Slavery has been a pervasive practice throughout the world for centuries, and its legacy continues to be felt today in many societies. Slavery is an institution that allows one person to completely control the life of another individual; it was used extensively in the United States prior to 1865, when it was abolished by President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. In spite of this victory, however, slavery still exists around the globe in various forms—from forced labor and human trafficking to child servitude and debt bondage. The effects of slavery on both individuals and society as a whole have been devastating, leading many countries to take steps towards outlawing this abhorrent practice.

At its core, slavery is an exploitation system that violates basic human rights and dignity through physical or psychological coercion or other means of control. Historically speaking, African-Americans were subject to some of the worst abuses during chattel slavery in America: they were considered property with no right over their own bodies; they were denied basic civil liberties such as education or access to legal protection; they experienced brutality at the hands of their owners; they had no say in matters related to marriage and family formation; they lacked economic security due to unpaid labor; and finally, after emancipation from ѕlаvеrу thеу wеrе еxроѕеd tо virulent rасiаl segregation аnd discrimination.