Slave narratives suggest that slaves considered the worst aspect of their enslavement to be the __________.

A) physical pain they endured from whippings and beatings
B) psychological trauma of being considered inferiors
C) unsanitary conditions in which they were forced to live
D) coercion, lack of freedom, and little hope for change, all of which were part of the nature of slavery itself

Slave narratives consistently emphasize the psychological and emotional harm that came from being denied freedom and agency over one's own life. While physical abuse certainly occurred, it was the systemic nature of slavery itself that made it so oppressive and dehumanizing. The lack of hope for change or escape, and the constant coercion and control, were the central aspects that made slavery the worst experience of the slaves' lives.