Slave breeding in the United States

former prevalent economic practice in the US, especially after import of slaves was made illegal

Slave breeding was long a part of slavery. As in other slave countries, its purpose was to make more slaves. Slave breeding became more important in the United States the 19th century when the Atlantic slave trade ended. As with other commodities, scarcity caused the price of slaves to rise, so more slaves meant more money for their owners.[1] Pregnancy was encouraged. Many slave masters mated with their own slaves to make more slave children. It produced mulatto children. White men who owned slaves would often rape black women.

Four generations of slaves on a plantation in South Carolina c. 1862

It was practice to breed slaves that had "good genetics". Slave owners would mate these "good genetic" slaves with multiple slave women, sometimes in orgies. These Afro-American genetically breed slaves became taller, stronger, healthier and smarter then their ancestors in Africa. For example, the average height of an Afro-American male is around 2 inches taller than their male counterparts in Africa.

History change

For some states such as Virginia and North Carolina it was an export industry; they sold slaves to places where the price was higher, such as Alabama and Arkansas. Slave breeders favored woman slaves who could have large numbers of children.[2] As with other livestock, breeders tried to improve the health and productivity of slaves. Breeders were approved in slave states because slaves were considered to be less than human, thus had no human rights. They were livestock, like horses or dogs.

References change

  1. Marable, Manning, How capitalism underdeveloped Black America: problems in race, political economy, and society South End Press, 2000, p 72
  2. Marable, ibid, p 72