6. Meager and Poor-Quality Food
Food on slave ships was scant and barely edible. Captives received small portions of beans, rice, or yams—often spoiled or crawling with insects. Clean water was just as rare, leading to constant thirst and dehydration. Starvation and malnutrition weakened bodies and spirits alike, making it even harder for people to survive the long, punishing journey across the Atlantic.
