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Vewy intewesting.... it just occurred to me that some of the Africans who came to this country way back were NEVER slaves. I don't have the historical citations, but I believe SOME blacks were always "freedmen." I may be wrong...?

87 posted on 03/04/2007 10:19:24 AM PST by La Enchiladita (Hunter/Poe 2008 "Once again, our government is on the wrong side of the border war")

"Vewy intewesting.... it just occurred to me that some of the Africans who came to this country way back were NEVER slaves. I don't have the historical citations, but I believe SOME blacks were always "freedmen." I may be wrong...?

You are not wrong. Initially, (like beginning in 1619, with the first shipload) blacks entered the same sort of involuntary servitude whites faced if they were broke; indentured servitude lasted for 7 years. Later it was extended to a lifetime of servitude, and then made hereditary. That was, IIRC, by the 1680's or so.

91 posted on 03/04/2007 10:50:15 AM PST by Old Student (We have a name for the people who think indiscriminate killing is fine. They're called "The Bad Guys)