Indawgu, Sierra Leone

My name is Henry Smith. This is the story about how I experienced The Middle Passage. As I said before my name is Henry Smith, I lived in a small town, with my brother and sister. We also had a Labrador named Bruiser. I, along with my brother and sister, were workers in a field. My mother and father lived beside us, my whole family stayed together no matter what. We had abandoned three different homes because of African's being kidnapped and taken into slavery. My father was a runaway slave, who was wanted for many years and was never caught. He stole food and clothing for my family, we did not judge for his holy works. My mother, was very sick at the time, smallpox had began to spread throughout my town. Although, she cooked, cleaned and took care of everyone. My father, was the head chief, he lead everyone and made sure everyone was safe. My life was grand until the clock stroke midnight.

Tick-Tock went the clock, I was laying with Bruiser when I believed I heard someone calling out to me. I noticed the voice began to get louder and louder, as if they were coming my way. I had started to freak out, I ran inside to my family, I told them danger was coming. Next thing that I remembered my father had ran out with my older brothers. I was worried. I ran outside, I regret leaving that house. Men were standing outside our town, all wearing matching outfits, almost soldier like. Bruiser and I had been taken by two men who started beating us with whips. Yelling "Get ov'r here you filthy animal" . I felt myself being shoved one what I believed was the back of a truck. I remembered I had no shoes on, it was cold and I was under-dressed. That didn't matter anymore. Later that night, I had found myself in a port. Ships were everywhere, the moon was so bright that night it was the only object you could see in the sky.

My first night on the ship was not at all bad as I thought it would be. Although everyone on the boat had the same thoughts that I had going through my head. Throughout the journey, I was treated like I was nothing. I never really ate, let's not talk about the bathroom situation and of course other men there were violent. When it was time to eat the men would physical push each other and hurt each other just to get the tiniest ounce of food. Every other day we go to go outside and get fresh air, but that was also only if people behaved. For those who refused to behave they were kept inside and for those who behaved came upon the deck. Every week there was a check up. To see how our health was and how our strength was. I was weker and weaker each day, not enough food or sunlight, nothing helping me to keep my strength up.