We, the historians at Saferard University, uncovered a series of diary entries from a slave child named Betsey. Her entries revolved around the Middle Passage and the struggles she faced on the journey. This published collection of her entries is dedicated to Betsey, her sister, sia, and all of the other slaves who had to endure these hardships.

May their souls find peace.

entry #1

Dear Diary,

My name is Betsey and I had a normal, teenage life, until one day when my world and everything that I had known was shattered. I was captured by strange, scary looking, white men. Men not like my people, different in looks and manners. These men are not kind. They treat and look at you like animals. They took my sister, Sia, myself, and many others, some from my village and some strangers to me. We were immediately put into chains and shuffled onto a large boat, put into the bottoms of it. Right now, I am scared and have no idea what is ahead of me, but I do know one thing: that I am going to take of my sister, Sia, and try my best not to let anything tear us apart.

Entry #2

Dear Diary,

On the ship, I saw people who looked kind of like myself. I thought they may have been from some nearby tribes in Africa. I look through the crowd of brown skinned people until my eyes landed on a girl who looked about my age. I introduced myself and told that my name was Betsey. Her name was Indigo and she was a few years older than myself. I asked if she knew anyone on the ship who might have been from her tribe. She didn't recognize anyone. I told her that my younger sister, Sia, was also aboard the ship. Indigo asked if I had any other family. So I told her about my parents who remained back in Africa. Soon, we were all herded under deck and we begin the long voyage. 

Entry #3

Dear Diary,

Today I met an elderly woman from my tribe. Her name is Ani. The drawing on the left is of her. Ani is warm, welcoming, and wise. She reminds me so much of my grandmother. I asked Ani if she knew why we were here and what they were going to do to us. She told me that the other elders and her have figured out that the white men are going to eat us. I couldn't believe what I heard and began to cry. Ani said to me, "Hush, little one, you must be strong for your sister." Yes, she was right, but how could I be strong when these men were going to take our lives in the most gruesome way possible?

entry #4

Dear Diary,

Sia and I, along with hundreds of others, have been stuffed into the bottom levels of this ship. We are packed in here like cargo, not at all like the human beings we are. People are literally piled onto one another and lying, at every angle, to be able to fit into this tiny space. You can't move your body in any way without touching another person. The smell on the ship is so rancid it makes your eyes water. The people on this ship haven't bathed in days and many are disease ridden or on the brink of death, if not dead already. The situation is fowl and dehumanizing, but at least I have my sister. As long as Sia is glued to my side I still have one good thing in my life.