Final answer:
Slaves lived under severe conditions, where survival strategies entailed being discreet and submissive. Through folk tales and work songs, they expressed their experiences and aspirations. Acts of resistance created shared bonds within the enslaved community, as they navigated daily inhumanities. Option C
Step-by-step explanation:
The conditions under which the slaves lived were described as harsh and full of adversity, where they had to navigate a life of constant suppression and find ways to survive and maintain their dignity. They were taught to be discreet, submissive, and guarded, especially around White individuals. Through folk tales and work songs, they conveyed deep messages of the wrongs of slavery and their yearning for freedom.
The folk tales often featured tricksters like Brer Rabbit, symbolizing the slaves' cleverness and resilience. The songs they sung held dual meanings, with surface interpretations acceptable to White people and hidden significances that spoke directly to the enslaved people's experiences and sufferings.
Work Song Example 1 and Example 2 quoted show no known copyright restrictions, indicating a rich oral tradition passed down which kept alive the spirit and culture of the enslaved people.
Frederick Douglass, in his 1845 narrative, highlighted the moral complications and inhumanities of slavery, referring to the severe hardships endured, particularly by those slaves who were children of White masters. Even simple acts of resistance united the slaves, creating a community bound by shared suffering and a determination to assert their humanity against the brutality imposed upon them. Option C