New Year S Day Slave History

However the same 1st january was nothing but sheer terror for millions of black slaves.
New year s day slave history. Waxman detailed the history behind what was once known as heartbreak day for enslaved black people. On new year s day we went to the auctioneer s block to be hired to the highest bidder for one year israel campbell wrote in a memoir published in 1861 in philadelphia in which he describes being hired out three times. Interestingly today s new year celebrations are special events.
In an article in time olivia b. Of all days in the year the slaves dread new year s day the worst of any a slave named lewis clarke said in an 1842 account. New year s eve and new year s day are heralded and celebrated as a chance to begin again.
The federal ban on the transatlantic slave trade went into effect on new year s day in 1808 and african american communities did celebrate but the festivities were short lived. New year s day used to be widely known as hiring day or heartbreak day of all days in the year the slaves dread new year s day the worst of any one 1842 account explained.