The Africans (We Came to North America) - Hardcover

Dr. Jen Green received a doctorate from the University of Sussex (Dept of English and American Studies) in 1982. She worked in publishing for 15 years and is now a full-time writer, who has written more than 50 books for children on natural history, geography, history, social issues, and art. She lives in Sussex.

First Impressions By the 1600s, slavery had been introduced in the British, French and Spanish colonies in North America. In ports all along the east coast, slave markets were set up for the buying and selling of slaves as they came off the ships from Africa. After their long and terrible journey, many slaves arrived sick and weak. The traders wanted them to look as fit as possible so that they would fetch a good price at the slave auctions. As the ships neared land, the traders prepared their human cargo for sale. Slaves were forced to wash and rub palm oil on their skin until it gleamed. The men were ordered to shave. The gray hair of older men and women was dyed black so that they looked younger. Signs of illness were also hidden.