistreatment and suffering. The conditions which the slaves were faced with on this journey graphically display the absolute terror which was African-American slavery. For centuries the blacks were victimized by the heartless greed of a European class which was more advanced, and thus in a position to exploit them. The Africans, who were captured, branded, and locked in chains, had their humanity completely stripped away by slavery. Exemplified by the horror of the Middle Passage, slavery and the slave trade have permanently imbrued the character of all humanity.

Initially, when the African slave trade was beginning in the late fifteenth century, it was divided by the Portugese and the Spanish. Both nations were experienced in trading with West Africa, where the slaves were obtained. When the trade became transatlantic early in the 1500's, Portugal claimed a monopoly on slave trading in the South Atlantic because of their early settlements in South America, especially Brazil. Spain meanwhile claimed a monopoly on the trade in the North Atlantic based on their previous exploration of the islands of the Caribbean Sea. Although Portugal never met any major challenge to their control of the southern transatlantic slave trade, several nations, especially England, desired to enter into this highly profitable venture in the northern Atlantic. powerful Spain tried to hold off all newcomers, but the Spanish could not hold off the profit-hungry English for long.

Although the voyages of Sir John Hawkins were extremely profitable, an event occurred which caused the fledgling English participation in the transatlantic slave trade to come to a screeching halt in the late 1560's. During one of his voyages Hawkins sailed his ships into the port of Vera Cruz on the Mexican Coast, where he encountered an extremely large and heavily armed Spanish fleet. The Spaniards, still firmly believing that they were entitled to a complete monopoly of the northern transatlantic slave trade, were infuriated to discover that the English were participating as well. They swiftly attacked Hawkins' fleet and badly defeated them. The Spanish proceeded to either enslave or slaughter their English prisoners. Several were burned at the stake as heretics. Of the 400 men who had sailed with Hawkins out of Plymouth earlier in the voyage, Drake and Hawkins himself were part of only a handful to escape the wrath of the Spanish.

This incident discouraged the English from further participation in the transatlantic slave trade for 100 years. However, after the upheaval of the English Civil War came to an end, British interest in the slave trade was resurrected. The English were ready to dedicate themselves once again to this lucrative form of commerce. In 1672 Charles II chartered the Royal African Company, which quickly established mother England as the world's greatest slave trader.

Although mighty London began as the headquarters of the Royal African Company, it was later outpaced by Bristol and Liverpool, which were much closer not only to the water but also to the factories where the majority of England's manufactured goods were produced. In fact, numerous such European cities were completely built for and around the slave trade and thus quickly gained immense wealth and prestige. As one minister stated, "The whole city of Liverpool was built by the blood of the poor Africans."The Middle Passage became an essential part of European commerce

Gain support and expertise from the expatriate African decendant nation to positively reconstruct our motherland, our culture and our way of life, to provide a prosperous future for our children How many of us who live in Africa and elsewhere abroad have an inkling of the many-faceted beauty of our Motherland? We have become a divided nation today. A war is ripping the very fabric of our society, the brotherhood we enjoyed as a people is disintegrating into splinters. Race, hatred, and division in the social framework in every form are throwing us day after day into the proverbial back yard of progress, unity, and understanding. The gap between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ is deepening. It’s a pity. Has something been wrong with our educational system that the majority of us today lack the knowledge and experience of our motherland? Is it then rather the vacuum within us that we often fail to blossom into a patriotic love and commitment to make our motherland more than a taste of Paradise.Being educated, intellectual, or professional alone will not at times help our contenent ’s urgent need. Various kinds of reforms by succeeding African governments over the last had never help, only Is it then a sense of pure humble and humanistic inspiration the simple answer we need to overcome this problem? As human life evolves, the concept of mother also takes a wider and more sublime form. When man looks around with his discerning intellect, he sees so many things besides his own mother, to which he owes a debt of gratitude. He begins to look upon them as mother. He sees the rivers which give him food and water and he calls them mother. Once he outgrows the use of his mother's milk. And then he reaches the state of understanding that it is the mother soil which nourishes him, protects him and takes him in her bossom even after he breathes his last. He becomes conscious that she is his great mother. Thus to look upon one's land of birth as mother is a sign of a high state of human evolution.We must say that we live in a troublesome time. We want to see our Contenet`s mighty & our people healthy wealthy & happy. We so much want to hope that we shall overcome one day. We all love our motherland, we love it’s green fields & vast forests, it’s high mountains & beautiful rivers & lakes. People all over the world are worried about what is happening to our environment. It is the pollution of the land, air & water. This problem did not appear suddenly. For thousands of years people have been polluting our continat Africa.It is the only continent whose population was enslaved to contribute to the development of other nations. The impact of this today was all forms of exploitation, foreign debt, right to life,Hiv,Economy Slavery of Africa.Nowadays the population of the world is large. Many factories & plants have been built in order to produce goods satisfying the needs of the people. Their smoke gets into the air making it dirty like pololution in Goniland in Nigeria. The dangerous waste of factories is either send to Africa or thrown into rivers & lakes or buried in the ground. The Journey to South African should get Africa people united in their struggle to protect our Motherland Africa and it should be see by the decendents as a Journey back home-Motherland

Africa is our mother. In our cultural tradition, the respectful way of calling a woman is by her child's name. To call a lady as the wife of Mr. so-and-so, i.e., as Ms. so-and-so, is the western way. We say, 'she is osazee's mother'. So also is the case with the name 'Africa' for our motherland. Afro-decendents are elder brother and sister of ours, born long long before us. He was noble, virtuous and victorius king and a shining model of Africa Our motherland has verily been a mother, a father and a teacher.all rolled into one.
As human life evolves, the concept of mother also takes a wider and more sublime form. When man looks around with his discerning intellect, he sees so many things besides his own mother, to which he owes a debt of gratitude. He begins to look upon them as mother. He sees the rivers which give him food and water and he calls them mother. Once he outgrows the use of his mother's milk And then he reaches the state of understanding that it is the mother soil which nourishes him, protects him and takes him in her bossom even after he breathes his last. He becomes conscious that she is his great mother. Thus to look upon one's land of orgin as mother is a sign of a high state of human evolution. the intense consciousness of our being a single and indivisible brotherhood as the children of that common mother, and pride in our unique cultural heritage, aspiration to see our land Africa reseated in her pristine glory and honour in the comity of nations, can alone act as a constant and powerful incentive capable of taking up in its sweep the greatest as well as the humblest in the land and bring out the best in them in the cause of the motherland. lived a life of unchallenged glory and power for thousands of years and spread its spiritual and cultural effulgence over vast areas of the globe -right from Europe-Asia and America.The historical origin of all countries has become an important matter.Africa were separated due to war. the colonial ,colonial oppressors. When there are two countries, it can be found that there are extreme grudges about the boundaries between those countries. We all know that it is an historical fact that those countries whose boundaries are adjacent fight more fiercely and shed more blood than a third or fourth country whose boundary is further away. So the wall between these two countries and two people is the highest.Since olden times, two countries who are adjacent, engage in fighting across the boundary. That is why it is easier for you to fight with your next door neighbor. It is because we are fallen people. The reason why we fight with our neighbors is the result of the human fall.We can conclude that because there are so many countries in the world, that there have also been many fights, battles and wars.All Africa countries pursue a world of peace, yet do you think they can all go to the world of peace? This is the common task of all mankind. The world of peace should be the world of consequence, then it would be logically wrong that we can reach the world of peace with a false start and a false cause. Therefore, by unfolding the movement to overcome the origin of those battles, we can find the starting point to pursue the ideal world. It is logically right that because the cause is perfect and starts with peace, it can go through the peaceful course and arrive at a peaceful purpose.

We are just like the people who do not have a Nation. Have we ever had a Nation in the past? We have never had such a Nation. Was it because there had been no one who tried to search for a Nation? No. It was because they could not find the country based on the external and internal standard of unity. From this perspective, we can never reach the peaceful world if Africa`s countries continue to hate each other. As long as we continue to hate each other, we can never attain a peaceful world even if we are longing for it and proceed to the ideal world. In order to change this ugly history, we need a movement which has the content to change the direction of the history.

In order to form one motherland, there should be a sovereign, a people, and a territory The sovereign is replaced by parents and the people by sons and daughters of Africa and Africa decendent. We can not be missing one of these three elements in our Nation. That is an absolute rule

Keine Mails mehr:
   Mail an ahda@chello.at mit dem Betreff "unsubscribe kurier"