ABSTRACT
Recent studies of slavery in the Americas have focused on the slaves' social organization, domestic arrangements, religious beliefs, medical practices, along with the music, cuisine and linguistic and sartorial style that gave Afro-American culture its distinctive form during slavery. Slaves may have understood the divisive effect independent economic production had on their own community. Much of the independence Afro-Americans secured during slavery which manifested itself in the slaves domestic, religious and community life derived from the slaves' economy. In many ways the slaves' independent economic endeavours offered a foundation for their domestic and community life, shaping the social structure of slave society and providing a material basis for the slaves' distinctive culture. Moreover, natural and man-made crises, everything from hurricane to revolution which set in motion sharp changes in commodity prices and the availability of provisions altered the dynamics of both the masters and the slaves' economy.
