[2] Schuyler spent three months in Liberia[1][3] and based his fictional story on his perspective of labor issues and Americo-Liberian relations with indigenous tribes during the early years of the Great Depression.

[1] He also notes the irony of Liberia as a country engaged in active slavery, mentioning that the Republic was founded by freed African American slaves and that their motto is The Love of Liberty Brought Us Here.

[1] Critical analyses of Slaves today differ in opinion as to the successfulness of the novel, with some claiming it to be possibly self-contradictory in nature and insulting to the reader,[3] while others hailing it to be a “complex and innovative synthesis” between indigenous African culture and American literary norms, allowing for easy reception and relatability among readers.

Lamenting Liberia's poor economic status, president Johnson promotes David Jackson to District Commissioner.

The villagers celebrate the successful marriage of Zo, the story's main protagonist, and Pameta, Chief Bongomo's daughter.

Upon speaking to the chief of the village, he learns that Pameta is held captive inside District Commissioner Jackson's house.

The warehouse's tin roof under the sun makes the heat unbearable for the villagers, and they seldom receive food or water.

They are taken below the main deck to a small room, where they are again faced with intense heat and stench, which makes breathing difficult for Zo.

They are paid a small salary each month, which the prisoners typically spend immediately on prostitutes or goods at exorbitant prices.

He contrasts this with the countless other prisoners suffering from a variety of disease, including his friend Big Georgie, who contracted yellow fever, and several others who had fallen ill to elephantiasis, malaria, and STIs from the plantation prostitutes.

Soki is uninjured, but is forced to remain in Fernando Po as his comrades board the ship for their return to Monrovia.

Pameta recounts her experiences over the last two years that she has been held captive, notably her position as Jackson's favorite concubine.

She was originally captive in Boloba, the place of her initial failed escape with Zo, however now resides in Monrovia with Commissioner Jackson.

After a few days, a native Chief requests Jackson to lessen their time on the road, as they have no personnel available to tend to their crops.

Zo is outraged at the misfortunes Jackson has caused him, and sneaks past the armed guards to enter the Director's house.

The Liberal Party candidate Tom Saunders and his small team cry out about the blatant election violations, but with the majority of the law enforcement loyal to President Johnson, nothing is done.

After votes have been cast, a Party official notifies Johnson that they had won the election, although it had cost them all of the money in the nation's treasury.

[4] A 1932 review by Nnamdi Azikiwe, who would become the first president of independent Nigeria, was published in the Journal of African American History and described the book as being historical fiction and stated that forced labor is a function of colonialism and imperialism.

[3] In contrast, a review by Minnesota Senator Aric Putnam describes Slaves Today as a “complex and innovative synthesis” between indigenous African culture and American literary norms, allowing for easy reception and relatability among readers.

[4] Putnam further argues that the text was influential in its ability to provide a source for Black identity within the United States during the Great Depression era.