captivity. Slaves were inspired by such words and to them religion was their nucleus of hope. This nucleus would keep the slave population strong and hopeful that tone day they might be released from slavery.Spirituals were another significant reason for the slaves to remain hopeful. Their songs comforted their souls and gave them cultural identity. As Levine points out, “However seriously the slave system may have diminished the central community that had bound African societies together, It was never able to destroy it totally or to leave the individual atomized and psychically defenseless before his white masters” (p.102). Songs were a way of expressing slaves feelings and there was usually no confinement to when and where one might sing. This harmony gave them the will to survive by creating internally a rejuvenation of oneself.Conjure was important to the slaves culturally as well, since it was a common practice in West Africa. Many whites as well as slaves were afraid of the conjurer. “Even those who condemned conjure as evil did not deny its reality. In the slave community the power to heal and the power to harm resided in one person the conjurer” (p.133). The slaves were afraid of such conjurers and did not want for them to put evil spells upon them, fearing that them might get hurt or die. Family life for a slave was very unstable. Families were often sold separately and were too never see each other again. As H. Gutman points out, “Slave families were subject to masters decisions and behavior, which might result in the sale and geographic separation of family members” (p.161). Once a slave was purchased their new home and family would be the slave colony they were brought to. Here they would establish new family, identity and friendship.In conclusion, Slavery in American Society is successful in providing critical evidence on the significance of the world the slaves made ...
