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This print, published in 1787, shows individuals on the plantations
being forcibly separated from family or friends. Repeated separation
from the time of capture in Africa to being sold off to fetch a good
price, or to be disposed of in old age, added to the despair and
isolation felt by enslaved Africans. It also maximized profits and
helped plantation owners control and oppress their workers.
This mental or emotional torment compounded the suffering of the
enslaved, who had to endure harsh physical conditions in which they
lived and worked. The whips in the picture were always carried as a
means of oppression and control, and were regularly used on those slaves
who stepped out of line.
Source: Understanding Slavery Initiative
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