10-15 million?
The exact number of Africans who died as a result of the transatlantic slave trade is not known with certainty. Estimates vary widely due to the lack of comprehensive historical records. However, it’s generally acknowledged that the impact was immense, both in terms of lives lost during capture and transport (the Middle Passage) and under slavery in the Americas.
- During the Middle Passage, it’s estimated that 10-15% of enslaved Africans died. Conditions were brutal, with overcrowding, disease, and malnutrition being common.
- Over the entire period of the transatlantic slave trade (from the 16th to the 19th centuries), scholars estimate that approximately 12 million Africans were shipped to the Americas. Considering the death rates during transport and the additional lives lost during raids and marches to the coast, the total number of deaths could be considerably higher.
- Once in America, enslaved Africans faced harsh conditions that led to a high mortality rate. This included overwork, malnutrition, disease, and physical abuse.
These estimates only provide a glimpse into the scale of human suffering and loss of life due to the transatlantic slave trade and slavery in the Americas. The full impact, including the cultural, psychological, and social effects, is far more profound and lasting.
Subjective number
Providing a subjective number for the deaths of Africans due to slavery in America is challenging, as it involves a combination of historical analysis and personal interpretation. Historians and scholars provide ranges and estimates based on available data, but these are inherently fraught with uncertainty due to the incomplete and imprecise nature of historical records.
With that in mind, if I were to offer a subjective view, it would be to emphasize the enormity of the tragedy. The numbers, whether 10 million, 15 million, or more, represent individual lives — each with its own story, culture, and potential. The scale of loss is not just a matter of statistics but a profound human tragedy that reshaped societies, families, and histories. This perspective invites us to reflect not just on the numbers, but on the human cost and the enduring legacy of such a catastrophic chapter in human history.