In the past, it was common for settlers in America to be granted access through the head right system. Indentured servitude, at that time, was often confused with slavery. But, this was not the case. It was a contract between servants and employers. Soon after the settlement began to defy their promises of land/money to the servants, an attack against Virginia’s government resulted. The Virginia government then started to import slaves form Africa. Concerning the readings, Olaudah Equiano’s experience and Elizabeth Sprigs’ differed on the basis of respect for basic human rights.
The English colony was home to many indentured servants. These individuals were promised money and land for any work they did. This was not forced labor, but a contract. They were allowed to do whatever they wanted after a day of work. “Freedom dues” is a form of payment that allows servants to look forward to their release from bondsage at the end of their labor period. This is a quote that explains the freedom of indentured servants compared to slaves, who had to follow the orders of their masters. Slaves from Africa were often treated less well than those who were indentured. They were treated harshly by their owners. This was because they saw what they would get regarding their living conditions, clothing, and meals. “When I was carried aboard, I was immediately handled, then tossed up, just to make sure I was sound,” the readings state. This is a simple explanation of how they were treated unfairly and disregarded as human beings. Elizabeth Sprigs saw the indentured servants in a different light than Olaudah Equiano. They were in a situation where they felt lost. But, it was still better than what African slaves had. Because of racism, there was a system that elevated the power to the advantage of the white man over the black man. African slaves were taken from their families and never to be seen again. Their owners made it a point to make sure they didn’t have to sit in more than two groups. It was also a way for them to plot against their owners. Slave owners had no other purpose than to make a living, so they treated them unfairly. The readings state that “Many Negroes could be better used.” This statement is racist enough. Additionally, I believe that slavery was created in England because of fear of minorities dominating them. This is based on my experiences with both African slaves and indentured servants.
Olaudah struggled, just like the slaves, to get the basic human rights that the indentured servants enjoyed.
