It is 1850. You are 21 years old. Your father turns over the family business to you to run and support all of your brothers and sisters as well as aged grandparents.
The business is farming. The spring crop is cotton, with a growth cycle of about 5 months.
You have several dozen acres in cotton, as well as others in tobacco, and other edible vegetables. Your survival is based on the planting and harvesting of these crops.
Somewhere on your farm you have “slaves”. These are people that live in houses on land...all belonging to you.
You did not bring these people to your farm. You have never seen a slave ship. You have never traded in humans. Slave imports were outlawed at the time of your grandparents. All of these "slaves" grew up with your ancestors. Their parents lived with your parents. You grew up with them as a part of your family. Their role is labor and they exist and survive for that. That is simply a fact, not a statement of subjugation.
The able bodied among them work in either the fields or your home. They receive food, shelter, clothing, medical treatment, and in some cases an education.
You, as well as your community, are convinced that if this work-life relationship ceased to exist, that the “slaves” would have no means of support.
So, despite the lack of revenue generating activities in the fall and winter, you continue to support the “slaves” living on your land. You continue to provide food from your general store of supplies.
There are state and local laws against abusing all people, slaves included. There are very few jails. Some law breakers are beaten by a local sheriff. Some are hung by mobs. Some are either run off or sold elsewhere.
Life was not easy and is nothing like what we have today.
Where in all of that do you see rationale for such a vile sense of self righteousness that you exhibit?
Wow, you really yearn for the “good old days” don’t you?