[4CJ]

SouthernFreebird is expressing the same point that Alex Haley once expressed. Take for example, many of the books by big game hunter/guide Peter Hataway Capstick (Death in the Long Grass is my personal favourite), that point out that life expectancies in Africa are pretty short. If my ancestors had a choice between

1. being eaten alive by any number of wild animals, possibly crushed by elephant, hippo, rhino etc, killed by any number of poisonous snakes, or faced life as a SLAVE in Africa, sacrificed in a ceremony, killed to be eaten by cannibals, killed due to the death of a tribal king (in some tribes upwards of 500 women were killed at the death of such), OR
2. slavery in America, where one had food, clothing, medicine and shelter provided (no so for Northern workers living on starvation wages), where one could work extra to earn monies to purchase their freedom, and their descendents could one day become king, or hold positions of authority

I would pray to God that my ancestors had the common sense to pick choice 2 - at least they'd have a chance, as would future generations.

[staytrue]

In post 22, you state slaves were provided "medicine". That is a stretch considering the "state of the art" in the 1700's. You also state that the descendents of slaves coult one day be king. Another reach, that simply shows, you are probably incapable of being objective here.

[reg45]

where one had food, clothing, medicine and shelter provided

It's no different today, except that the Gub'mint is massah.

[stand watie]

fyi, i'm a CAPSTICK JUNKIE!

i own every title he ever wrote.

free dixie,sw