In the discussion of the Atlantic slave trade, the term “middle passage” regularly comes up. The Middle Passage was the route of sea voyages by Africans taken from their homeland to the coasts of the Caribbean and America, where they were constantly bound to a presence of institutional subjection. The adventure was one of the most terrible parts of the ethically deplorable organization of slavery. It is not possible to specify the Middle Passage without inspiring dislikes in men, women and children securely padded and bound together, to protect them from revolt or from choosing the self-destructive fate of bouncing over the edge. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The picture painted of the Middle Passage depends on a number of distributed reports, including abolitionist productions, and also records of the adventure composed by the ship's crew members and Africans deported as slaves, for example Olaudah Equiano, sold into slavery at the age of 11, he later found freedom. By the end of the Middle Passage, 9-12 million Africans were taken from their homelands only to become forced laborers in the Americas (Smallwood and Elliot). An estimated 4 million slaves died before reaching the Americas. The Middle Passage was a triangular trade route between Africa, the New World, and Europe. This entry began in Europe, where ships were loaded with products and sent to Africa, where they were exchanged for African slaves. Slaves were brought to the New World and exchanged for raw materials which were then sent back to Europe. African slaves were hijacked or purchased because they did not choose the New World to be owned by colonists. While approximately 15% of African slaves died on boats en route to the New World, others died in Africa before reaching the boats, as a result of the process of capturing and transporting slaves on boats. An estimated 2 million Africans died as a result of the Middle Passage. My name is Ruth and I'm here to tell you about my survival of the transatlantic slave trade. The slave trade began in 1502 until about 1888 (Smallwood and Elliot). Between the years 1502-1620 some of us slaves were deported to the Spanish colonies and completely cut off from our homeland. I was grabbed by a group of white men, which I thought was because I could tell by the way they talked that they were white males. I was taken away from my family and my land without knowing if I would ever see my loved ones again or better yet, without knowing if I would see myself again. I and a couple of other slaves of my skin were chained together, unable to run for help, nor scream because no one heard our cries, no one cared. It was almost like being in the woods in the country screaming at the top of your lungs, and the only help you would get was your own echo. We were put on this ship that we thought would take us to our destiny and instead we were put on the ship to be beaten, sold or worse, thrown away to the sharks, all I could think about at that moment was that my life was finished. I'm not sure what these men are capable of and I don't even understand their language to ask them what's going on. As I look around I see men, women and children held captive and sleeping on top of each other. I close my eyes to block the pain, but I can't escape the pain and despair. Opening my eyes I see children dying, women being raped, children dying of starvation and some being beaten.