Black Water

The transport of black Africans to the Americas by slave ship became known as the Middle Passage because it was the middle leg of the Triangular... more

by W James Taylor

Title

Black Water

Artist

W James Taylor

Medium

Painting - Chalk Pastel

Description

The transport of black Africans to the Americas by slave ship became known as the Middle Passage because it was the middle leg of the Triangular Trade route used by the European merchants. The African slaves were viewed as cargo by the merchants and were packed into the ships with no regard to their human rights. Slave ships could be eitehr 'tight packed' or 'loose packed'. A 'tight pack' could hold many more slaves than a 'loose pack' because the amount of space allocated to each slave was considerably less, but more slaves would die enroute to the Americas. Other slaves were forced to spend the voyage sitting on deck, many slaves became seasick or developed diarrea. Unable to move because they were chained into their positions, the ships deck became a stinking mass of human waste. Slaves, who developed sores from the chains rubbing against their skin, had festering wounds covered with maggots eating away their flesh. Conditions on the ships were so bad that many slaves refused to eat and tried to starve themselves or jump overboard. However, slaves that would not eat were whipped and force-fed. The owners began fixing nets to the sides of the boat to keep them from jumping. The number of slaves that jumped or were thrown overboard was so enormous that it changed the migration patterns of the sharks in that part of the ocean. Hence the title of my painting "Black Water" - Offered as a Limited Edition Giclee' print - Original Painting is available

Uploaded

February 12th, 2007