Question

1. Many slaves all over the diaspora resisted the pressures and domination they had to face during the slave periods, but there were degrees in which they were willing to risk being caught or punished. Based on the readings and tasks you did this week, write a sentence or two on what the overall difference is between acts of resistance that were blatant, obvious or direct (referred to as “overt resistance”) as opposed to the styles of slave resistance that were more subtle, hidden or coded or affirming their own cultural identity in a place and time where they were forbidden to do so (referred to as “covert resistance”).   Provide two examples of overt resistance and two examples of covert resistance.

Answer 1

One of the most common overt resistance was talking back to their masters in a way to show their disproval. This act landed more trouble for them and the punishment was very immediate. Second overt resistance was hitting the slave owner and try to run away from that place. If they were caught or identified by other whites, they were put to torture both by the owner and by those who discover them.

Rebellion such as Nat Turner and Stono rebellions were planned in secret but when they actualized the white majority were able to control them. Another way of covert resistance was when slave women using birth control measures to avoid pregnancy because they were expected to bear more slave children to their masters.

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