Slavery as it existed in the South was not an adversarial relationship with pervasive racial animosity. Because of its dominantly patriarchal character, it was a relationship based upon mutual affection and confidence. There has never been a multi-racial society which has existed with such mutual intimacy and harmony in the history of the world. The credit for this must go to the predominance of Christianity. The gospel enabled men who were distinct in nearly every way, to live and work together, to be friends and often intimates. This happened to such an extent that moderns indoctrinated on “civil rights” propaganda would be thunderstruck to know the half of it.
17 comments
Yeah, and the whipping houses, and the Underground Railroad, and the hunting with dogs, and the families sold down the river ... none of that ever happened, hey?
Let's set you two out in the field picking cotton under a driver with a whip, and see how friendly and intimate you think that is.
Hi Steve and Doug, ever notice how scientific methods made the biblical methods of slavery obsolete?
Science 1, biblical slavery 0.
... Say the white guys. (I'm a white guy, just not a moronic bigot.)
So why did former slaves depart the plantations as fast as they could?
Whippings for even the slightest infractions,other horrific punishments (e.g. mutilations) families torn apart, girls as young as four raped, children and elderly forced to work from dawn to dusk in the fields no matter how hot or how cold, shackled until your wrists and ankles bleed, crowded unsanitary living quarters, meager diet of scraps, forbidden to leave the property or gather in groups without permission, forbidden to learn to read...
Yeah, I can really feel the "mutual affection and confidence" there.
No matter what kind of spin you try to put on it, it's still people owning people.
Ok fella's then you'll both have no problems being my slaves then?
No need to be nervous, I'm white and from Australia therfore by definition more "southern" than both of you.
Stevo, clean out the cat litter with your tounge will you? Doug, if you haven't steamcleaned the house, the couches and my car in one hour flat I'll kick you to death wearing my steel winklepicker shoes you bastard!
Both of you morons hurry up now or I'll feed you to the hounds!
Real intimate eh?
"The credit for this must go to the predominance of Christianity."
- I think he got that part right. X(
@ jsonitsac
- He was being a bad bad boy.
Dude, did you just say slavery was a compassionate and mutually beneficial relationship?
Ten million bucks says you're white.
In Dickens' 'American notes for general circulation' he includes advertisements seeking runaway slaves along with a commentary which disproves your hypothesis.
The slaves are described in terms of the injuries inflicted on them - dog bites, missing ears etc.
Plus patriarchy is not a system which engenders mutual affection and confidence. It is a system based on inequality and greed.
@delirium
Spoiler alert!
Gone With The Wind has really strange main characters - the slave owners en masse are totally oblivious to the consequences of their actions and cannot treat their fellow human beings with anything approaching empathy. Rhett and Scarlett's romance fails because of this - Rhett sees Scarlett as a pet, and Scarlett sees Rhett as a way to recreate her irresponsible pre-war existence. Melanie dies because of her husband's desire to have sex with her and her desire to have children.
Their society is stultifying, based on distinctions and rules which smother and restrict members.
The former slaves are psychologically damaged by their enslavement in a comparable way to concentration camp victims. They are institutionalised and hardened to brutality. My first thought on encountering the 'loyal retainers' who did not leave was they were suffering from Stockholm Syndrome.
I find Dilcey (a slave/former slave) to be the only character capable of overcoming the societal horrors described in the book. She is capable of empathy, self-determination and self-awareness despite the universal shortcomings or psychological damage shown by the rest of the character list.
How many white people were slaves to black people? And I am pretty sure whipping and raping people is not affectionate.
As for multi racial societies that exist in fair harmony, we have the UK where people of all races and creeds live fairly happily only ruined by assholes like you who tear shit up because it makes your lot feel inadequate.
The Gospel Enabled Men were horrible barbarians who kept other people as worse than pets. Slavery is wrong, no matter who does it.
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
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