THE JOURNEY FROM the west coast of Africa to the
European colonies in the Americas, known as the
“Middle Passage,” was a hellish experience for
African captives. Slave traders packed as many
people on their ships as possible, leading to hor-
rific living conditions. Roughly 30 percent died
along the way, due to shortages of food and water,
disease, abuse, and revolts. The exact number of
people who died from each cause is unknown,
but scholars estimate that more than one million
Africans did not survive the Atlantic crossing.
The Middle Passage
A 1790 ENGRAVING SHOWING
THE CRAMPED, INHUMAN STOWAGE
ARRANGEMENTS ON THE BRITISH
SLAVE SHIP BROOKES
ALBUM