History Workshop
Spring 2016 - Tuesdays 12:30-1:45 - 203 Munroe Hall
Tuesday, April 26, 2016 ~ 12:30-1:45 pm
“I am Almost Dead: Seasoning and Sale in British Caribbean Port Cities”
Michael Dickinson
University of Delaware
The talk investigates the harrowing experiences of enslaved Africans through seasoning and sale in British West Indian port cities. These urban spaces were central in the lived experiences of forced migrants. For black captives who survived the death-riddled journey across the Atlantic, Caribbean port cities were often the sites where the process of commodification culminated. Here, the horrors of the Middle Passage were exchanged for the miseries of slave pens and forced labor. West Indian urban centers acted as gateways---ushering men, women, and children into lives of uncertainty and exploitation. Examining resiliency in the aftermath of enslavement highlights the power of the human spirit and the unwavering strength of African men and women.
The talk investigates the harrowing experiences of enslaved Africans through seasoning and sale in British West Indian port cities. These urban spaces were central in the lived experiences of forced migrants. For black captives who survived the death-riddled journey across the Atlantic, Caribbean port cities were often the sites where the process of commodification culminated. Here, the horrors of the Middle Passage were exchanged for the miseries of slave pens and forced labor. West Indian urban centers acted as gateways---ushering men, women, and children into lives of uncertainty and exploitation. Examining resiliency in the aftermath of enslavement highlights the power of the human spirit and the unwavering strength of African men and women.
The 2015-2016 academic year represents the fortieth year in which the Workshop serves as a regular part of the History Department life. Bring a lunch. All are welcome! For further information, please call (302) 831-2371.