Monday, September 13, 2010

For this assignment, I will have to write a screen play or script involving the topic of slavery. Please help me.

Slavery is an incredibly broad topic.  Assuming that your screenplay or script will be focused on slavery in America, you may want to select an aspect of it to focus on.


Slaves were brought to the New World from Africa for hundreds of years before the United States was even established as a country.  You may want to focus your script on the experiences of someone living in slavery.  


Native Africans were captured or sold by their own people to slave traders.  They had to endure terrifying and miserable journeys on slave ships in close quarters as they traveled across the Atlantic.  You could write about this aspect of slavery from the perspective of a Native African being taken from their home.  In this, you could contrast their life in Africa to their new future of being enslaved.


Slaves were bought and sold at slave auctions once they reached America.  This was a frightening process for slaves.  Many times families were split apart when one was sold to a different owner than the others.  Husbands and wives could be separated.  Children might be taken away from their mothers.  You could write about this horrifying time in your script, showing the dramatic emotions that slaves went through as they endured this terrible process.


Once slaves were purchased, they went to work for their owners.  Some worked on large plantations and in fields.  Others worked in homes.  If slaves tried to run away, they might be beaten.  You could write about the experiences of a slave and their working conditions.  You could also focus on how they settled into a new place with new people.


The Underground Railroad played an important role in the lives of some slaves.  The routes and the people along the way provided slaves a way to escape their difficult situations.  You could write about this suspenseful journey in your script.  Often, slaves who escaped were pursued by people or even dogs.  They had to hide in the woods or in the homes of "station masters" (people who helped slaves escape).  "Conductors" (such as the famous Harriet Tubman) helped to guide slaves on their journey.  Wanted posters offered rewards for their return to their master.


When writing your screenplay or script, you can show action through dialogue if you choose.  You may also want to add other details, such as differences in language.  A Native African would probably not speak English, and therefore would face the additional challenges of a language barrier.


I am attaching a few links, which contain a timeline, maps, and other helpful information on slavery.  Good luck!

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