The Slave Ship: A Human History

Barricadoes were physical barriers or partitions, often made of wooden planks or iron bars, constructed aboard slave ships to segregate enslaved people from the ship’s crew. These structures were designed to prevent uprisings or mutinies by restricting the movement of captives and maintaining control over the human cargo during the voyage. The barricadoes also symbolized the dehumanizing measures employed to enforce domination and limit the possibility of collective resistance.

A brig was a type of two-masted sailing vessel commonly used for transporting goods, including enslaved Africans, across the Atlantic Ocean. These ships were favored for their speed and maneuverability, enabling slavers to evade naval patrols enforcing anti-slavery laws. The brig’s compact design often led to overcrowded and inhumane conditions for the captives confined in its hold during the Middle Passage.

A “Guinea man” referred to the rank-and-file crew members who worked aboard slave ships, performing manual labor such as handling cargo, maintaining the vessel, and overseeing the captives. These sailors often endured harsh conditions, including low wages, poor provisions, and exposure to disease, while operating within the brutal system of the slave trade. Despite their lower status, common sailors were complicit in enforcing the inhumane practices of the Middle Passage, transporting enslaved Africans from the West African coast, often referred to as the Guinea Coast, to the Americas.