You still don't get it. I am the descendant of slaves, and know what my 
slave ancestors recollections were.  You are stating that blacks reproduced 
more in slavery than when free. Both sets of my Grandparents had 10 
surviving children. They came from agricultural based systems, where people 
tend to have more chidren. In the south, there were plantations that did 
nothing but breed blacks as slaves, that is the ugly truth. You can't seem 
to grasp any facts that contradict your point of view. You will not ask 
those on this list who are descendants of slaves what their ancestors 
recollections were. How is that working for you?

Anita


>From: [log in to unmask]
>Reply-To: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history         
>      <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Slavery and Unanswered Questions
>Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2007 14:30:58 EDT
>
>Undoubtedly, slavery was, or should have been, a harrowing experience for
>the slaves as their collective experience is generally taught.
>
>However, we know from the WPA interviews that some looked upon it with
>nostalgia later in life under freedom, and some indicated that life was 
>better
>under slavery than under freedom.  Some Black slaves and freemen apparently
>fought for their "suppressors" during the War.  In addition, Black slaves
>reproduced in exceedingly large numbers while "under the scourge of  
>slavery."
>
>To me, this doesn't add up in the context of Southern slavery being Hell on
>earth, as it is traditionally characterized?
>
>The characterizations that these poor unfortunate Black folk who were
>interviewed by WPA workers later in life were
>untruthful/delirious/insane/senile/illusory or outright fearful of telling  
>the truth also doesn't add up.  Where
>is the support for that theory?
>
>I think you have to take them at their word, pro and con, unless there is
>empirical evidence to rebut their opinions as expressed in many of the WPA
>interviews.  I haven't heard anything empirical as yet, just speculation in 
>  this
>chain.
>
>J South
>
>
>
>************************************** See what's free at 
>http://www.aol.com.

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