African chattel slavery was deemed extremely dehumanizing to a point where African slaves could not find their own will to resist. Scholars coined the word agency to discuss Blacks not having the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves due to slavery. It is clear how that conclusion of Slavery stripping away agency can be reached; However, Slaves have always demonstrated their opposition and adversity. Those slaves that jumped into the ocean to escape bondage made decisions for themselves, and there are many more cases of African slaves displaying agency like Haiti, Palmares, and the movie Sankofa. Specific factors were likely to promote agency in slaves. Politically, when there was unrest and disturbance slaves took inspiration
