Question

What did Armstrong most likely mean when he said, "That is the reason I tend to my business"?

A. He worked extra hard because he did not want to get whipped.
B. He avoided any excuse for a whipping because he never would have lain down for it.
C. He didn't care about the other slaves, so he pretended not to notice when they were being whipped.
D. He thought overseers were fair as long as slaves did their work.

Answer 1

When Armstrong said, "That is the reason I tend to my business," he most likely meant B. He avoided any excuse for a whipping because he never would have lain down for it.

What did Armstrong mean ?

In this context, "tending to his business" likely means that Armstrong worked diligently and responsibly to avoid giving any reason for being whipped or punished by the overseers or slave owners.

He wanted to ensure that he didn't provide any grounds for punishment, as he was determined not to accept or endure physical punishment.

This interpretation aligns with the idea of self-preservation and resistance against physical abuse that was common among enslaved individuals during that period.