Historical Analysis of Slave Castration

Was characterized by appalling violence, rape, and worse of all,

castration of Black male slaves.

While African women and girls were targeted, captured,

and deported by Arab

slavers for use as sex slaves, the male captives were, on the other hand,

pitilessly castrated to prevent them from reproducing and becoming a stock.

Castration of male slaves became a habit among slave traders due to the fact

that they were in higher demand, stronger, noted to work

faster and more efficiently, and were not a threat to slave masters and

owners who feared that their wives, concubines, and female slaves

would have affairs with them. The suffering inflicted on the victims of

castration was profound, encompassing physical and psychological

trauma. Castration was done to boys between the ages of nine

and

twelve, as it was believed that they survived the process more than

an

adult or adolescent, although very many did not survive the

process, as they often died during or after the harrowing operation