The Middle Passage is a significant concept in the history of American slavery, which plays an essential role in its development. Over more than three centuries, millions of enslaved Africans were deported from their homeland, primarily by British, European, and American traders, who later employed the individuals in various types of labor. The voyage through the Atlantic ocean was extremely strenuous for the exploited slaves, who were forced to survive harsh conditions of enclosed spaces, mistreatment, and dysentery.
Although approximately 10 to 20% of the deported Africans died during the transfer due to severe constraints or even suicide, the remaining percentage greatly impacted the affluence of the American slave trade. Given the demand for labor and the absence of substantial expenses for maintaining an African workforce, numerous corporations and plantation owners were especially invested in deporting the individuals or purchasing them from the ships’ captains. In the long term, the Middle Passage accounted for a significant number of Africans transported to North America, increasing the productivity of various businesses and further elevating the interest in the slave trade. The cheapness of the labor and the considerable business efficiency advantages connected to slave ownership enhanced the prosperity of the African human trade for centuries.
In my opinion, the most astonishing aspect of the Middle Passage is the disregard for human life, which resulted in the severity of the transatlantic transition. Although up to 20% of the enslaved individuals died during the voyage, the insufferable circumstances of the travel were never altered. Millions of Africans were forced to undergo the oppressive attitudes of the ship crew, excruciating discomfort, and numerous diseases. Furthermore, little to no attempt was made to improve the traveling environment, denying the deported individuals even a fraction of humanity or respect.