I've read some of those interviews in the past...the people being interviewed were mostly children when slavery ended. In some cases they may have been afraid to say what they really thought to the interviewer. No doubt there were many slaveholders who believed they were treating their slaves well, and there were many acts of kindness (which would explain owners feeling that their slaves were ungrateful if they ran away) but at best it meant adults being treated as children and having the rewards of their labor stolen from them.
Who was going to abuse them for telling the truth? Yankees?
Just ignore the facts when thy don't agree with your brainwashing.'Susie says that Mr. and Mrs. Freeman were "sho" good to their slaves but surely did control them. .. When asked if Mr. Freeman whipped the slaves very much, Susie said he did not and that if he had been a mean master that "all the [redacted] wouldn't a wanted to stay on with him after freedom".'
Susie Johnson, Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1938, Vol. IV Pt. 2 (Georgia), pp. 343-344'"Uncle" Rastus states that the Jones's were good to their slaves ... The Negro children and white children played together and the life of a slave was usually happy and care free. At Christmas time, the slaves were always remebered by their masters with gifts. ... In both North Carolina and Georgia, it was a custom of Mr. Jones to give each deserving, adult Negro slave an acre or two of land to work for himself and reap any profits derived therefrom.'
Rastus Jones, Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1938, Vol. IV Pt. 2 (Georgia), pp. 356-357'Marse Joe Glover was a good man and never whupped his [redacted] much. His wife, our Miss Julia, was all right too - dat she was ... Jails? Yes ma'am, dare was sev'ral little houses dat helt 'bout two or three folks what dey called jails. White folks used to git locked in 'em but I never did see no [redacted] in one of dem little jailhouses. I never seed no [redacted] sold, but I did see 'em in wagon gwine to Mississippi to be sold. I never seed no slave in chains.'
Elisha Doc Garey, Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1938, Vol. IV Pt. 2 (Georgia), pp. 4-5'Aunt Edie says that she was kindly treated by her masters. She says they took interest in the spiritual welfare of their slaves and that they were called in for prayer meeting regularly.'
Aunt Edie Dennis, Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1938, Vol. IV Pt. 2 (Georgia), p. 21'My white folks was rich and fed us good. Dey raised lots of hogs and give us plenty of bread and meat wid milk and butter and all sorts of vegetables. Master had one big garden and dere warn't nobody had more good vegetables den he fed to his slaves. De cookin' was done in open fireplaces and most all de victuals was biled of fried. Us had all de 'possums, squirrels, rabbits, and fish us wanted cause our master let de mens go huntin' and fishin' lots. ... Marse Danile Miller, he was kinder good to Mammy, and Miss Susan was good to us too.'
Alice Green, Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1938, Vol. IV Pt. 2 (Georgia), p. 40'Col. Willis was a very kind man, who would not tolerate cruel treatment of any of his slaves by overseers. ... Col. Willis always allowed his slaves to keep whatever money they earned. ... Slaves did not lack medical treatment and were given the best of attention by the owner's family doctor.'
Isiah Green, Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1938, Vol. IV Pt. 2 (Georgia), p. 51, 53
That's exactly the excuse given because the accounts to do not fit with liberal preconceived notions.
Now don't get me wrong as I am a small "l" libertarian and no one should ever be able own another, of course. But let's face it....they were never "unemployed" and had food, shelter, and medical care. I dare say they were better off than unemployed workers in the North or the rioters in New York City slums at the time. And some DID get wages and bought their way to freedom...and some purchased slaves.
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" was the Fahrenheit 911 of it's day.
But go ahead....dismiss what the people who were actually there say.