Similarities Between Slavery And Forced Migration

Slavery and immigration both have many similarities but the way each group experiences it is a little different. Both groups are at the bottom of the social ladder but experience different hardships and struggles. Slavery was predominantly a form of forced migration where African Americans had no choice. Immigrants however were able to be more flexible with their choices of migrating. After reading Pargas’, Slavery and Forced Migration in the Antebellum South the main themes are describing how American-born slaves experienced forced migration and how they adapted to these new slave communities and work regimes. According to Pargas, “Upon arrival at their destinations, migrants were confronted with the monumental task of rebuilding their lives.” Slave migrants faced the challenges of finding a place within their new slave

One thing that was mentioned that I found wrong-headed was slaves who were sent to auction houses or dealer pens were treated like livestock. I find it disturbing how people had the mindset to treat other human beings like animals as if these slave migrants didn’t already go through enough. Aside from this, slave migrants also faced the anxiety of being sent to traders and dealers who were complete strangers because sometimes slaveholders would trick their slaves into being sold to other traders. I found this thought provoking because I thought as a slave holder, one should be able to make decisions for that slave open handedly since slaves were supposedly their ‘property.’ But instead they had to hide their true intentions from their slaves. Another statement in the reading that surprised me was “Although they