Fred, Jerry: I think that some posters to this thread are trying to impose the mores of this century upon the people who lived in a century long gone by.

Yes, slavery was wrong. We believe that now. It was accepted a normal practice in the South in that century. Things that happened then, can be condemned, but they cannot be changed now.

Some slave owners mistreated their slaves. Evidently, some did not. Were I a slave, I darn sure would rather have been owned by someone that treated me humanely, than a owner that did not. Wouldn't you?

As someone hinted, not all employees today are treated well by their employers. I believe most of us would, given the choice, work for an employer that treated us humanely and fairly.

Why is it so difficult to accept the fact that that could also have existed during the time of slavery?

DougR