Living Conditions and Responsibilities of Enslaved Africans

Minty, a six-year-old enslaved 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 enslaved community supports each other. Enslaved people perform various roles and contribute significantly to plantations. Despite the oppressive conditions, Minty finds hope in her mother's resistance, dreaming of freedom.

What was Minty's main responsibility at night?

• Cleaning the house

• Cooking meals

• Tending to the crops

• Watching over a baby

Why did Minty try to stay awake while watching the baby?

• She was waiting for her parents

• She enjoyed staying up late

• She had to finish her chores

• She feared punishment if the baby cried

At what age was Minty forced to work without pay?

• Six

• Ten

• Twelve

• Eight

What did Minty believe about her future as an enslaved person?

• She would be freed soon

• She would remain enslaved for life

• She would escape to another country

• She would become a plantation owner

How did Minty's mother explain their family's enslavement?

• They were captured and brought against their will

• They were born into a wealthy family

• They chose to come to America

• They were paid to work on plantations

Where did Minty's grandmother come from?

• Europe

• South America

• Asia

• Africa

What was a common experience for enslaved families like Minty's?

• Traveling freely between plantations

• Owning their own land

• Being separated and sent to different plantations

• Living together in one home

How did enslaved Africans support each other on plantations?

• By sharing their wages

• By forming unions

• By looking out for each other and working together

• By escaping together

What types of work did enslaved Africans perform on plantations?

• Only cooking and cleaning

• Only fieldwork

• Only housework

• Various skilled trades and fieldwork

What were the living conditions like for most enslaved Africans?

• Independent with their own homes

• Comfortable with access to education

• Basic with dirt floors and limited food

• Luxurious with plenty of food