COMPLICITY 101 BY DENNIS RAITT Although the "politically correct" academia, the NAACP and it’s Hate-the- South media allies continue their quest to revise and sanitize Southern history, it is refreshing to find an individual like Larry Koger. Mr. Koger holds an M.A. in history from Howard University where he researched his book: Black Slaveowners, Free Black Slave Masters in South Carolina, 1790-1860. "Most Americans, black and white, believe that slavery was a system exclusively maintained by whites to exploit black people. But in fact black Americans played a role in the annals of the ‘peculiar institution’ as slave masters. Many blacks of the antebellum period believed that slavery and the exploitation of their own people was a viable economic system for profit. In Louisiana, Maryland, South Carolina, and Virginia, free blacks owned more than 10,000 slaves, according to the federal census of 1830. Many black masters were large planters who owned scores of slaves and planted large quantities of cotton, rice, and cane sugar. Not all black masters were planters, many were craftsmen and artisans. The institution of black slave owning was widespread, stretching as far north as New York and as far south as Florida, extending westward into Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana and Missouri. Many black masters were former slaves, many being emancipated for meritorious military duty, faithful service, saving a life, and other such reasons. Basically stated, they arose from slavery to freedom to slaveowner. Once freed, they obtained slaves through inheritance or purchase, including those of their immediate families. Free blacks not only used slave labor to work in farming, but also purchased slaves to work in their businesses as skilled and unskilled laborers. Others hired out their slaves to non-slaveowners and appropriated the proceeds to help themselves. The attitudes and actions of black masters were much the same as white slaveowners. >From the U.S. census, just around Charleston, South Carolina, the percentage of free black slaveowners increased from 25% in 1830 to 92% in 1860. Just between 1800 and 1820, the number of black masters increased by 411%. Another census showed an increase and then a decline in the percentage of female black slaveowners from 71% in 1820 to 58% in 1864. Perhaps the most striking fact about the statistics complied from the federal census is that 42% of the slaves held by free blacks were females between the ages of 10 and 54. In short, the economic benefits of slavery stimulated ex-slaves to buy slaves to be utilized as laborers or hired out. In a society where slavery was an accepted form of labor, not the racism blamed today, it was not surprising that former slaves exploited the vast reservoir of slave labor. They viewed slavery as a viable and legitimate institution which could be used for investment purposes in producing more wealth. Like the white man, black masters had to deal with all types of disciplinary problems which required the need to place advertisements in local newspapers for the return of their runaway slaves, placing disobedient slaves in the city jail or workhouse, flogging, and sale on the auction block. Life of the slaves under black ownership was not much different from the life of slaves held by white planters. In either case, the slaves usually worked from 8 to 10 hours a day, with Sundays and customary holidays off. Although the black planters did not pay their slaves, they provided food, clothing, medical care and shelter as did the whites. Also the mandatory slave tax was paid yearly. In the antebellum south, a network of personal relationships developed between the black elite and the whites. Often the face-to-face, person-to-person contacts permitted Southern whites to see each other as men and women. Free blacks not only attended church with whites but often lived a few doors down. Many of the well-to-do free blacks owned homes, plantations and slaves. They made legal contracts and filed lawsuits to protect their property. As the antislavery movement in the 1850’s intensified, many black slaveowners began to doubt the continued existence of slavery. Rather than bequeath the slaves to their children, they began to liquidate their human chattel and gave the proceeds from the sales to their beloved ones. By 1863, as the War for Southern Independence began to worsen, it was becoming apparent that it was only a matter of time before their valuable slave property would be freed. By this time it was hard if not impossible to find a willing buyer. Thus after the war, like their white counterparts, the newly freed slaves would work the land, not for wages, but for food, shelter and clothing. In essence the only major difference between the antebellum arrangements and the Reconstruction contracts was the distinction between forced labor and a quasi-voluntary system which developed after slavery." So the next time the NAACP and the leftist-media start bashing the South over slavery and driving wedges between black and white race relations, at least now you know the truth. When both blacks and whites admit to this joint complicity in the institution of slavery can we once again mend the fences that diabolical groups are working at today to destroy. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! 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