Final answer:
The claim about enslaved Africans being naturally passive is false. They actively resisted enslavement in various ways and did not simply rely on appealing to the white conscience for freedom.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement claiming that Africans who were enslaved were naturally passive, never resisted enslavement, and simply appealed to white conscience for their freedom is false. Enslaved individuals through history demonstrated significant resistance to their condition across various contexts. The system of paternalism was often employed by southern whites as a way to justify slavery, depicting it as a benevolent institution. However, this was a gross misrepresentation of the cruel reality of slavery. Slaves found numerous ways to resist, including both subtle and overt actions. They engaged in work slowdowns, sabotaged equipment, feigned ignorance, and even poisoned their oppressors. Despite the threat of severe punishment, and even knowing that widespread rebellions were unlikely to end slavery, they still exercised various forms of resistance.