Enslaved Labor and Resistance

Minty, a six-year-old enslaved African girl, struggles to stay awake while caring for a baby, fearing punishment if the baby cries. Her life is marked by the harsh realities of slavery, with no rights or freedom. Families are often separated, but the community of enslaved Africans supports each other. They perform various labor and skilled tasks on plantations, contributing significantly to their success. Differences exist between field and house slaves, with the latter having slightly better conditions. Minty's mother resists the plantation owner's attempt to separate her family, inspiring hope in Minty for possible resistance and freedom.

What was Minty's primary responsibility at night?

• Cleaning the house

• Tending to the crops

• Watching over the baby

• Cooking meals

How did Minty's grandmother come to America?

• She was captured and brought on a ship

• She migrated for work

• She was born in America

• She traveled willingly

What did Minty's mother explain about the choice of enslaved people?

• They had no choice in being enslaved

• They chose to work on plantations

• They were paid for their labor

• They could leave whenever they wanted

How did enslaved families cope with being separated?

• They wrote letters to each other

• They relied on community support

• They were never separated

• They visited each other often

What was the role of field slaves on the plantation?

• They managed the plantation

• They worked in the fields from morning till night

• They performed skilled trades

• They worked in the mansion

What was a common living condition for enslaved Africans?

• Shacks with dirt floors

• Shared dormitories

• Luxurious homes

• Comfortable apartments

What was the primary reason plantation owners used enslaved labor?

• To promote cultural exchange

• To improve working conditions

• To save on labor costs

• To provide education

What did Minty's mother do when Mr. Broaddus tried to take Moses away?

• She hid Moses

• She stood in the doorway and refused

• She allowed him to go

• She asked for help from neighbors

What impact did Minty's mother's resistance have on Minty?

• It made her want to escape immediately

• It gave her hope to fight for freedom

• It made her fearful

• It discouraged her from resisting

What did Minty begin to wonder about early on?

• If she could become a plantation owner

• If she could resist or fight back

• If she could travel to Africa

• If she could learn to read