A Brief History of Water and Slavery

Water is necessary for all people to live, and for some people can mean life, health, and freedom. But for millions of people who have lived in slavery, from ancient times to today, water means abuse and forced labor. That's because the history of slavery is deeply tied to the presence and availability of water.

Today is Blog Action Day, which brings together thousands of writers from around the world to unite our voices, this year about water. Lack of access to clean and safe water contributes to human trafficking. But the relationship between water and slavery goes way, way back.

Transport of Slaves

Slaves have traditionally been transported across bodies of water on ships. The transatlantic slave trade sailed a famous triangle trade route carrying some combination of slaves, cash, and crops between the U.S., Europe, and Africa. In America, African slaves were shipped from port cities like Charleston to farms in Georgia and Mississippi via rivers. Today, human trafficking victims are more often shipped by land and air, but some are still smuggled into ports in Europe and the U.S.

Slaves Seeking Freedom

Water also played an important role in slaves seeking freedom and abolitionists fighting slavery. Two of the most famous slave songs from the American South, Follow the Drinking Gourd and Wade in the Water, centered on water as a path to freedom. Many historians believe these and other songs contained coded messages guiding slaves along rivers to freedom in the North. One of the most significant markers of geographical freedom was the Ohio River, which separated slave-owning Kentucky from free Ohio. Today, access to clean water can help prevent children from becoming trapped in slavery in the first place.

Slaves in the Development of Water Systems

Slaves have also played a critical role in the development of modern water systems. The Roman aqueducts, a system which has served as a model for much modern sanitation and irrigation, was built by slaves. Similarly, African slaves brought to the Middle East before and during the Ottoman Empire built vast irrigation systems that helped the region flourish. Today, slaves irrigate and farm irrigated land, fetch water for families, and build and maintain the infrastructure, including water systems, of countries around the world.

Help make sure water is part of the solution to end slavery, not part of the problem. Support the UN's efforts to bring safe and clean water to everyone.

Photo credit: bobster855