5. Disease and Poor Health
Life on plantations was marked by widespread illness and chronic malnutrition. Enslaved people lived in cramped, unsanitary quarters, which made the spread of contagious diseases almost inevitable. Nutrition was poor, with meager diets lacking essential vitamins and protein. When illness struck, medical care was minimal or nonexistent, as enslaved individuals were rarely given proper treatment. This constant exposure to disease and deprivation led to high mortality rates and suffering at every stage of life.
