The correct answer is C. They were mistreated.
The treatment of the slaves in Africa was generally brutal and degrading. Teaching the slaves to read was prohibited to hinder rebellion or aspirations for escape. They were punished by shackling, beating, whipping and imprisonment in response to disobedience but masters sometimes abused slaves to assert dominance. Sexual abuse was common, it was partially rooted in historical Southern culture and view the servants as their property.
