Final answer:
African Americans survived slavery by forming new families, blending African and Christian religious practices, and using culture as a means of resistance. They also engaged in acts of feigned illness, and some used accumulated surplus income from trade and skilled labor to bargain for their freedom or improve their conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Strategies for Survival and Resistance
Enslaved African Americans developed numerous strategies to survive and maintain their dignity under the harsh conditions of slavery. They formed new kin networks, referring to fellow slaves as 'brother' or 'aunt,' which helped recreate the family bonds that had been severed by slavery. Additionally, they created new religious practices, blending African traditions with Christianity, to provide solace and a sense of community. These elements became crucial in sustaining their own independent cultures. Enslaved individuals also used storytelling, music, and dance as forms of cultural expression and resistance.
Resistance took many forms, from the subtle, such as feigning illness, to the overt, like orchestrated revolts. Enslaved women exerted control over their bodies through knowledge of herbal contraceptives and other early medical practices. After completing their enforced work, many enslaved individuals engaged in economic activities such as hunting, fishing, or trade to earn money, some of which was used to negotiate freedom.
Moreover, enslaved people used the paternalistic and Christian philosophies of their enslavers to navigate and sometimes manipulate the system. They exploited these beliefs to gain sympathy or fairer treatment, arguing for the moral and ethical considerations of Christianity, and at times employing the paternalistic attitudes to their advantage in negotiations and daily interactions.