History of Rice

Feeds more than half the world's population

Intertwined with slavery

Ancient plant

Women typically sowed the rice

Rice Comes to the New World (1520s)

"Gold Seede"

Early settlers of the Carolinas came from Barbados

“The best opportunity for industrial profit which 18th century America afforded."

"I am positive that the Commodity can't be produced by white people. Because the work is too laborious, the heat very intent, and the whites can't work in the wett at that season as Negrs do to week rice"

"a choice cargo of Windward and Gold Coast Negroes, who have been accustomed to the planting of rice"

African rice growing methods

African slaves suited to provide labor force

1. rice was grown in some areas of Africa and there was evidence that some slaves were familiar with the methods of cultivation practiced there

2. it was thought that the slaves, by virtue of their racial characteristics, were better able than white laborers to withstand the extreme heat and humidity of the tidal swamps and therefore would be more productive workers

task labor

Frightful labor and perilous working conditions