Enslaved Community and Resilience
How did enslaved people create community and a culture that allowed them to survive in an oppressive society?
Despite the brutality of slavery, enslaved people created strong communities and a resilient culture that helped them survive and resist oppression. They developed systems of kinship, religion, music, and resistance that provided solidarity and hope.
1. Family and Kinship Networks
- Enslaved people formed extended family structures to replace biological family members who were separated by sale.
- Adoptive kinship (e.g., calling elders “aunt” or “uncle”) provided emotional support and a sense of belonging.
- Families passed down cultural traditions, naming practices, and oral histories to preserve identity.
2. Religion and Spiritual Resistance
- Christianity, often blended with African spiritual traditions, became a source of hope and resistance.
- Enslaved people created invisible churches where they preached messages of liberation and equality, drawing inspiration from stories like Exodus.
- Spirituals and hymns contained coded messages about escape and resilience…
Despite the brutality of slavery, enslaved people created strong communities and a resilient culture that helped them survive and resist oppression. They developed systems of kinship, religion, music, and resistance that provided solidarity and hope.
1. Family and Kinship Networks
- Enslaved people formed extended family structures to replace biological family members who were separated by sale.
- Adoptive kinship (e.g., calling elders “aunt” or “uncle”) provided emotional support and a sense of belonging.
- Families passed down cultural traditions, naming practices, and oral histories to preserve identity.
2. Religion and Spiritual Resistance
- Christianity, often blended with African spiritual traditions, became a source of hope and resistance.
- Enslaved people created invisible churches where they preached messages of liberation and equality, drawing inspiration from stories like Exodus.
- Spirituals and hymns contained coded messages about escape and resilience…
Despite the brutality of slavery, enslaved people created strong communities and a resilient culture that helped them survive and resist oppression. They developed systems of kinship, religion, music, and resistance that provided solidarity and hope.
1. Family and Kinship Networks
- Enslaved people formed extended family structures to replace biological family members who were separated by sale.
- Adoptive kinship (e.g., calling elders “aunt” or “uncle”) provided emotional support and a sense of belonging.
- Families passed down cultural traditions, naming practices, and oral histories to preserve identity.
