5 Coping Mechanisms Black People Used to Survive Slavery

Music Inspirational music became key for enslaved Black people trying to keep their spirits high. Songs and dances from the African community were uplifting, and dancing served as a way for many people to come together in a joyous moment even as they lived out history’s darkest ages. Religion According to Humanities 360, enslaved people combined the religious beliefs of their native countries with Christianity as it began to spread throughout the colonies. The two religions mixed to create what some historians refer to as “slave religion" or "Black Christianity." A religion entrenched in hope, faith and a greater deity being in control of everything was enough to keep some enslaved people hopeful that better days were soon to come. Building Families Some masters were so cruel that they didn’t allow enslaved women to pick their own partners, but not every master worked this way. Some white families allowed enslaved men and women to pick who they were attracted to and form their own relationships. They allowed this because they knew the more children the couple created, the more workers they would have in their fields. For enslaved people, creating some sort of a family made their lives feel somewhat normal. Eventually, families grew larger and larger and even served as a way to disseminate information, pass down stories and maintain African culture. Small Acts of Revenge Some enslaved people would find small ways to irritate or anger masters without them ever really discovering who was up to what. Things like breaking plates, ruining a crop or stealing food were all things enslaved people would do in order to feel as if they still possessed some sort of power, even if it was minimal. Escape Perhaps the greatest coping mechanism was the thought of being able to escape from such deplorable conditions. Being caught trying to escape would end in death for many, but the small chance that one might get away was enough to keep driving them forward, and some attempts at escape turned out to be rather successful. According to one estimate, more than 100,000 enslaved Blacks may have managed to escape the South.

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