10 Horrifying Facts About the Sexual Exploitation of Enslaved Black Women You May Not Know

Slave Masters Claimed They Were Doing Black Women A Favor Enslaved women were forced to have sex with their owners, but their masters considered this a favor. White men often claimed they were doing Black women a favor by saving them from having sex with Black men who were considered to be animalistic and brutal. Enslaved Women Known As “Mammies” Did More Than Cook And Clean Many people know that enslaved women known as “Mammies” worked in their master’s homes rather than out in the fields, but this certainly didn’t make life any easier for the women. They were sometimes expected to incredibly affectionate and intimate with their owners — more so than other enslaved individuals. If they ever resisted any intimate advance, they might be subjected to incredibly harsh punishments such as beatings or rape. So-called “Mammies” Were Usually Dressed To Be A Representation Of Their Master’s Wealth. Many “mammy” women were not dressed in the same tattered clothing that other slaves often donned. The women who worked in the master’s homes were often dressed in much nicer clothes, but not out of kindness or respect. These women were considered to be a representation of the master’s wealth. In other words, the nicer she was dressed, the wealthier the master was perceived to be. Enslaved Women Who Were Called “Jezebels” Were Often Raped And Then Accused Of Being Promiscuous. A certain group of enslaved women were deemed “Jezebels” by their owners. These women were assumed to be even more promiscuous than the other enslaved Black women and were often subjected to sexual abuse multiple times throughout the day. While white men forced these “Jezebels” to have sex with them, they insisted that it was the enslaved woman’s fault for being so promiscuous. Slave Masters Took No Responsibility For The Babies They Fathered Through Rape. Many of the enslaved women would become pregnant after being raped by their owners. These women were often forced to carry out the pregnancy although the owner would normally refuse to be a father to the child. They would enslave these children or sell them to other enslavers. The biracial children were also more likely to be subjected to abuse by mistresses who often saw the mixed children as a reminder of their husbands’ infidelity. The Slave Master's Wives Would Beat Enslaved Women For Being Raped By Their Husbands In addition the mixed children being subjected to abuse by disgruntled wives, the enslaved women were sometimes also punished. The first lady of the plantation would sometimes blame the enslaved women for allegedly tempting their husbands and seducing them. This was especially true for many Black women labeled Jezebels. Slave Owners Often Impregnated Enslaved Women On Purpose Enslaved women were not just considered tools to get work done; they were also considered cattle capable of producing more tools for work. Cruel masters would purposefully get enslaved women pregnant so they could have more workers available to work the fields, allowing them to take on more land. Enslaved Black Males Were Regularly Forced To Impregnate Enslaved Black Women To Impregnate Them. White slave owners were not the only men enslaved Black women were forced to have sex with. Masters often paired enslaved women up with athletic enslaved men in hopes they could create more healthy, strong servants to work in the fields. The Sexual Exploitation Of Black Women In Mainstream Media Has Its Roots In Slavery The sexual exploitation of Black women is not a thing of the past as they are often sexually exploited in mainstream media. Many scholars describe hip-hop stars like Nicki Minaj and Lil Kim as Jezebel stereotypes. These over-sexualized perceptions of Black women are embraced and perpetuated throughout mainstream media today. The "Mammy" Stereotype Is Also Perpetuated Throughout Mainstream Media Today. In addition, the perpetuation of over-sexualized images of African-American women, images of the “mammy” women still persists in the mainstream today as well. Perhaps one of the most famous examples is Aunt Jemima. The popular image became the face of The Quaker Oats Company and features a dark-skinned, heavyset Black woman wearing an apron and a bandana — a description that was commonly used for enslaved women who worked in the house instead of out in the fields.

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