👉 Slave engineering refers to the systematic and often brutal process by which slave owners, particularly in the antebellum South of the United States, designed and implemented systems to maximize the productivity and profitability of their enslaved labor force. This involved not only physical infrastructure like plantations and farms but also social and psychological structures that reinforced the dehumanization and control of enslaved individuals. Enslaved people were often segregated into specific tasks, such as field labor, domestic work, or skilled crafts, with little to no mobility or autonomy. Slave owners also employed brutal methods of punishment and discipline to maintain order, including physical violence, isolation, and forced labor. Additionally, the education and cultural practices of enslaved people were deliberately suppressed to prevent the development of resistance and solidarity. This multifaceted approach aimed to create a self-perpetuating system of exploitation, ensuring that enslaved labor remained a cornerstone of the Southern economy.
