History shows that African-American history had to pay a heavy price for improvement of the New World. One wonders if Columbus had not discovered the New World, the burden of slavery would not be so difficult to bear. However, the truth is that economies in the New World grew because of slavery as the slaves provided cheap source of labor.
For the Africans arrival to America, life was difficult. The territorial colonies started using these habitancy to sustain their economies and these indentured servants were brought to America where they did not know what awaited them. In addition, many poor whites from England came to America on indentured servitude. Most white workers signed a covenant to work for rich planters for a duration of 4 to 7 years in return for their freedom and a small piece land. During the early period, African slaves had the same covenant and managed to become free and own property.
However, slowly things started to convert for African slaves. This was primarily because the colonies were acquiring more land and the economy started being based on profit. The slave workers started becoming prized commodities because they were dependable and hardworking. In the warmer regions of southern America, the African-American slaves worked on plantations of rice, tobacco, indigo, cotton and sugar cane. In the northern part of America, the slaves worked on small farms and as skilled and unskilled workers in factories. While other slaves worked as dock workers, servants or along the coast as fishermen, and helpers to tradesmen.
All African-American slaves fought hard to accomplish their freedom and keep their culture and identity. Even today, many African-Americans are bitter about the hardships their ancestors had to bear. However, this is part of American history that is best forgotten because it has left scars on the minds of most gift day African-Americans.
