The Black Roots of Slavery

FrontPageMagazine.com ^ | June 7, 2001 | Michael Tremoglie

[semaj]

... These free blacks owned slaves--some for philanthropic reasons, as Carter G. Woodson suggests. However as John Hope Franklin wrote, "...free Negroes had a real economic interest in the institution of slavery and held slaves in order to improve their economic status."

Shucks, I guest that means that slavery was OK. And I thought slavery was evil? What was I thinkin?

[DonkeyHodee]

You do understand the difference between indentured servitude and slavery, don't you. It means they came voluntarily, like the majority of our ancestors

You do understand the difference between a barbarous uncivilized culture an a civilized Christian world? Oh, no you wouldn't would you, you're from the south.

[patriciaruth]

Very interesting point. But just because in farming slavery becomes uneconomical when free land is exhausted and the price of land goes up in competition with free farmers doesn't mean the end of slavery, as some people will always want to feel powerful and have others obey their every command.

The upper classes in the Arabic world that once dominated the trade in slaves has a reputation for treating imported servants very badly, including physical abuse.

[patriciaruth]

I read Cry to Heaven. Fascinating. What is The Mummy about?

[nopardons]

It's about a mummy , in Egypt, who lives. Akin to the vampire series, but about a mummy. It is VERY well done, and Rice had promised to make a series out of it, but never has . IMHO , it is far better than any of the vampire books; which got tiresome.

I too , very much enjoyed " CRY TO HEAVEN "; it was a fascinating book. : - )

[backhoe]

Slavery in Perspective

[LS]

Since I just finished a scholarly book on Blacks in the Confederate Army, let's be clear on what was happening:

MOST (90+%) of blacks who "served" were IMPRESSED/INDENTURED to the Confederate Army. They were not given weapons, but were used to dig trenches, haul supplies, and so on. They were simply slaves with uniforms, and any attempt to portray them otherwise is a lie.

A literal handful (the numbers in Virginia, for example, are tiny) "volunteered" when promised FREEDOM if they fought (and, obviously, the South won).

Far MORE---in the multiple thousands---of SOUTHERN blacks escaped to Northern-controlled areas and aided the Union Army, either by enlisting or by performing PAID work.

So let's no pretend that slaves ran out to defend "ol' massa." It didn't happen in ANY significant numbers. Yes, you can find one or two who actually liked slavery, the way today you can find some convicts who "can't make it" on the outside. But not common, and so uncommon as to demand special research to even find these people.

[HELLRAISER II]

They can't handle the truth, so they make up their own so they can blame us for everything. Typical B.S.

[DonkeyHodee]

. It's not us but brainwashed nut balls, such as your self, that can't read that want to enslave the whole country and force us to your beliefs

It is true that legitimate elections and freedom and equality before the law are essentially totally alien to you old time southers. They always were, and judging by response they still are. Still, you couldn't stand your ground against them then, and you never will either in the future. After you wither and fall away to rot, freedom will write you obituary with the sad but disappointed acknowledgement that you remained ignorant until your last breath, if that is what your heart so fervently desires. After all, we have given you your freedom.

[billbears]

It is true that legitimate elections and freedom and equality before the law are essentially totally alien to you old time southers

LOL!! Alien to us?

In May 1861 the Civil War was already raging. President Abraham Lincoln called on Maryland to send four regiments to fight for the Union cause. But the state was bitterly divided over the war

Lincoln was infuriated. He sent informers to determine which members of the legislature were "disloyal" – i.e., opposed to war. On the night of September 12 he had federal troops arrest dozens of legislators and other prominent citizens (including the mayor of Baltimore and a Maryland congressman) he suspected of Southern sympathies. Since Lincoln had also suspended the right of habeas corpus, he claimed the power to arrest anyone arbitrarily, without specific charges and without a trial.

Having depleted the Maryland legislature, Lincoln moved to refill it with reliable Unionists. He stationed thousands of federal troops in the state and used them to crush dissent. As the historian Charles Adams writes in his book When in the Course of Human Events (Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield, 2000): "In November there was an election, and to make sure only Union people were elected, all members of the Federal armed forces voted, even though they were not residents of the state. At the voting booths, other voters had to pass through platoons of Union soldiers who had bayonets affixed to their rifles." Southern sympathizers attempting to vote were arrested.

Alien to us. That's rich!!

Found here

Not an opinion, not wishful thinking, but DOCUMENTED FACT

[DonkeyHodee]

It was a war. It is to be noted that Charles Adams, a great American champion, was only repeating allegations. In any case, at the time this occurred the South was already hanging thousands of US citizens for the 'crime' of not wanting to give up their citizenship, and the southern ballot box stuffing goes back generations before. If you don't like being served your own distasteful arrogance, you should have given up your entire history of never ceasing to exercise it as an affront to civilization.

[DonkeyHodee]

As for Sobran, you become what you read. Posting regulations require that I refrain from further explanation.

[WhiskeyPapa]

The common version of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, the version taught in school and popularized by the TV miniseries Roots is not true. This version had Europeans invading inland Africa, capturing Africans, enslaving them and spiriting them off to the Americas.

"Roots" clearly showed Kinte Kunte captured by blacks and sold to whites.

Walt

[billbears]

In any case, at the time this occurred the South was already hanging thousands of US citizens for the 'crime' of not wanting to give up their citizenship, and the southern ballot box stuffing goes back generations before

LOL!!! Please present these 'thousands' of hanging references that happened in 1861. Please present stuffing of ballot boxes going back generations before the War.

[bvw]

Is this your own original words?

[billbears]

It is to be noted that Charles Adams, a great American champion, was only repeating allegations

Again, you apparently don't know your history

On August 7, the General Assembly adjourned, intending to meet again on September 17. However, on that day Federal troops and Baltimore police officers arrived in Frederick with orders to arrest the pro-Confederate members of the General Assembly

Maryland State Archives

So unless Mr. Adams wrote the archival history for the state of Maryland looks like he got it right again and sadly, so sadly, you didn't. It's like fishing out of a barrel. Come on, you've got to have something better than that. Still waiting on the 'thousands' of hangings and ballot stuffing going back generations

[DonkeyHodee]

Of course, traitors should be arrested, and their descendents should thank their lucky stars there were shown mercy instead of a Confederate gallows as so many loyal US citizens of the south were shown, without trial or rule of law.

[DonkeyHodee]

Senator Charles Sumner, MA, (R). June 4, 1860. The Congressional Globe, 36th Congress, First Session, pg 2592. On line at the Library of Congress.