Enslavers used harsh and punishments to force enslaved people obey them. These images show these punishments. This text contains sensitive images that may not be suitable for all students.
When Africans were brought to American shores in chains, they brought pieces of Africa with them and used their traditions, music and culture to help them survive.
In the face of extreme punishment for enslaved people and breaking the law for whites, roughly 5 percent of the enslaved population learned to read and write. Letters like the ones written below show the lengths they would go to learn.