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Great post!

I gotta tell ya, people are so unbelieveably ignorant about the whole issue of slavery in this country. The most ignorant of all are the "African-Americans" - those who use that term as a source of pride are largely oblivious to the very facts surrounding their own heritage.

*** Keep reading!!!***

First of all, the slave trade in this country was outlawed in the early 1800s - but it was perpetuated illegally by Northern merchants. They were the ones with the wealth to finance the trips to Africa and the goods used to purchase the slaves. Most Southern landowners played no part in the actual importation beyond the purchase -- and they weren't the only ones making those purchases either!

Secondly, slavery was indeed a "trade". To hear so many "activists" in this country, you'd think that we took armies to Africa and rounded up potential slaves at gunpoint and brought them back. Not the case - no how, no way! Slaves, who were born into the institution of slavery IN Africa, were sold -- exchanged for a wide variety of goods including textiles, sugar, spices, etc. -- BY THEIR OWN "PEOPLE"!!!

Next is the fact that by bringing slaves into this country, so many doors were opened up for blacks to eventually achieve a higher standard of living. Look at how many millions of "African-Americans" we have in America today. Regardless of the claims to the contrary, opportunity abounds for everyone in this country, no matter their skin color. All it takes is a good attitude, hard work, and a sense of appreciation for just how good we really do have it here. What do you think were the prospects of Africans 200, 300, 400 years ago? Not good, when you think about it. Anyone of African heritage who thinks they would be better off today had slavery never existed in America should take a trip to Sub-Saharan Africa and have a look for themselves. Muhammad Ali told the tale pretty well back in the 1970s - but like most things that don't pander to people's pre-conceived notions and tell them what they want to hear - his statements went largely unnoticed.

And finally, the treatment of slaves in America - if you believe all the horror stories, you'd think they were all beaten and whipped daily. Again - no how, no way! Of course, there were many cases of maltreatment at the hands of cruel slaveholders - no denying that. However it simply was not a widespread practice for one basic reason: investment. The cost of a slave back then translates to a very high dollar amount by today's standards. Slaves were used for labor - labor they cannot perform if they are injured...and certainly not if they're dead. Most slaveowners were actually very good to their slaves and provided them food and shelter -- things they simply would not have received enough of if they were living the life of a slave IN AFRICA! If they ran away here - yes, they were disciplined. If they ran away in Africa - they were killed on-the-spot. There were simply too many to be found at practically no cost over there for the slaveholders to bother with a concept such as "discipline".

Bottom line is that, even though slavery was a deplorable institution in this country, it existed in every corner of the Earth back then. America was hardly the sole violator of "human rights". Actually, slave treatment in America was a cut above the rest.

I'm not justifying slavery by any means. I'm simply pointing out the ignorance of many people and their refusal to accept facts by those who try and champion the cause.

As with most things - a good dose of real history can cure ignorance.