Historical Empathy is Awesome

Before we start this next section it is important to understand the value of exploring concepts and ideas from a multitude of perspectives. Examining multiple sources, information, and justifications pushes us to a deeper understanding of events or ideas. Look to the image on the right; as you can see there are six blind men all touching an elephant. All of them are touching the same elephant but each is unaware of what it is they are touching, which we can see from their thought bubbles. The idea is that each one of them feels a part of the elephant, but only one part, and then describes it. Each person is in disagreement and are unaware that they are touching an elephant. So by stopping and then collaborating, each individual will be able to see the elephant, or the bigger picture (i.e. the truth).

So when it comes to slavery examining just one perspective will never give us the complete and clear picture of what life was like during the transatlantic slave trade and how individuals and groups justified their actions. Just like the blind men don't have the benefit of seeing the elephant and therefore need to work together to understand the truth (it is an elephant), we, as historians, do not always have the benefit of having been there in history. We must explore primary and secondary sources and the multiple perspectives of people, places, and ideas to evaluate and validate the information we encounter.

Click the link below for the worksheet to accompany your reading of the extracts and discussion
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What do you see when you touch an elephant?

Activity 5: Historical Empathy

This activity requires you to read and discuss the accounts of slavery, that can be found below. In pairs read and discuss one of the following accounts of slavery, by clicking on the links below:
  • Olaudah Equiano. a former slave;
  • John Barbot, a slave agent;
  • Alexander Falconbridge, a slave ship surgeon.

You will be comparing and contrasting the views expressed in your chosen text with those of the other groups. This requires you to interpret the assigned perspective in the text and then explain and explore the conditions of slavery from this point of view before then comparing the three perspectives.

What to do:
  • Choose your extract, there's a couple of starter questions to help you decide, and click the button to access the extract.
  • Save the extract and use Adobe Reader (or similar) to highlight and comment upon the text in preparation for the discussion.
  • Use the accompanying worksheet, 'Different Perspectives'. Add the interesting and relevant information from your discussion to the worksheet.

Some inquiry questions to consider before, during and after the discussion:
  1. Do the authors agree on any details?
  2. How are events/conditions described differently?
  3. What can you infer from the text about how people viewed slavery?
  4. Is any account more truthful than another?
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Source 3.1: Portrait of Olaudah Equiano
Questions to help get you started
  1. What did slavery mean for Olaudah before he was captured?
  2. Why is Equiano surprised by everything he sees?
  3. What are Equiano's views on 'white people'?
  4. Does he have any notions of escape? If so what are they?
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Source 3.2: Logo for the Royal African Company
Questions to help get you started
  1. Who buys slaves?
  2. How are the slaves treated?
  3. How has Barbot treated his slaves in the past?
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Source 3.3: Cover for the book 'Account of the Slave Trade on the Coast of Africa' by Alexander Falconbridge, 1788.
Questions to help get you started
  1. What are the conditions of the slaves as Falconbridge describes them?
  2. Is Alexander for or against the slave trade? How does the text convey this information to us?

Recap of the Transatlantic slave trade

Watch this video from the Khan Academy prior to attempting Activity 5: 'What would you say?' below.

This video further explores the slave trade and offers a nice recap of our investigation into the slave trade; where it originated, how it changed, and how people arrived at the idea that they could own other people.

Defining Slavery

To define slavery and a few things need to be considered first. The practice of slavery has differed throughout history, from one society to the next. Slaves also experienced different work regimes, so variables such as the attitudes of their masters, type of work they were performing, and where they lived had significant impacts upon the treatment of slaves. But this doesn't mean we cannot define slavery.

It is still possible to agree on a definition for slavery; as slavery is considered one form of exploitation, varied in its conditions, that treats people as property.

Make sure you read the quote to the right. Then, before responding to the 'what would you say...', watch the video below 'Youth for Human Rights'. If you need to, consult the Youth for Human Rights webpage, or another site, for further assistance in constructing your answer.
While it may have been over 200 years since the slave trade was abolished what would you say if I told you that there are at least 12 million men, women, and children in slavery today...

    Activity 6: What would you say?