Slaveholders usually chose their male slaves to .
assist in the transportation of crops to market and the transport of supplies and other materials to .
the farm or plantation. More male than female slaves were artisans and craftsmen, so when .
slaveholders had a chance to hire skilled slaves from other plantations, they usually hired males. .
Fewer bondwomen, therefore, had a chance to vary their work experience. The black man was .
sent to work in the field all day with little food for energy but expected to work until the sun .
went down without stopping. If these men were to stop, collapse from weakness, dehydration or .
hurt themselves they were taken and whipped with cowhides until they bled profusely, then .
expected to return to work. This treatment by the slave owners was said to be a form of .
dominance, to show the slaves who their masters were. The severities of the punishments were .
equal amongst Black men and women. However, when a male slave was beaten he would often .
return to his quarters and take it out on the women. When a black woman became pregnant, she .
was still required to perform her daily chores. Slave masters used Black women for their sexual .
pleasure as well.
Slaveholders, both men and women, manipulated black women into having children early and .
frequently. First they used verbal prodding, then subtle practices such as giving pregnant women .
more food and less work. Some slaveholders used an outright system of rewards such as a new .
dress, a silver dollar, or Saturday afternoons off. For women who resisted these "positive" i.
ncentives coercion always existed "the threat of a whipping, sale, or both. Thus, black women .
became breeding stock. Aside from all other things the black woman had to do, she had to also .
be a teacher to her children. Slaves were not given an education, other than the negative .
education that justified slavery. White slave masters would often rape their female slaves not .
