A Day in the Life of an Enslaved Lady's Maid | These Roots Episode 1
Vložit
- čas přidán 24. 05. 2021
- These Roots, is a series that explores the day to day lives of Black people across America in the 18th and 19th centuries. The first episode follows Fick, an enslavedLady’s Maid or Stratford Hall Plantation in Virginia!
Next episode will be posted to my Patreon in June.
This is a unique project! The entire production team is Black from the producers to the director to the DP. To support this work please become a patron on Patreon. / notyourmommashistory . It takes 2 full months of Patreon support to pay for the production of one episode.
Thank you Patreon Patrons for making videos like this possible!
Website- NotYourMommasHistory.com
Facebook- / not-yo. .
Instagram- NotYourMommasHistory
Music-
Dial M Credits
Dial M by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: www.twinmusicom.org/song/277/d...
Artist: www.twinmusicom.org
![tattoo printer tutorial[제품단순선물]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/g40_GwEJak0/mqdefault.jpg)
I love how there's no euphemisms here. Enslavers are enslavers and deserve to be called such.
@@pelayo341 The point just soared 20 meters over your head, huh?
@@pelayo341 I pity you. It must be hard to live everyday life with so little basic intelligence.
lol...then your own people are guilty AF to this day...
Enslavers is a euphemism. They were called "slave owners or masters". 🙄
@@chrisw9122 you don't know what a euphemism is huh...
“She made clothes she could never wear, and made makeup she could never put on.” 😩 I cannot imagine the damage to a humans psyche this treatment has done.
This was also done by servants, not only people enslaved. In Europe black slaves were not very common and there were white poor servants doing this, and they must have felt that way too, and it is okey, it was their job. That is what they knew, I am sure they were grateful they were getting a bed to sleep at night and food to eat everyday, which most of the population wasn't getting
Well, if you work in a hotel you cannot wear any other clothes that the come in millionares wear. Same like that...
Yes, but is different because we can wear clothes that mimic what millionaires wear. Enslaved persons never had a chance to wear something they felt amazing in. I could only imagine how they would have been harassed for even wearing something slightly nice probably.
And right that sentence struck me, too. Spending hours or day to make a beautiful gown only to be worn by the person enslaving you..
I find very peculiar how certain people need to whitewash, justify and be dismissive of evident truths. I wonder what could be the the reasonings behind that. Much like the police shootings. Death is warranted for running away and non compliance… I definitely need to start a National campaign for why racist have no purpose for being alive; seems fair.
@@Everyoneisanartist776 I think you will find most of the comments you refer to as "white wash" done by Europeans. Here in Europe there is no racial debate, and people generally don't discuss these kind of problems. It is mainly because there is not a lot of black people here (1,64% of Europeans have African origin), actually I have never had a black friend, even though I have met some black people. In my opinion, it is not a fight Europeans care about.
I didn't know that enslavers would talk about their worries to their slaves, but the slaves couldn't talk about their worries back. I always assumed all of the labor to be physical, not emotional. I'm over here like "damn they had to be therapists too?!" 😭
Folks still use retail workers as therapy so i dunno how this didnt occur to you for enslaved folks stuck there.
@@vonniestewart4416 on top of that fact, learning that tipped positions were created as a way to employ black americans without fully paying them made me understand a lot of where the dynamics of customer vs worker in the US come from...
@@vonniestewart4416 1. Because that side isn't usually taught in school. 2. Because if showing emotion is considered vulnerable, then it isn't out of the question for someone to conclude that enslavers wouldn't disclose their emotions to their slaves. Can we at least try to be more understanding of people learning??
during victorian era or you were rich or you were poor: poor weren't allowed to have an opinion, worse if women... keep in mind this, now our lives are amazing and better not say "they treat us as slave". during victorian era europeans kids were working full days in mines and many died like that... what she was doing was an avarage day of a poor person in victorian era, she was poor since the alternatives were horrible like working in mines.
Is not saying black community doesn't have the right to protest, they got it, but please remember this video is showing the best job and this video is showing what an avarage poor girl in europe did if she was luck... the alternative was working full day in factory risking daily the life or in fields... i'm saying this for debbug myths. The closest thing you got are the Amish, but isn't the same people... Amish were the poor living good in victorian era. People dreamed to live like Amish.
I have to say, seeing these scenes acted out in front of us as an audience raises questions I’ve never thought to ask before. The dynamics of these relationships must have been so insanely complex within the context of a horrifying system of subjugation.
You are sad. You never saw Roots? You never have known the truth? This is new to you? What does that say about your character? People were brutally separated from families. Mutilated. Killed. Imprisoned to serve other "humans." Who are you?????
It’s really not that deep. They were maids and given living quarters. No different than what is going on today except today is worse. You can’t even live in a house on maids earnings.
Comparing maids today to enslaved people back then is just ignorant. Being a maid is a job and no one who is a maid was forced to do so, whereas back then enslaved people were forced to work. Not to mention how horribly they were treated. People of color have went through this for centuries.
@@anitadrink5255🤨
it was completely different the living was horrid in todays standards and the treatment was subhuman but people who could barely articulate themselves just see it in comparison to having literally 0 it was bad and you could get killed or raped or beaten for anything at any time...lets not start with the breeding farms. my great great-great-grandmother died in/. BECAUSE slavery my great-grandmother died 2 years ago it WAS THAT BAD@@anitadrink5255
I had never heard "enslaved persons" used before, only "slaves". I'm glad to learn this term!
It’s important to refer them as enslaved and not slaves.
@@nakiacee15 Can you explain more? No offense intended...I've just always heard the term "slaves" and rarely "enslaved people."
@@elizabethh86 When we use the term slave, it implies that it just is who that person is. The term enslaved person is active and reminds people that someone DID that to them, and it’s not who they are.
@@nakiacee15 yes it does. “slaves” refers to them as objects or robots and takes away the fact that they are still humans and should be treated as such. while “enslaved person” assured that they are still are people, they are just enslaved as the moment
@@sadewelsh7333 SAY 👏 IT 👏 FOR 👏 THE 👏 PEOPLE 👏 IN 👏 THE 👏 BACK
I love that you say "enslaved persons" instead of "slave". That's the truth.
and also ''enslavers'' instead of ''master''.
just out of curiosity, is there a specific reason for "enslaved persons" rather than "enslaved people"? i've heard this term used often, but i've never understood the distinction
Does using “enslaved” instead of “slave”.make certain people feel better about the horrific history of the US owning people of color? Just asking?
@@debmj1960 Yes.
How does the terms change the horror that slavery was? This is so ridiculous. Are you trying to not offend the people that were slaves and OWNED by other people?
I really like a lot of the words used in this. Like saying "her enslaver" rather than what I often heard in educational materials growing up which was "her owner". It's a huge improvement. It holds the enslaver more accountable and shows that no human can rightfully own another human. Thank you for this work.
*enslaver (not “slaver”)
@@calisongbird thanks, i fixed it
But they're not enslavers, they're slave owners. The enslavers were her fellow sub saharan africans who captured her ancestors and brought them to market.
I think the word "enslaver" is softer than owner. These human beings were bought and sold. They had owners! I refuse any language usage that seeks to tidy up the evil of slavery.
@@happycook6737 I don't think so. Enslaver connotes someone FORCED another to be a slave. This may suggest the persons enslaved wasn't a slave at all.
I love the fact that this is acted out. It makes the information hit harder. If you watched it on mute, they almost seem like friends, but when you put it with the information it really hits the guts. The understanding that even under the best circumstances, the enslaved was living on eggshells. Amazing and well done. Thank you so much for this
When was that , I mean slavery how long time ago? Sow what? Then all Europe worked like slaves , so what?! Are you want a medal for it now? ba!
Are you on ok @@Lita-bj5irlol
The way that the cook avoids eye contact while suggesting where to source eggs breaks my heart.
I noticed that too!! I thought (hoped) he was being portrayed as a shy gentleman, but when he smiled at Fick when they were talking and looked her in the eyes I figured I was mistaken. In fact, now that I think about it, it's NOT the first time I've seen the enslaved not look their enslavers in the eye. Was this taught? ...expected? .. "just known"? This video is wonderful and I thank you. With gratitude from someone who hated history in school but loves the realness and truth that your videos provide, your newest subbie. ❤🤗🤗 MK
@@emmkaa2099 a lot of households saw enslaved people meeting their enslavers eyes as a challenge of authority, some saw it as disrespectful. Personally I think that enslavers who didn’t like eye contact didnt because it made them uncomfortable realising that their slaves were human, and recognising that made them feel more guilty about ordering them around. Not sure though, not that that’s okay it would be terrible to have somebody refuse to acknowledge your humanity.
@@emmkaa2099 - It was taught (and I'm sure it became just generally "known" at some point) that many enslavers didn't allow enslaved people to look them directly in the eye. It's just another tactic for dehumanizing people and making them feel inferior. Even the lady's maid here doesn't really make direct eye contact with her enslaver. The cook's behavior was more obvious because he kept his head turned almost completely away from the enslaver because just looking at her could have been a punishable offense, as Black men weren't allowed to look directly at white women. This remained true even long after slavery was abolished.
kinda dumb
@@woahhowmediocre3860 I'd like to think that at least a few enslavers thought that way but after even minimal research on my part and reading other comments it seems, heartbreakingly, that if some did even feel a twinge of guilt they were few and far between... apparently such is not the case. How horrible it must've been.
I really respect how you consistently refer to them as “enslaved” throughout this piece, and emphasize the one-sided relationship. Too many productions romanticize these relationships!
Yeah, I dislike how many shows and films (most notably gone with the wind) showed enslavers being friendly and chatty with the people they “owned”, as if to say “this is one of the good ones. Not those horrible abusive slave owners”. Yet even so, a historical character who treats their slaves well, still owns a slave, is still directly benefiting from the intense pain her slaves endure, still oppresses people. It’s not to say friendly or even “kind” slave owners didn’t exist, but they are in no way guiltless
@@dr.braxygilkeycruises1460 I mean friendly as in friendly in demeanor. Kind as In (at least on a shallow surface level) treats them like a friend. This isn’t to say they were good people, however. You can treat people in a kind manner while being a bad person. You can treat your slave like a “friend”, but in the end, they are still enslaved
@@lavenderhuman I mean this video DOES show the enslaver being friendly and chatty, but I think the distinction is that is makes clear that it's ONE-SIDED. The white female enslaver can prattle on as much as she likes as if they are friends, but the limited responses of the enslaved woman show that this is a farce. They are not friends and can never be friends, so long as one of them is in ownership of the other.
@@luminousmoon86 yes that’s my point though
@@dr.braxygilkeycruises1460 it’s like saying “friendly kidnapper” or “considerate murderer”, it’s an oxymoron
I hope Mrs. Fick is up in heaven and relaxing! I hope she at least had some joy in her life.
I really like how you call people 'enslaved persons' not 'slaves', and the others as 'slavers' not 'masters'. It is far more suitable and much better reflects the true state of affairs, while acknowledging the human dignity of enslaved persons. I will always use this term myself from now on.
during those years if you were poor there was almost no difference between being white or black. The treatment was simple: they bought you (literally), they will tell you the worst things to do... really, it isn't about color sking trust me. It was also common selling kids for doing horrible jobs (many died).
@@Yep6803You sound ridiculous. It was about skin color. Yt people didn’t get killed bc they could read. No matter how poor yt people were, they were FREE. It had everything to do with being blk or yt.
I mean. This black women had a good life. Roof over her head.. brick house. Or perhaps houses from mud are better for those people.
Completely irrelevant.
Slave is simply a class designation that doesn’t exist anymore
@@westonmeyer3110 way to miss the point
This is, I think, the first time I have seen a non racist depiction of interaction between an enslaved lady’s maid and said lady. Her enslaver. Usually, it’s full of “but they were friends! The lady would joke and gossip with her lady’s maid, so it was fine!” Or “but she loved her maid” and then insert the caricature brought forth by Gone With The Wind. Ugh.
I am so, so grateful to see an accurate depiction that doesn’t shy away from how inherently wrong it was. This was beautifully done, and I really appreciate all the hard work you put into this!
Yes, for sure. You still see that an enslaver could think she had some "affection" for her enslaved lady's maid... But you also see how that didn't prevent her from actively keeping that person enslaved! And you really get a feel for the complexity that would add to Fick's life.
Edited for clarity of intention.
I agree. It's so powerful how she pointed out that it was a one-sided friendship.
What do you call racist depiction? The institution of slavery was inherently racist in america. What could make it not racist?
@@zelulu1000 I don't think OP is saying slavery is being depicted as non racist, here, I think they're saying that a lot of depictions of slavery in traditional media and education are racist for the way they try to obscure the realities of slavery. So this depiction is less racist for being more realistic and honest about what being enslaved was like
@@zelulu1000 I mean depicted from the point of view of white people who support slavery (even if not trying to say it outright). So, depicted by racist people, who then go on to make out that the relationship between an enslaved lady’s maid and her enslaver was nice. Because they’re racist.
the amount of layers of clothing they wore back then is insane.
It was colder
@@rsmith6366 not too much
@@semnome6059 It's called The Little Ice Age.
Imagine how hot they were in the humid summers, especially inside the home that had no cooling system.
@@Mar-pe9kx The weather was different back then. There is a paper on JSTOR that us specifically about the climate in Virginia. The Summers would have been hot, but not as hot as today, as we are several degrees hotter now due to leaving the Little Ice Age, and ofcourse a LOT because of climate change). The summers were also dry, not humid, which is why the Maize grew well (when there weren't Spring monsoons). The Autumn, Winter, and Spring were VERY cold, lessening the growing season by a month compared to England at the time (which was shorter than the current 3 crop season of England today). So the Summers were basically several degrees cooler than today, very dry, and the rest of the year was very cold and wet.
Impressed by the unmentioned details your acting shows, like the cook not allowed to look at his enslaver, the maid not reacting openly to her enslaver telling her all sorts of things, also walking at a notable distance behind her etc.
I just want to say I'm eternally grateful for this video. Even being directly descended from an eslaved man who freed himself, even knowing my living great grandfather was a sharecropper as a child, I haven't fully understood the magnitude of what my ancestors went through, and how it shapes what my family continues to experience. I will say that the experience of Fick reminds me blatantly of my job, and in all the worst ways.
Storytime lol:
I work in food service in a white dominated space, and I've always felt ostracized there. My white coworkers (who most likely lived during the civil rights movement) talk down to me constantly and act as if I'm not intelligent. They micromanage me and criticize innovation, for no other reason than because I came up with it.
As for the guests we serve, who are 99% white, they're nice on the surface, but not particularly kind. That's especially true of the older ones. When my coworker (Black girl) and I got busy and needed help, a white girl from a different department came and helped us. I later found out she was tipped multiple times in that one half hour, for doing our job mind you, which we rarely get tipped for.
I drew the line at that point.
The legacy of slavery in north America is not to be underestimated. One way or another Black people continue to be the backbone of society, without any recognition or basic respect. It's extremely damaging to the psyche.
The more you learn about the past the more you recognize how it shapes the present, and as soon as I possibly can, I intend to leave this job, for my own sanity.
Two talk about white people like this is to be racist. I believe your words are true, of course, but you didn't experienced slavery. Nowadays, there is still slavery. The new slavery is human trafficking and exploitation in every sense. There're slaves of all the races. There were slaves before that were europeans and were enslaved by Arabs and black africans. The black slaves sold to the colonies were sold by blacks and Arabs. They were and are the worst slavers of all. Who sold human beings for liquor or other stupid things.
i see you, especially on the talking down to you & making you feel unintelligent. Trust yourself, you got this 🖤🖤
I’m sorry you’re treated this way. My daughter works in food service, and I raised her to treat everyone with respect. I know she does this and is always appreciated by her coworkers, regardless of race, sexual orientation, age… As an RN, I always strived to treat my patients and fellow healthcare workers with respect, and I appreciated EVERYONE who helped care for our patients, including the custodial staff, dietary workers and patient care assistants. I see no reason in today’s world for anyone to see themselves as above another due to any differences in race or economic status. If people do have that kind of attitude, there is something wrong with them, not you.
All those clothes with no a/c, everyone had to be musty. 😂
Lol, yeah. Many wealthy people would walk around with scented pouches filled with herbs, flowers, spices and other fragments, to disguise their smell or to hold up to their nose to cover up someone else’s. Lol
@@rubybuttons668
i’m sure they did that too,
but they also change clothes/undergarments multiple times a day.
Before the Industrial Revolution introduced large-scale pollution, the air was certainly a lot cooler back then in the northern hemisphere and so wearing layers of clothing would've been a lot more bearable.
they put on that many layers to hide the smell which is why poor ppl had less layers (in turn stroking the rich peoples egos that they smell fresher)
Nah, global warming wasn't a thing yet..
THANK YOU for saying "enslaver" rather than "owner". Such a simple change, and yet so VERY CRUCIAL!!
I love this too.
Exactly. Language matters. Words have power.
It was new to me to hear this, but damned if its not spot on, Im going to use this word from now on. Thank you for the insightful video!
This was such a powerful change in the dialog! I was surprised as how much it jagged me at first. I didn't realize how much I'd internalized "owner" and "owned". I'm definitely changing my verbiage around this going forward and better examining my ingrained beliefs on the subject.
I agree! Very much appreciated! :)
I find the history of enslaved persons/serfs, servants and share croppers far more relatable and interesting than the rich.
Their strength, knowledge and skill is inspirational.
The fact that this was their toil without any foreseeable end is just so overwhelming. No future, no end in sight, no escape.
There's something so bizarre and demoralizing about expecting an enslaved person to act like your friend (therapist?) and also do work to literally make the person who enslaved them look good.
The word 'therapist" came to my mind too as I watched Fick doing her mistress' hair.
Right? Because she still thinks of the slave as less than human.
It's definitely like, maybe she's not working in the fields, but she expected to do ALOT of reciprocated/unpaid/unrewarded emotional labor as a person who OWNS her complains about their own problems and expects her to care...
It's fiction, the film makers invented what thery thought was happening in that relationship.
@@snowflakemelter1172 Can you stop invalidating the experiences of Black women for ONE SECOND
I never understood how people could claim that enslavers were kind and formed friendships with their slaves.... Then why didn't you free them and fight for the abolishment of slavery?
I suppose one could say some were “kind”, but definitely not kind enough to give up the benefits they got from owning a human being. It’s depressing how often the idea of some slave owners being good people is pushed. No matter how kind they may be, they still own another human being
I believe its a mix of ignorance, religion and culture of the times. I’m sure there were very evil enslavers and some others who were kind, however slavery is a crime.
Cognitive dissonance
Money. They were valuable. 🤢
It is kind of a reverse stickholm syndrom. Like knowing deep down its wrong but making it right dor the enslaver himself by telling themaelves "I said something nice while she served me and I didnt punish her for tripping with my plate. I am good to her. Yes I really treat her well, like a friend. Yes she is not here because I force her but because I am a good owner. We are friends."
Thank you very much for this video! I'm a historian in a Western European country, and recently read "12 years a slave" for the first time. It was very touching and I realized how little I still know about the history of black and enslaved people in the US. Most history classes and books I came in contact so far focused on the decendants from European countries, and enslaved Africans often were described only in their economic functions as slaves (e.g. their role in the triangular trade). I'm glad about this account of social history which is so so important!
My goodness, this is so hard to watch without seething at the injustice. This is a history that must be taught fully and never forgotten. Thank you for bringing light to an insanely dark topic.
Man….I can’t imagine living long if I was there…this mouth of mine would have gotten me dead. The patience, the resilience…
Same sis, same.🎯
Truth
Yep... My mouth would have done me in.
Same
That's the scary part: you would have been different, had you been born then. Like now, you'd never step in front of a moving train, you wouldn't have opened your mouth back then. That is one reason why a just and equalistic society is so very important, so we can develop the sense of self-worth we need to demand our rights.
I like that you showed how, even though the mistress in this example is kind to her maid, the relationship is not actually a relationship since it's entirely one-sided and one person holds unlimited power over the other.
I mean, if ignoring their concerns and forcing them to serve you every waking moment of their life could be considered kind.
She wasn't a maid, a maid is a paid job that one can chose for themselves. She was a woman who got captured and taken away from her home country and was forced to work for someone against her will.
@@themaggattack I feel like that was implicit in my comment.
@@Xforeverlove21 exactly i come from a country where most people have maid. My family has one too. They are given holiday, clothing, food and shelter along with salary. Maid can choose to leave their jobs and their life choices are their own. My parents have helped with wedding cost of many maid who worked for us and most stopped working after they got married salves were never given any of these options
A relationship is any ongoing connection between people. Could be loving, or contentious, or distant, or hateful, etc.. All varieties. The longer the association, the stronger the relationship. So the quality of the relationship between slaver and enslaved would have been one quite sided but to say it wasn't a relationship at all overlooks the complicated nature of the experience.
Just imagine the heartbreak of being sold - not only because of the humiliation and fear about the future, but also because it severs the relationships with people she or he may have been with for years or decades, however good or distant or terrible it might have been.
It makes me so sad that the lives of so many people were not documented well…like what happened to this specific maid, how the rest of her life played out. I doubt we even know where she was buried. Every human deserves to be remembered, I’m glad you’re reminding everyone of these people & their lives & making them come to life through your acting.
Literally no one cares about remembering other humans unless they’re your relatives, I don’t care about the slave or the enslaver, they’re literally irrelevant to me. You may call this selfish but like, it’s just how I think, I guess I’m selfish then.
@@Screech911your statement is objectively false though. plenty of people care deeply about remembering people not related to them, whom they’ve never met-celebrities, historical figures, even people who may have just been legends. i care about remembering people i’ve never met. you don’t have to, but the way you barged in to assert that no one could possibly care… you sound like an edgy child, which you probably are tbh
@@EF5Winds idk, my family tree is really well documented. We can trace them back before the 1600s.
@@Screech911 “literally no one cares“ isn’t true, I care, the woman who made the video cares, & many of the people watching this video
@@DearPacificDay3 Valid, but I guess I still don’t care.
I appreciate the history and I know it must've been emotionally taxing in someway to recreate what our ancestors had to go through! Thank you queen for this insight!!
It still happening..maybe not in the west.slavery happense in other countries
@@Issue566yes like in modern Pakistan
I love the language used in this video. Instead of the usual “master” or “mistress” opting for enslaver was very fitting. One of many ways the language is sugar coated without even realizing
I agree. I had never truly thought about it before. Calling them enslavers lessens the perception that they were 'above' the enslaved persons.
I truly agree the way it was portrayed here was honestly the best way enslaved people could’ve been treated this was the optimal of the way enslaved people could’ve been treated and this was not even a way anyone should’ve been treated you really pointed it out the best way possible and I think there should be a trending thing as we are going through one of the biggest Civil War‘s of our time this is the best way indentured servant‘s in endangered servants and enslaved servants could’ve been treated this was not the way most of them were it was be in it was starving it was horrible they sugarcoated it with giving us a realistic view because I can’t give us the whole view America and CZcams wouldn’t allow it
Yes - it has definitely made me think about the language I use when speaking about slavery
Yes! I noticed it instantly and it shows what they truly are. Not employers, masters or owners.
Changing that makes complete sense. These people weren't their master or mistress. Changing "slave" to "enslaved person" does not, however. Both expressions mean exactly the same thing and the word "slave" doesn't sugar coat anything.
The emotional labor required of enslaved people was just astounding. I’m horrified that they had to do so much mental/emotional juggling every second on TOP of the physical abuse and everything else.
Yes I was just thinking about how taxing it would be to have to be cordial with someone who enslaved you, all day everyday. People tend to think that those working in the fields had it worse, but I can't imagine having to basically ass kiss your own enslaver and listen to their stupid little stories.
There's a lot of that still going on in our society, but I think it must have been so much worse then. Both the magnitude of the switch and the consequences for failure.
Til this day.
The emotional labor is still there. Via blacks constantly having to educate whites in the fact that these things still are going on. And this actually bring alot of understanding to the whole Karen epidemic and where she gets her massive out of touch sense of entitlement and sense of authority over others.
@@VanityLuxe yes, yes and yes, the emotional labour is still going on to this day
This was really emotional to watch, a beautiful piece of work. Thank you for shining a light on the past in such an honest yet delicate way. You show the dignity of the enslaved, yet also the humanity of the enslaver. This was beautifully done.
This was amazing! You guys put a lot of work into this series and it shows! Thanks for making this series. History rocks!
It's amazing how delusional the enslavers must have been to actually think that even though the lady's maids were there against their will, they could be friends. In that way that position was definitely psychologically exhausting.
I don’t find the enslavers psychopathy to be amazing in any form.
@@KingdomInnovateX Amazing isn't always a good thing..This comment wasn't a compliment
Many of them were born into it and grew up with slaves from the time they were born so they didn't know life any other way
Exactly. They were so INSANE omg 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
@@salleymudd5488 BS at some point you grow up to know what's right and what's wrong. You can't sit there and tell me that because they were around slaves since they were children that they didn't know any better. Maybe as children they didn't but at some point you have to grow up and have a brain and know the difference between right and wrong
Watching this I honestly had to laugh at “the lady’s slave was expected to keep up with latest fashion trends” and “hair skin and nails were expect to be free of dirt even though soap wasn’t always allowed to them” the audacity in those ppl were truthfully disgusting and distasteful
No seriously. That part pissed me off. They were expected to smell good even though some weren’t given soap. Ugh. Smfh
It's the same double standard given to homeless people looking for jobs. You must look put together for a job interview, yet to look put together you must first have the means, and the means can only come from a job, but to get a job you must already have the same means of cleanliness as a job affords.
The lion, the witch and the audacity of this bi***! That made me so angry too! „They were expected to find ways to be clean and smell good.“ Just another thing they did to make their lifes miserable!😡
Let's be real. No one smelled good in Colonial times.
@@broganmckoko They did have perfume, plus their clothes would be washed.
Ladies maid makes me think of Downton Abbey and those romantic views of the relationship between the mistress and her maid. But then I realized how awful it must have been to never ever be able to leave, not getting paid and literally being a second class human. Just horrible 😢
It all depended (and still depends) on who you work for.
we are all slaves if you think about it 🤔🙄
Downton abbey had servants not slaves. They were paid and could leaves when they want to. Being slave is horrible
Your'e confusing two countries. Slavery had no legal base in britain itself the ladies in downton abbey are like the ladies you think off, of course in american south it was differant.
I love that you bring history alive in your videos! The background music when you talk is a little to loud though . It makes it hard to hear what your saying.
the self control it takes to not rip your enslaver's hair out of her head is beyond me - it's so sickening, how this horror was so casual and normal
people didn't know any better.. on top of that they would probably be killed or at most tortured if they even tried anything.. the fear that was in them must have been unreal
It happened though. There was always rogue enslaved black people. Couldn’t help it. Everyone’s personality is different. Always a hot head.
AND PEOPLE LIKE YOU NEED NOT BE REMINDED...ENFORCING MORE HATE!
That is just etiquete of working for a person in a close relationship. Is normal.
Let's not forget that history shows how unkind was the slavery problem that many black people in Africa helped in the capture of their own nationals for profit knowing they were bound for America. Lastly were the ongoing battles and constant fighting between all the powerful kings and leaders of that time where the victors would win a battle and enslave all the losers of the battle. This happened all the time.
"She made clothes she would never wear, and makeup she could never use..." Wow that's sad. All that talent, and if she had a daughter she couldn't make beautiful clothes for her either. Imagine passing down those amazing skills to a daughter, and the best a daughter could hope for was to follow in her mother's footsteps.
this is still true today... in a different degree but people who manufacture our clothes in India or China or sweatshops somewhere else will never be able to afford the garnements they make, most sales people can't afford the products they sell... which is an essential part of capitalism
@@RainyDayWolf your statement is true 100%.. but this situation is specifically referring to the hand maids of enslavers. Theoretically sweatshop workers could save up money or borrow clothes from relatives, they can wear those clothes in oublic and not be persecuted for it. Those enslaved women could not wear the clothes of their white bosses, even if they saved up money or were given hand me downs...
So did the average non slave working class seamstress and all servants of the period.
@@snowflakemelter1172 yes but a seamstress could still wear those clothes, hypothetically. They could walk out of the shop as a free person and wear them... An enslaved woman could never wear them. Ever.
@@skybee001 I said in a different degree... But you should really learn about those persons, I don't think you understand how terrible the life of people working in sweatshops is, because some are actual slaves 😔
this is facanating. i feel like a lot of the time, people want to avoid the awkward conversations about black peoples roles throut history. I'm super grateful you're comfortable putting yourself in this position to help the greater understanding of American history!
You are a really talented historical interpreter. You dont bring politics in, you present accurately and informatively, you dont talk AT your audience but TO them. As a budding historial interpreter myself, I am humbled at how well you have presented. Well done!
In my college history course we learned that being a ladies maid meant if something went wrong in the house, you became the scapegoat. Plus, there was more access for white men to sexually assault her. I cannot imagine the constant terror those women lived in. All enslaved people were true survivors.
If the baby cried, she got whipped.
@@tommyspike1969 Imagine if that made the baby cry harder (assuming it was done in front of the baby) and they got more mad
I wonder. It seems from the video their positions were nearly identical to European lady's maids. If so, she'd have been with her mistress most of the time.
I could see a house maid being vulnerable to unwanted attention, but not a lady's maid. I'd think she'd be nearly immune.
And whipping if the baby cried? Wouldn't children be a Nanny's responsibility?
they meant the slave babies , and no she wouldn’t be immune at the end of the day she would still be just a slave
@@jwhippet8313 Are you American? 🤔
Wow just watching her get dressed was exhausting. Can't imagine doing that everyday and all the pins. >_
yeah i was surprised by the pins too - i've worked in theatre a lot and costumes for the era are usually in one piece with hooks and eyes up the back or hooks and eyes holding the front panel on - i don't know if hooks and eyes weren't invented at this time yet but wow that' a really convouted way of getting dressed. imagine sneezing or bending down and getting a pin in your ribs because it bypassed the boning and went straight through your corset! I sew and seriously pins are all over my floor when i try something on - it must have been a constant touch-up job re-attaching your clothes through the day
I was like, dang I need a nap after all that! I kept thinking how many times a day a pin would stick you moving around .
i kept thinking about how long and tedious of a process that is to get dressed but at least the clothes fit quite perfectly to any body !
I have my phone in my bathroom as I'm getting dressed & doing my hair for the day (I love watching history videos on YT). Its 90 degrees right now here in Washington state (we are on east side of state so its a dry climate). But I was thinking how exhausting & pure hell it must of been to wear such layers of clothing & bonnets back then...especially in the humid South! We are truly blessed in our current times as I'm standing in front of a cool fan as I dress.
let alone completely living for another person, dressing them too like that. absolutely soulcrushing
Thank you for making this kind of educational material, it's extremely valuable. ♥
As a white female I only know what I was thought in school I am so happy you are shining a light on the harsh reality of history and not just focusing on the good parts of history thank you for what you are doing you are a vary awesome person and I am so glad too see someone who talks about this part of history so I can continue learning💖💗💜
@@GEN_X_ I agree but sadly seems she has stoped posting :C
One sided friendship: mistresses could share all her dumb problems while the other woman can't share her real problems. 😒
That’s a lot of white people now lol.
@@dezmitchell5329 how many "white safe spaces" do you know of? Who wants one-sided?
@@douglasvilledarling2935 church, corporate America, politics, police departments, neighborhoods
@@douglasvilledarling2935 the internet
Not a friendship don't call it that
I still cant believe how a person can think they "own" someone, really learnt a lot from this video
@River Lette true and dehumanizing
Still happens around the world to this day
@@taraji_b yeah sadly :'
@@taraji_b and no one gives a fuq enough to do anything about it ahahahaha
@@taraji_b yea :'( i hope one day the world will be a safer and more peaceful place
The name of the channel attracted me. I am so glad! Thank you for this!
It's great to see these young actors honoring those from the past who lived this every day of their lives. Makes me appreciate modern times all the more!
It’s extremely sad seeing the mental impact this would have on enslaved people. They were constantly walking on ice.
I kept thinking about the mental impact this has to have on the people making this video too. I know they chose to do it, but it's like, knowing that the POC in this video are free today, it doesn't take away from what I see in the eyes of the man who was told not to look at the white woman playing the mistress of the house in order to portray how it would have been. I just hope he's doing ok and isn't having some sort of ancestral ptsd from having to act like a slave :( I know that videos like this are necessary and incredibly interesting, but I just can't help but feel bad for people who basically have to portray what it was like, putting their own mental health at risk, just because people have to actually SEE what it was actually like in order to understand it.
Gotta be a truly massive amount of stress constantly. Definitely would have worn their mental state. Worry about your family, worry about getting in trouble for no reason, worry about the possibility of being sold. How they survived it at all is beyond me.
Also makes you wonder how many black people are literally walking around with a mental illness. Black people always seen in such a negative light when in fact a lot of black people are suffering from mental illness that's been passed on from generations to generations
@@wolvie1618 black people are God's people. Only a strong race could survive 400 years of slavery. The white man tried to kill us off like they did the Natives.
@@dionned.6176 The white man didn’t invent slavery nor was he the longest or largest slave owner.
African and Aboriginals routinely enslaved other conquered tribes. Slavery was also prolific all through the Caribbean, Asia, Asia-minor long before the white man ever showed up and is still going on today in many places in the world.
Slavery is a legacy of human history, not just White history. The Jewish people were enslaved for thousands of years yet I don’t hear them complaining about it.
I really like how you describe not only the work that enslaved ladies' maids were expected to do, but how they had to navigate their social realities. It really adds a lot to what their lives were like and restores their humanity.
I agree. It is important to note that the work was an entirely different thing than pure physical labor. The balance of education and social niceties is so jarring to her reality. Being aware of what was going on even more than the people who labored and were deliberately kept as ignorant as possible sounds exhausting in a very emotional way, even if not breaking one's body! Also the tragedy that all we truly know about the particular individual is merely snippets from receipts and diaries.
"... and restores their humanity." I'm not sure what to make of this. Do you mean that subconsciously you forgot that they were humans & this video helped you see them as human beings? I'm not trying to be rude. I'm trying to understand what you meant. As a black person, it struck me in a kind of odd way. The enslavers lost their humanity when they chose to enslave other human beings. They were inhumane.
@@moneybags999 I agree I could have worded it better. I've often felt like when we look at slavery in colonized American history, we can sometimes end up looking at slaves as a mass of people, which can be very dehumanizing. Some of the things she talked about here emphasizes how these were individual people, with individual experiences as a counterpoint to the traditional narrative.
@@rachaelpoulin1997 Ok, Gotcha. That makes sense. Thanks for clarifying.
This was so informative. I enjoyed it. I love history and understanding what my ancestors went through. I believe it helps us “now folks” better understand ourselves. I believe Ms. Fick and others like her, would be amazed to know millions of ppl have heard their stories and they are not forgotten.
How absolutely incredible of you to do such educational videos for us. I applaud you for doing this for us, its interesting to see how it kind of was. What a sad part of our history from our ancestors. I again give you accolades and applause. Well done!
I've always been uncomfortable with "owner" and I've always put it in quotations because I don't think a person can own another person, like mothers don't even own their children. I don't know why I never thought to say enslaver but I will now. Much more appropriate word.
Agreed. It’s a better word. But I have to say, as someone who has been treated as a thing to be owned by their parents... saying “owner” came way too eerily easily for me to say as a child...
Imo both terms are fitting and uncomfortable
@@jacopieterse8363 You're acting like the word is the same as the concept. I clearly explained how I felt about a word, and never gave my thoughts on slavery itself, so I don't understand what your point is.
It's both and u r supposed to be uncomfortable as none of this shit was right of course. So if u feel uncomfortable that is the feeling u should have. Saying our ancestors were owned and enslaved are the terms that should be used. Call it what it is.
Where I was raised the enslavers were called Masters. A more direct translation would be Sir but it doesn't portray the level of respect that's brought with it in my native language. Unfortunate how they're still referred to with those terms.
The change of terminology from slave/master to enslaved people/enslavers is eye opening on several levels. It really shows how the narrative that many of us were taught in school was shaped by the people who wanted to distance themselves from the reality of enslavement and even perpetuate the notion of the superiority of the enslavers. Intellectually I know that the victors write the history books, but this shift of language really highlights it in a way my privilege has protected me from truly comprehending. Words matter so much.
I've been following your work on CZcams and Instagram for months. You've reframed the way I see American history. Thank you for the work you do.
I too appreciate that specific wording which I had only heard recently. It impacted me in a way I never imagined despite growing up hearing about the struggles of my ancestors.
yes I have never heard those terms being used before. I think that's part of what makes it feel uncomfortable (quite rightly so), just dropping the term mistress/owner and using enslaver...I mean it's the blunt truth
I also appreciate the use of "enslaved person" rather than "slave" for much the same reason. Reminds me of using "person-centered" language around illness and disability.
I've also taken to using the term "human traffickers" and "trafficked individuals," as well as "forced labor camps." Because that's exactly what they were.
@@sonipitts yes, I use those occasionally, too. I think it helps frame things in a modern context, to remind people that the slavery of two centuries ago still has effects today, and that slavery still exists throughout the world.
Thank you for making these videos! I have learned a lot from them.
New to your channel-and loving it. Thank you for your important work and witness!
As a history major and future history teacher, I love seeing black women as historians and thank you so much for this vital video!
This video make for a good teaching instrument. I have a degree in history, when I was in college I did my senior paper on Women in the American Revolution and it's sad how little is written about the enslaved of this time period.
I congratulate you on your History major, and thank you for your dedication to teaching History -- your work is so important, and the field of History needs many more Black historians! Good luck with your career!
@@rey-yac not to mention how they tone everything down
@@tempest206 YES!!🙄🤦🏿♀️
Me also ! I studied costume history and deeply appreciate the different perspectives !
Notice how the man slave / cook wasn’t allowed to even look the “enslaver” in her eyes as they spoke.
Makes sense.
I'd wondered if that was intentional, you're probably right.
@@Libbathegreat Hell, ask emmet till who got hung for that very reason!!
I might be white but I’m trans and I live in Mexico, my family doesn’t want me to travel, white people here live in gated communities and the white Mexican people created an Elite, everyone has 2 housekeepers, gardeners, and many more services that they almost pay for free (very cheap hand labor) obviously made by the indigenous Mexicans outside these gated communities, btw these gated communities are now the size of a city with malls and big buildings inside, no joke, watching all these videos make me upset cause it’s what places like Mexico and probably other countries are still living. Me as a transgender, you will say “darling if you were a straight male you would be doing the same thing”, and honestly I don’t know that, I only know all my life has been like this, it’s funny how all my siblings, cousins, uncles, aunts from both sides have expensive college degrees, visas, passports, etc and I’m the only one who doesn’t, a lot of people who are like me die young from many things, I’m still here and I’m 32, but I don’t even know how to explain but I relate to this video a lot !!!!!!
@@ReginaTrans_ John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Thank you, this is a great documentary!
Extremely informative, albeit the heartache and melancholy that certain phrases such as "Fick made clothes she could never wear, makeup she could never use" induce, it's needed and very important that we hear them. Videos like these are full of empathy in just the right places.
Being able to read other people's emotions and anticipate their needs is often a trauma response, meaning that it's a skill developed in effort to survive, whether physically or emotionally. 😢
@@nancyanderson2032 yes but when you're being abused from such a young age (or in this case terrified of white people) you become so hyper aware of what those people do, facial expression and tone when they speak and body language.
You can develop this skill not because it's a job requirements but since all the abuse and bad treatment you got it.
@@nancyanderson2032 paid more???
@@nancyanderson2032 there were enslaved and owned. I dont think they were paid, Nancy...
I tought everyone could....
@@vikingdogmanship everybody can, but as someone said further up, being in a situation in which a single slip-up has extreme consequences causes you to become hyperaware of every change in mood of the people around you. She would have to walk on eggshells because of the position she was in. I can't even imagine how horrific it would be to be expected to appease people who literally own you and can do whatever they want to you if you upset them
The correct use of the term “enslaver” truly shows the power dynamic, and the helpless position the enslaved were in. Amazing information.
Better than "Mistress" or "Master".
@MoralSingularity classic white noise. Please stop trying to take others suffering for your own. It's despicable.
@MoralSingularity White 😰
@MoralSingularity as that is bad as well you shouldn’t bring up other problems when someone is trying to tell about a problem.
It’s not a competition.
@MoralSingularity You sound so horribly uneducated.
This was a lovely video! Very informative about how slavery really was in America. I will definitely flag this video as one of the videos I would most likely show my students whenever I get a social studies teacher job. Very well put together video! Love it! ❤️
I moved to VA and am still learning about the abundance of history here... including the land and home that my husband and I bought. On top of that, I am a filmmaker and want to say this was a very well put together piece. I have so many emotions right now including anger and sadness at so much that went on. This piece is beautiful and skims the top of all the things that are much easier to hear than what a lot of enslaved people truly endured. Thanks for creating a platform where people could get a glimpse into the true life. Also, just watching you get dressed, I was hot and tired! 😆 Can't wait to see more from you! 👏🏻
You’re teaching the history our schools fail to and I love that. Can’t wait for more!
Schools teach from a general point of view, aka they should explain the jobs slaves did, but aren't obligated to go this deep, this is more for a historian, as she is
@@g.c.4824 Yeah, I mean, while I don't know the detailed life of every type of slave, I was taught the general concept. Honestly, sometimes I find it hard to believe it's schools failing to teach it or if it was a matter of people not paying attention.... I mean, there are people who don't know there are 50 states in America, I think that's absolutely a product of not paying attention....
Yes! We don’t need to be memorizing the quadratic formula! We need to learn stuff that actually matters!
@@alyssapinon9670 yes, you don't need to memorize it because you may never use it in your life, but math and such help develop and exercise the brain, so it is important, more important that knowing slave maids did their ensalver's clothing in the morn
@@alyssapinon9670 Math helps build critical thinking and logic skills. Memorizing it long term isn't necessary, but practicing more advanced forms of math is good for your brain. Learning some algebra and geometry will be useful in life as well. And even after that, you can be encouraged to continue calculations through a properly done economics class.
I’ve never realised how terrifying hearing about an upcoming slave auction would be to these people. You do good work, keep it up. History is important.
Yep
yep.. unless you had a position that was very important and you were very good at it it would have been extremely scary
Yep, just everyone you've ever known your whole life is taken away from you and you may never see you parents, siblings or grandparents ever again (I believe super rarely if you had relatives that were sold nearby you could be given a pass to visit). I couldn't imagine going through something like that. We never get to hear about the stories and lives of enslaved people. A lot of what I learned in this video are things I was never taught. I'm glad that there are awesome channels like this that explain the things we really should have learned in school.
@@litchtheshinigami8936 And even then they weren’t safe. As the video says about the woman this was sort of based on - an eslaved person with a valuable skill was a financial asset and could be used as collateral as she was, or worse, sold. So basically, if legally you’re considered property, you aren’t safe.
Tô these people 🤔 imma let you slide because clearly you are trying to educate yourself.
I love how you have shown this in such an educational way.
I needed to watch this, regardless of my Yankee roots. I can't even imagine the strength it took to walk in these shoes for the purpose of education. I appreciate you.
This is what we need young people to be watching in classes. Actual informational videos. With honesty, and every single detail.
Yes
Nowhere in European countries or even African states that the triangular trade is part of school curriculum. A crying shame!
this!!! 👏🏽
Videos like this are great for history class. I always felt stupid, ill informed, and out of touch when I assisted, former special education teacher, in the history classes. The students need to see it through the slaves’ eyes. This was very well put together. We cannot erase history but learn from it.
Yes
the moment she said NORTH america, not saying “america” as is it was a whole country when it is a continent she had me.
YES
North America includes Mexico and Canada though
@@xochigonzalez8501
Canada did had slaves too.
@@axidental_wolf3725 Who didn't have slaves at one point? Not condoning it at all, just saying it has been a part of history since humans started fighting over resources or were in great need of labor.
@@mjc42701
If its Cattle Slaves, only in N. America. But yeah, majority nations has had some form of slavery.
I really enjoyed this video. I learned a lot. Thank You.
Thank you for making these. It’s so incredibly important that this history isn’t forgotten. People should never have been enslaved.
The algorithm brought me here.
My interest has kept me here.
💯
same!
Facts
Same
I can’t imagine how strong they had to be endure the every whim of their enslavers while also taking care of their own families, it makes my life seem so trivial and privileged.
I don’t think they got to be with their own families even
Their family was usually not a priority at all, even Wet nurse slaves would leave their new born for weeks while breastfeeding their enslaver's babies
Families were separated the kids were already doing field and house work very young
LMAO
@@KrisD007 you're a hater
You're a very good storyteller. Your content was informative and kept my attention. Very well done.
Thoroughly interesting video, thank you all for your hard work in showing this history!
Love the swap of "owner" for "enslaver," really puts it into the proper context. And wow, I hated my former boss and the thought of her having literally the power of life & death over me (and probably at least some of my family) is nightmare-inducing. So glad you're giving a voice to the enslaved people who lived that terrible reality.
Yes, I agree! "Enslaver" is a more active word- it points out that these people are actively making other people their slaves, rather than just being owners or masters in a cultural system. Holds them accountable for not freeing the people they held as slaves.
Let's not forget that slavery still exist in 2021 in some countries, very sad, activists should concentrate of those countries as they need it!
@@NoirVelours true, not sure if you're talking about slavery in general or black slavery happening in North Africa, but both need to be addressed
@@6_blocks_under THere has never been a period when Africans have not enslaved other Africans.
@@NoirVelours Yes in Dubai they still do exist
The lightness with which the mistress speaks to the enslaved maid is terrifying to me, I can't pinpoint the reason, but being able to be so familiar and chill with a person she's physically ENSLAVING and she has the potential to further abuse at any point is just scary. (No harm meant to the actress of course!! She portrays the dynamic very realistically)
Yes, at one point when we couldn't hear her, I could imagine the filmmaker saying, "Make sure you show no signs of any concerns or worries, just chat away as if this were your friend and not a person whose labor you are receiving for free because you and your husband hold power over her very life."
RIGHT! It’s kind of eerie… like at one point I was expecting her to accidentally prick her with the pin and for her to go off on her!
Read the book Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim. It highlights how weird the mistresses mind was, often due to naivety initially and then evil as she learns more about how a plantation is truly run. Good book. Simple read, but good.
When I was reading Huck Finn in high school we talked about Huck's relationship with Jim, and how even though Jim was an adult and essentially was taking care of Huck, Huck (the 13yo hormonal white boy) could turn Jim in and get him killed at any moment. Even though on the surface their relationship seems friendly, Jim never really has the option of angering or disagreeing with Huck.
It's super fucked, man
You're so rigth. Have yoy ever seen Merlin BBC series? Gosh in that show it's clearly depicted how slavery worked in the past. It's terryfying. The worst thing is they romanticize those relationships! In the show they ended being best friends but one was born to rule, the other or cleaning and peeling potatoes. I love the show but now I can confirm why I always felt triggered when seeing them misstreating their servants 🥺 After all it's a British production 🤦♀️ Once again, they reinforce the idea of being in a royal house was such a privilege.
What a beautiful way to learn more about our nations history in an unbiased, factual way. Thank you for this and I hope you continue sharing historical knowledge with us.
living historians are the most incredible historians out there. wonderful episode!
I love the subtle detail of "her *Mistress* can share all her worries with her, but she can't share her worries with her *enslaver*" that tiny detail of switching from Mistress to enslaver really puts both the power dynamic and the difference in world view between the two people into perspective!
All servants had this problem, including those working for a wage. This is all focusing on petty issues instead of starvation, sickness, beatings, etc.
@@robinlillian9471 It was the subtle change in words. To the white mistress, the Black woman was simply a servant. But to the Black slave, thw white girl was her enslaver.
@@robinlillian9471 This is so true. It is like being a bird in a golden cage. Ppl in this modern day can find themselves "enslaved" by $ and the power dynamic being heavily on the employer's side. Jobs pay enough to lure ppl in but not enough that one could save and get out with a healthy nest egg. Necessitating decades of service to the employer.
Some oppose CRT while venerating founders' faux heroic stories to the same effect. The selected history of rich whites is safe from scrutiny, but not the real history of the enslaved.
@@robinlillian9471 I can’t believe you would form a Single Sentence comparing the misfortunes of Enslaved Africans with Anyone working for WAGE$; however small.🙄
There is simply no comparison. Period.
As a white person, I am incredibly thankful for being able to see these accounts from a black person’s point of view. I was educated on “American History” through out high school and college and ALWAYS from white revisionist points of view. I went to a blend of public schools and private Christian schools and in fifth grade at a very conservative Christian school in the south I was even taught that enslaved people were thankful for the guidance that they were given by their leaders. I can’t imagine the courage it takes to stand up to that kind of silencing of your own history and that kind of dismissal of humanity. I hate what we are taught in traditional text books because I believe we all know better than that. We all know that treating people like objects and oppressing them is wrong and OF COURSE they were not thankful participants but the people that write the history books and approve what is taught in school are purposefully trying to hold on to that kind of terror. I feel like I don’t have the right to say very much, except for thank you for your voice, and I really hope that voices like yours take over the narrative because that’s what we so desperately need.
I think the abuse is not linked to the color of the skin, but to the power that people have over you (mainly economic power). Thru history there have been slaves all over the world of all colors, races and nationalities, of all genders and ages....not only black people have been enslaved. Let's don't make this huge world wide problem ONLY ABOUT SKIN COLOR...if we are looking to bring attention to this problem let's show it for what it is.
I'm not making any less of the slavery problem for black people....but honestly....NOTHING HAS CHANGED....if anything things have gotten even crazier....JUST ASK AROUND TO ANY OF THE PERSONAL ASSISTANTS OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS.. (and I am not black)...
For reasons of confidentially agreements I can not disclose the names of my former "employers"...but I can tell you that for 4 years....my life was very similar to what you show as the life of this enslaved woman. And not only I had to take care of almost all the same things that this lady had to....but also in a few instances I had to drive doctor's in to my employer's house to care for her after the beatings her STILL TO THIS DAY husband gave her. I had to shield her from harm as much as I could sometimes even with my own body and be at the receiving end of mistreatments from her husband for these reasons. I also had the responsibility of DOING ANYTHING SHE WANTED ME TO... from buying her clothes and have them fitted, cook for her, arrange meetings, handle her calendar, wear her new shoes to make them soft, take her children to school when she was on TIME OFF from the beatings so they would not know what was going on...I mean...you will not believe the things I had to do for this lady...so much so I was starting to have mental problems myself...so I decided to quit for my own mental health.
THANK GOD I had the option to quit...not without threats that I will never find employment anywhere else and that i will leave without a reference and that sort of thing. This is what the slaves of all races, ages, genders etc do not have the chance to do...I wish this could also be part of the conversation on your channel.
I really wish we made this conversation a bit more inclusive and really talk about slavery in all its forms...because with all due respect THIS ISSUE IS NOT ONLY ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE, it concerns everybody, in all countries, all nationalities, all skin colors, all races, all ages and genders.
Your'e so funny. Did you cut and paste what you wrote? It comes right out of a book.
Any time you want, you can start paying reparations to your nearest black person. Let us know how that goes.
Not leaders demons.
@@iwokeuplikethis3589 agreed
@@JonFrumTheFirst oh honey you are jealous that I have good written communication skills, that’s called education, and you should try it some time, that angry white supremacist schtick looks real bad on you, it’s like you want to be condescending but don’t have the vocabulary.
Thank you so much for making this video and educating us all about the lives of enslaved people in norrth america such an amazing, educational and insightful video❤ the idea that someone could ever that they owe someone else baffles me
It's so important for children to relate to history, and you contextualise it so well. Obrigado, professora!
I really appreciated the call out that an enslaved lady’s maid had to practice an early form of code switching. Such an eye opening way of looking at her experiences-and it made realize just how old that concept really is.
yes, and pointing out that she had to be educated and competent but not intimidating
@@j.wa.1061 - Exactly. This still goes on today. In the workplace, you must be educated and competent enough to do your job. But don't come across as "too intelligent" or "too outspoken," lest you be labeled uppity or an angry Black woman.
That also blew my mind a little. Code switching started with the slaves in-between.
I have never heard that term before.
@@Kindred04 I think this is true for all women. I experienced that in a job not long ago.
I always found it so confusing how during this time period, enslavers would have enslaved people, cook for them, dress them, live with them yet still saw them as subhuman despite constantly being in close proximity to them and clearly entrusting them with such personal tasks.
They came up with a large variety of reasons to justify it; they said that black people were naturally meant to be enslaved to white people and even enjoyed it
My thoughts
Many ppl back then told themselves they were doing the person who was enslaved by them a favor, for providing them a place in society and a job and food. Basically they thought they were humanitarians, since they believed that nonwhite people didn't have the capability to build anything for themselves. And of course, when you get used to that level of convenience and service your whole life, it is very easy to look away from the ugly parts of that arrangement.
they couldnt have had souls, point blank. no person with a soul could be so close and yet so distant with people.
That’s because they dehumanised them so bad to the point that even the idea of black people making their own decisions or having their own feelings never crossed their minds.. they always saw them as different and inferior, and anything they did was considered bad or savage.. but if a white person did the same thing, it’s normal or justifiable..🙄😬
Even till this day.. the method of dehumanising people still exists.. they need to strip groups of their humanity so that anything they do to them is justifiable and no one bats an eye or questions it.. because in your mind.. they’re considered “bad” or “savage” people so they “deserve” what’s happening to them.. it’s honestly so sad..
Very informative! Thank you for sharing
Off-topic and a little late that I absolutely love the costuming. It's beautiful.
Its still fucking wild to me how this **actually** happened. Like this is shit you would expect to see in a horror book or something, but no, this legitimately happened and some disgusting people still want this to be happening. Thank you for educating, because we certainly don't learn the extent of this in school
That is the very sad painful truth. There are still people who want to see blacks eslaved to this very day.
I don't' really see any proof that any of this "actually" happened.
@@stus2159 what? you don't think slavery actually happened?
@@ashleybiocic4383 Slaves were just workers on contract, they were getting paid and were treated fairly. What I don't believe is the idea that they were held against their will and worked to death while being beat and abused.
@@stus2159 you're joking right?
They absolutely were abused and exploited.
They did not have a contract and they were FORCED to work, hence why it's called slavery. These people were taken from their homes and brought over across the ocean in chains. Their children were born into slavery and the rough truth is that some if not most women were raped by their white "masters".
Human relations can get very bizarre and difficult to describe, especially when we're talking about communicating something from history to a modern audience, whom might find the setting being described to them as truly alien. I really like your method of presenting the situation/predicament as is and then asking us, the viewers, to just sit and absorb it and learn without strict instruction. I've always been against educational material that tells you how you are suppose to feel about what you're being taught, instead I like how this is all about letting me experience and consider. It really made me think about all these different contrasting aspects that must've messed with a person's head; how everyone in the system is interacting with each other in an unnatural way while awkwardly coating it with a veneer of "this is normal". Fick and her enslaver's relationship must have been so complicated and layered, yet I really loved how you managed to communicate this so fluidly.
I can't wait to see the next episode / learn about another person in history!
I agree, I definitely noticed that too! I'm really looking forward to the rest of this series
I was JUST thinking this. I think that the reality is that not all enslaved people were bursting at the seams just waiting and dreaming of revolution, to be saved from their enslavement either by themselves or external force. To just be able to live this life, you have to be able to come to terms with it, as sad as we'd see it. Everyone just wants to be happy and experience good things, like love and friendships. Even material things, like good food, a nice dress, a little bit of money.
I would be willing to bet for many enslaved people, the idea of a revolution, any chance of freedom, was just not a possibility to them, something totally unthinkable.
To have a "good" relationships with their enslavers, become positive in their eyes and in turn see positivity from them, was likely the reality that many enslaved people yearned for. Very complicated, unequal relationships. I believe there are even cases of formerly enslaved people commending their previous enslavers, because that's just how many people cope with that kind of situation.
I'm struggling and constantly deleting and rewriting because this is all super complex and I'm afraid of stepping on someone's toes, but hopefully my point is clear.
Cracked Tea Cup, and Adonis Batheus, and Diana, y'all are clearly very bright, you have my respect.
@@AdonisOuranios So slavery was just fine by them? Why rock the boat, huh? Just be happy your slavery isn't worse? It must be a beautiful sight up there on your horse.
@@AKing69 That is not what they said at all. Read it again.
This is very educational and im hooked ❤❤ thank you
Chaney saying “shaved em off?” And making that “well how bout that” face is my favorite side-gem in this presentation. I wonder how many of my ancestors had to sit there and care for these enslavers and listen to their stupid stories
I mean really. Little Miss Enslaver talking about some dumbshit she thinks is the most wonderful idea at 2 am and the enslaved maid has to humor her every time.
👆🏾This!!!! I was thinking the same thing
While powdering her hair, like "Idk why she wants to look 25 years older. I'll be so glad when her hair turns gray."
@@ThatGirlJD 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@ThatGirlJD It is not about looking older, it is about having something in your hair that keeps it clean-ish (think dry shampoo) and gives texture to make some hair styles possible.
I never realized how much historical clothing utilized pins
No velcro, no zippers, no eslatic, no stretchy fabric blends, only buttons which were time consuming to make by hand and more expensive than a pin and not ideal for areas you would want to lie smooth such as the chest area.
Just ties, pins, buttons
@@TheMariemarie16 that sounds like my kind of fashion! I hate sewing fasteners of any kind
And so many useless layers.
I've always been concerned over how complicated clothing used to be. The richer you were the more time you spent getting dressed. Why? Life sucked enough, why make it harder with complex clothes.
@@Crazt They didn't know any other way.
There were no bras so the corset was a bit of a precursor to the bra.
Most skin had to be covered to maintain decorum so long dresses were necessary.
It would have been improper not to wear peticoat and other underwear because you had to perhaps walk alot, be helped into high cabs, scrub floors, you didn't want all of your goddies to expose if a strong wind blows. There was no panties either.
I don't think that clothing was made super complicated back then ( Excluding the outrageous layers of the super wealthy's fancy dresses) , I think that we have made clothing very casual and barely there now.
This work you're doing is extremely important it shows the crazy dynamics and dehumanizing of our ancestors.
Damn. Thanks for making these videos. Eye opening.
Compliments to the cook’s performance when speaking to the “mistress” role. Black men had to be REALLY careful around and when talking to white women. If you notice in the video, he doesn’t even make eye contact.
Also, complements to all involved here. You showed the nuance and truth of the situation. You portrayed the mistress as being courteous whilst also being sure to detail the one sided power dynamic that existed. It really emphasizes the reality of what it was like for enslaved persons most of the time.
How things change, they sure don't have that problem today.
If you think this cleaned up "I better be careful not to make "them" look bad so let me not show the real shit" version of Slavery is showing the truth then you should be ashamed of yourself.
@@pafena look up Emmett Till
Imagine how terrifying it was knowing that even eye contact (misconceived as something more) could sent you to your death. It’s just disgusting to know that this literally happened. Enslavement was real. It was here. It was absolutely disgusting.
@Dorothea Mack are you insinuating that bw should be subservient to ww? Such entitled lazy jealous ppl. Shouldn’t have thought you could enslave ppl and not have to bear the price for being inhumane. That’s ok karma coming soon. Right here now in fact. Enjoy.
I’m still stuck over the fact that they didn’t get soap but, were somehow still expected to be clean. Water can do a whole lot but, it ain’t a miracle worker sheesh
This hit me too. Especially since many of the materials required to make soap were not at the disposal of the enslaved either and were the property of the enslavers. And then just thinking about all the things they must have tried to use to avoid all possible forms of punishment. Setting up loose-loose situations, blaming the enslaved and then gaslighting the hell out of the situation. It’s abuse. But we know that. Enslavement is abuse that builds generational wealth and prestige for the abuser/enslaver.
They made their own cleaning agents. Vinegar is a cleaning agent for example. Africans are multi talented resilient people.
Bingo!!!
The torture my ancestors had to endure is beyond me, they put them out in the fields sweaty, then have to cook dinner for their pitiful family and can’t even get a fucking piece of soap! So if you must understand our outrage until this day then ...
@@mashan1978 if you think they are, then you should really look into other ancient cultures.
I just landed on your page. Thank you for sharing our history in the truest light you can with the information that is available. Slavery in the US was real and the injustices that occurred still affect us today! This is so visceral.
Always great to learn about VA’s history. I believe it was one of the first states to buy slaves in the 1600s (maybe 1620s?) while still under Great Britain.
I took a class last year on the history of Virginia til 1800 and much of it is built on and revolves around slavery.
The 'one-sided relationship' really hit me hard, something I knew about but neglected to really /understand/. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thats also how they are now as well
That's normal. I have service in my house and while they know were you live (obviously), your timetables, what you eat, they know your friends (because they come home to visit sometimes)... you don't know theirs. Some jobs are just like that. I am a doctor and I know my patients' lives, relatives, hobbies, jobs... things like that, and they don't know that kind of information about me.
@@elenavs8703 That's not the kind of relationship being discussed here. This goes beyond the knowledge you have of your patients. Also, your relationship with your patients is built on mutual trust and respect, and most importantly is /voluntary/. These women had no choice, certainly no respect, and the trust was one way and only there because if the black woman broke her mistresses trust the consequences could be deadly.
This was probably mostly the case but probably there were some that did become close and cared for each other as well. My great grandmother I am told had a mammy growing up. She married "down". But that mammy was more like her mother. I have seen letters written from her "aunt Sallie" long after "freedom" and the bond was very strong til her passing at a younger age. AUNT sallee traveled and came to her funeral, grieved very hard for her. They loved each other almost as a mother and child..., beyond what the laws of the land said or what people thought of it etc.
The institution of slavery was pure evil, and wrong. But not everyone white was mean and soulless.
@@elenavs8703 she's talking about white women.