See the headline "Search Underway For Suspected African Child Slave Ship" at www.npr.org for a look at contemporary African slave issues. Teresa Yeary, Ph.D., SV(ASCP) [descendent of both a 'white slave' and of slave owners] >>> [log in to unmask] 4/16/01 7:45:29 AM >>> Yes, and some even owned slaves as did a few blacks in Fredericksburg did, but we seem to over look that fact. Slavery was a way of life in Africa. Some of the African slaves sold to trader before the 1800s were sold by black Africans to European traders. After the British stopped their slave trade they enforced a "no slave trade " policy off the coast of Africa...making it harder for Africans to sell slaves to Europeans. Owning slaves seem to be an accepted act world wide. While by our standards of today we would be horrified. The period of Jefferson was the start of a transition period in the concept of owning another human. Within a few years the British outlawed slave trade, yet the Spanish kept slaves until the mid 1800, Brazil had slaves until the late 1800s. We can always "Monday morning quarterback." Judging by today standards will often create interpretation of history that will only be discarded when someone else applies they standards. Wm Buser Fredericksburg Va. To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html