Via Hamp
White guilt? What's that? I certainly have none.
At his death on the eve of the War, William Ellison was wealthier than nine out of 10
white people in South Carolina. He was born in 1790 as a slave on a
plantation in the Fairfield District of the state, far up country from
Charleston.
In 1816, at the age of 26, he bought his own freedom, and soon bought his wife and their child. In 1822, he opened his own cotton gin, and soon became quite wealthy. By his death in 1860, he owned 900 acres of land and 63 slaves. Not one of his slaves was allowed to purchase his or her own freedom. Michael Johnson and James L. Roark in their book, Black Masters: A Free Family of Color in the Old South.
For a time, free black people could even "own" the services of white indentured servants in Virginia as well. Free blacks owned slaves in Boston by 1724 and in Connecticut by 1783; by 1790, 48 black people in Maryland owned 143 slaves. One particularly notorious black Maryland farmer named Nat Butler "regularly purchased and sold Negroes for the Southern trade."
In 1816, at the age of 26, he bought his own freedom, and soon bought his wife and their child. In 1822, he opened his own cotton gin, and soon became quite wealthy. By his death in 1860, he owned 900 acres of land and 63 slaves. Not one of his slaves was allowed to purchase his or her own freedom. Michael Johnson and James L. Roark in their book, Black Masters: A Free Family of Color in the Old South.
For a time, free black people could even "own" the services of white indentured servants in Virginia as well. Free blacks owned slaves in Boston by 1724 and in Connecticut by 1783; by 1790, 48 black people in Maryland owned 143 slaves. One particularly notorious black Maryland farmer named Nat Butler "regularly purchased and sold Negroes for the Southern trade."
Another antidote can be had by spending a little time sampling the offered enjoyments of select neighborhoods at Memphis, East St. Louis, Chicago, etc...
ReplyDeleteMy own happened in boot camp, a long time ago. Found out what my father was talking about and that he wasn't really all that incorrect after all.
Some good. Some bad. A level playing field is the best way to winnow out the undersiables of all colors.
Level away.
DeleteBut, that doesn't fit the victim agenda?
ReplyDeletegfa
Don't worry, they will say it isn't true or ignore it. Nothing is going to upset their little world.
Delete