Comments With Dr. James Haney Presents*CWebster's Letter of Willie Lynch,Breeding and color: The best way to control slaves, Part 13 of 20
This video has Enhanced Text (et) drjhaney
Dr. Mitchell explains:(Dr. Mitchell on slave work) slaves were required to pick a certain number of baskets each day, according to size and age. The overseer (Overseers and work) would watch their progress from a convenient spot in the field, or most often from the back of a horse. Thus situated he had direct command of all the workers. It was his responsibility to bring in the crop. Most were paid according to their ability to achieve an assigned quota, and many took their responsibility very serious.
The work on the plantations was organize to maximize the amount of work a slave could perform in a day. The day started around four o'clock in the morning, usually before sunrise, when they were summoned from their cabins in the quarters by a large horn or bell. (Getting them up for work) A typical work week was Monday through a half day on Saturday. During the time of harvest, however, slaves often worked Saturday afternoon, and even on Sunday if it were necessary to get the crop in.
Generally, there was little distinction between work performed by men and women. Women cut wood, plowed, pulled fodder, dug potatoes, picked cotton, pulled corn, hauled rails, and commanded oxen teams. They were house servants and personal body servants. On some plantations their work was broken down into task system of washing, ironing, etc., Children too young to work in the fields did light tasks around the plantation, everything from carrying water to field hands to raking leaves. At the age of twelve they were classified as "quarter hands", and sent to the field. Later they would advance to "half hand," "three quarter hand", and finally, "full" or "prime" field hand. They were also employed as nurses for old or infirm whites, or house servants around the big house. .(Slave children at work)
Slavery Slaveholders Caribbean Jamestown Civil War Violence Breeding Burning Rape Enhanced Text (et)