As Juniper, I would have felt tremendous hatred and rebellion for my master. Watching my mother being raped or whipped or punished would outrage me. The feelings of vengeance would be plaguing my mind. Speaking of liberty, how could anyone assault any human form or even any living form? The most primary thought which would occur to me as Juniper would be how could someone speak the line, “all men are created equal”, and still practice slavery in its worst forms?
Being a slave with no life of your own, it is difficult to imagine any positive factors in my life. There would only be a negative impact. To imagine facing the atrocities of the master, including rape, physical torture, and the feeling of fear that one morning, one of the family members would be forcefully separated from you, is the most horrific.
In the video excerpt, you learned that Juniper and other slaves represented a “new generation of black people” who were creating their own identity as African Americans. Cite some examples from the video that you found most interesting and/or surprising. You might also want to offer some comments about how this “separate culture” helped blacks endure their enslavement.
This practice and preservation of culture enabled them to garner the strength and support needed to face their masters and also bear their slavery. What I found most surprising is the bargaining power that the slaves gradually developed over some time to lead their own lives and to spend their time pursuing the activities they desired. Also surprising was the fact that the slaves made their musical instruments and played music in their communities. This aspect of spending time with your community in pursuing a hobby or enjoying must have been a crucial and interesting factor in binding with their community members. Sharing and caring have indeed proved substantial in enabling them to stand up for their rights, over a while.
Sandoval
As Jupiter, I think that after watching many horrific scenes such as lynching, the cutting off of ears, rapes among women, and many more atrocities the ideas of the Declaration of Independence could be hard to achieve due to the importance of the Slaves in the aspect of farming and agriculture.
The Slaves during those years did much to cope with those atrocities. Their coping strategy was to show love and affection within each other after a long hard work. I don’t think there are many positive things to talk about being a Slave with the exception that I (Jupiter) was working inside the home taking care of Jefferson. I although learn things that others were deprived of, such as being exposed to some important facts by listening to certain news before others knew.
The negative factor is the deprivation of my liberty which was subjective to obey orders and watching my parents obeying orders as well.
Even though Jupiter had some understanding of the Declaration of Independence, he knew that Independence had many years to come.
Lourdes
As I watched the video and tried to place myself in Juniper’s position I couldn’t help but feel very angry and hate towards my master. I am sure that as much as I tried to understand their position I cannot fully understand all the suffering that they had to endure. I would have thought that Thomas Jefferson was, to say the least, a hypocrite. How can Thomas Jefferson talk about “all men are created equal” and then treat all the slaves as less than human, treating them as property? How could kids endure the suffering of watching their mother or sisters get raped or torture or see their family members be taken away and not been able to do anything about it? I thank got that slavery ended.
Clark
Not all blacks endured their enslavement. Some would rebel by running away, take part in arsen, poison, and even suicide. However, some would make the most of their situation and began to develop their own culture which no one could take away, not even their masters. Music was a key component to developing this “separate culture.”
As a new generation of blacks grew on this new side of the Atlantic, they combined their homeland instruments with the white-man’s which included the violence. For instance, the video excerpt stated Juniper’s family produced banjos. As a result, the banjo and violence combined orchestrated a new sound and culture.
Saine
Separate culture helped blacks endure their enslavement way of doing this was the most profound form of preservation of their values and beliefs that created assurance above and beyond their white masters. The American-born slaves were introduced to African and European cultures and new slaves were brought to America. The two musical instruments that the slaves introduced to one another were the violin (originated in America) and the banjo which had originated in Africa.
The slaves also found that they indeed have ways to negotiate with their white masters by requesting more time to work on their gardens and sell or trade produce that they cultivated.
However, the white master also had used family members to keep their slaves in line by selling family members when they tried to resist their master’s orders.
I agree with Lourdes in his view that the love and affection between the African slaves, not only helped them to face the atrocities of their masters but also preserve their own culture, traditions, and values. Slavery has been a long-debated issue in America. The practice of slavery was important to the Americans for their plantations and agricultural purposes. However, the treatment meted out to the slaves was horrific and most demeaning.
Rather than being treated like humans, they were treated worse than animals. Lourdes is correct when he criticizes Thomas Jefferson for being a hypocrite. Not only were the slaves physically tortured but mentally as well. Their families were disturbed and separated without their permission. They were battered and shackled in chains, which is, by all means, a horrendous action. It is difficult to imagine how these slaves must have endured all the atrocities of their masters. Clarke is right when he points the new sound and culture of music evolved among the slaves. The entire community must have had tremendous courage and willpower to bear all this and yet unite to play music and live and care for the co-members of the community.
This brings us to the crucial question as to how did their cultural practices aid them in surviving and keeping their distinct identities and cultures. Naturally, the role of their traditional and cultural practices in keeping them united and strong is immensely visible. Religious practices have also played a vital role in keeping the slaves united and strong.
We must learn a few lessons from the video. Culture and tradition serve many purposes. Communicating and spending time with family members and members of the community not only acts as a stress buster but could also give the strength and support to face the harsher realities of life. Thus, socializing should become an important cultural practice and people must benefit from this time-tested practice.