Middle Passage
Once passing through the portal of no return on the West African coast, slaves entered a world of unknown horrors. The Atlantic ocean represented a mystery to them because most Africans in the 17th and 18th centuries had not ventured out into this ocean beyond the inland waterways. To them, the vastness of the Atlantic represented nothing they would dare fathom much less venture to sail.
The transatlatntic trip to the Americas lasted between 12 weeks and the fatality rate was from 25-40%. Slaves were "right racked" to maximize profit thereby allowing for cargo that would be lost to disease, death, and suicide. The two greatest fears of ship's captains and crews were contracting incurable diseases and slave revolts. Most historical annals de-emphasized the slaves' quest for freedom during the Middle Passage, but there is sufficient evidence to support the fervor that slaves exhibited in seeking to take over the ship and return to their homeland. Try tight packing and imagine.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 38° 19.323′ N, 77° 30.516′ W. Marker is in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Marker can be reached from Gordon W Shelton Boulevard, 0.7
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Voices of the Past (here, next to this marker); Hallelujah (here, next to this marker); Abolitionists (here, next to this marker); Acts of Bravery (a few steps from this marker); Harriet Jacobs (a few steps from this marker); Voices of the Present (a few steps from this marker); Endurance Through It All (a few steps from this marker); Runaways (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.
Also see . . .
1. Claims of African and West Asian Contact. This marker makes a controversial statement as fact, noting that Africans had never seen the Americas prior to the Transatlantic Trade. Some anthropologists argue that there is evidence that there were possibly some pre-Colombian contacts between the peoples of Western Africa and what is now Brazil. (Submitted on June 29, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)
2. Abandoned National Slavery Museum. Atlas Obscura article about the abandoned outdoor exhibit (Submitted on June 29, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)
Additional keywords. human trafficking; slave trade
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 29, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 152 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 29, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
