Allen:

You wrote:
".. Certainly during the 17th and 18th centuries the differeces weren't that great."

Assuming that your comment refers to the differences between the living conditions of poor White Southerns and poor Black Southerns during the 17th and 18th centuries, I would respectfully strongly disagree with you.   

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How's this for synchronicity?

Earlier in this thread I mentioned the book "Speak Out In Thunder Tones" in reference to a story about a newly emancipated African American who chose the name "Beman" as his family name. I also indicated that I knew I had that book-somewhere-but where it was I didn't know.

Shortly after writing that post, I went to the home of my best friend who had passed on last November. Her daughter and son had requested that others help them pack up their mother's books, artwork, artifacts, and clothing.

At one point I happened to go upstairs to ask the daughter a question, and there, in the midst of one pile of books that was getting ready to be placed in a box, was the very book that I had mentioned in this thread.

That book's full title and editor is:
"Speak Out In Thunder Tone:Letter & Other Writings By Black Notherners" {Dorothy Sterling, editor; Doubleday Books; 1973}