Thomas Thistlewood's Cruelty
How did Thistlewood cruelly crush his slaves’ dignity?
4.1 (19)
39 mins
Explore how Thistlewood’s diaries uncovered the extreme physical and psychological abuse inflicted on slaves. Discover how public punishments, branding, and sexual assault were used to enforce absolute control. Learn about the ways he manipulated survival, relationships, and medical care to dehumanize and dominate.
Ep 1:
The Diary of a Monster
Meet Thomas Thistlewood, an unremarkable planter who spent 37 years recording his own atrocities in obsessive detail—including thousands of documented sexual assaults and his fraught bond with Phibbah.
Ep 2:
Inventions of Torment
Discover the horrifying punishment Thistlewood invented and named after his victim, alongside the relentless whippings and permanent brandings he inflicted to mark ownership and crush resistance.
Discussions (12)
Jonas
Level 7 · 8 mo agoThe mundane precision is terrifying. Recording crop yields next to torture proves the cruelty wasn't exceptional but completely routine for him.
Randall
Level 10 · 8 mo agoHe called Phibbah his mistress but gave her venereal disease. Sleeping with others in front of her was clearly a power trip to prove he owned her.
Geoffrey
Level 3 · 8 mo agoI get the history angle but this feels like trauma porn. We really don't need graphic torture descriptions to know slavery was a nightmare 😕
