Notes on African-American Culture in Colonial America

AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE AND CAROLINA

Carolina was the first black majority colony, with 60% of the population being enslaved.
The primary cash crop was rice, cultivated in swampy, flooded fields.
Plantations were much larger than in other regions, facilitating an economy of scale for harvesting rice.
African people had developed a resistance to malaria, which was rampant in these environmental settings.
Rice plantations had harsher and deadlier conditions.
Gumbo was a significant part of their diet. Named 'BECOV'

Conditions in Carolina were much deadlier, leading to greater importation of enslaved African people.
Enslaved people were given a task to complete for the day, and once finished, they could spend their time as they wished, either with family or not working, referred to as the "Task System," which was common in the North.
African people retained many more African traditions and culture for a longer time.
Families developed more slowly due to the greater importation of males, but over time, families did develop.

Due to the healthier climate of Virginia compared to other Southern colonies, death rates were lower.
As a result, families developed more quickly.
Smaller plantation sizes in Virginia and the presence of larger English yeoman farmers (small-scale farmers) led to African-Americans being continually exposed to European culture.
African-Americans adopted Christianity in higher numbers.
They tended to not retain as many African traditions in their practices.

Slavery existed in every colony, but it was much less essential to the economies of the Northern colonies.
Enslaved people who were present were in the homes of the wealthy, artisans, or dock workers.
Lower population equaled a slower development of an African-American culture.
African-American people had more opportunity for social mobility, potentially leading to a better life.
There was a greater likelihood of a free black person moving up in social class.
Because there was less population to control of enslaved people, laws tended to be less restrictive.

How did enslaved people resist a system designed to keep them oppressed at every level?
For the most part, enslaved people did not have access to any legal means to end their enslavement.
When they tried to use the law, the laws were changed.
Example: Elizabeth Key, an enslaved person, sued for her freedom because her mother was free.
Virginia responded by changing the law so that the status follows the mother.
Virginia and Maryland limited the rights of blacks to testify in court.
How did enslaved people resist when resistance meant the destruction of their family or person?