1. Overcrowding: Slave ships were extremely overcrowded, with hundreds of slaves packed into tight and unsanitary spaces below deck. They were often chained together, unable to move or lie down comfortably.
2. Poor Sanitation: The ships were filthy, with no proper ventilation or sanitation facilities. Slaves were forced to live in their own waste, which led to the spread of diseases and infections.
3. Inadequate Food and Water: Slaves were given minimal rations of food and water, which were often spoiled or contaminated. Many died from malnutrition and dehydration.
4. Physical Abuse: Slaves were subjected to brutal physical abuse by the ship's crew. They were beaten, whipped, and tortured for any perceived disobedience.
5. Sexual Abuse: Many slave women were sexually abused by the crew members, and there was little protection or recourse for these crimes.
6. High Mortality Rates: The conditions on the ships were so dire that a large number of slaves died during the journey. It is estimated that up to 20% of slaves lost their lives during the Middle Passage.
7. Traumatic Experiences: Being torn from their homes, families, and communities, enduring unimaginable suffering during the journey, and not knowing what fate awaited them in the Americas left slaves with lasting psychological trauma.
These horrific conditions were a deliberate part of the transatlantic slave trade, aimed at breaking the spirit of the slaves and ensuring their submission and control. It was a system that treated human beings as mere commodities, resulting in immense human suffering and loss.