Chattel slavery was a brutal system of human bondage where enslaved individuals were treated as personal property that could be bought, sold, or inherited. In the context of Black history, chattel slavery primarily refers to the enslavement of Africans and their descendants in the Americas, particularly in the United States.

Africans were forcibly captured, transported across the Atlantic Ocean in horrific conditions known as the Middle Passage, and sold into slavery to work on plantations, in mines, and in other industries. Enslaved individuals were subjected to unimaginable cruelty, exploitation, and dehumanization. They were denied basic human rights, subjected to harsh physical punishment, and their families were often torn apart through forced separations.

Chattel slavery in the United States officially began in the early 17th century and lasted until the end of the Civil War in 1865. The institution of slavery played a central role in shaping the economic, social, and political systems of the country. The legacy of chattel slavery continues to impact Black communities in the United States and beyond, influencing issues of systemic racism, inequality, and social justice.

The struggle against chattel slavery was a key part of the broader fight for Black freedom and equality throughout history. Enslaved individuals resisted their bondage through acts of rebellion, escape, and organizing for freedom. The abolitionist movement, led by both Black and white activists, played a crucial role in ending chattel slavery and laying the groundwork for the civil rights struggles that followed.