Myths of American Slavery

by Walter Kennedy

  MYTHS OF AMERICAN SLAVERY

  MYTHS

  OF

  AMERICAN

  SLAVERY

  Walter D. Kennedy

  Foreword by Bob Harrison

  Contents

  Foreword ...............................................7

  Introduction ............................................9

  Chapter 1 Slavery: A Worldwide Phenomenon ..............13

  Chapter 2 Slavery Comes to the New World ................21

  Chapter 3 Abolitionism Versus Christianity ................69

  Chapter 4 African-Americans, Free Born and Slave .........101

  Chapter 5 Slavery Versus Secession ......................141

  Chapter 6 Lincoln: The Un-Emancipator .................163

  Chapter 7 Slavery and the Confederate States of America ....183

  Chapter 8 The Flag of Slavery ..........................195 .

  Chapter 9 On the State of Slavery in Virginia ...............211

  Chapter 10 On Jordan's Stormy Banks ....................221

  Addendum I Abstract: On the State of Slavery in Virginia ...235

  Addendum II Early Anti-Slavery Tract ....................241

  Addendum III Recommended Reading List ...............247

  Notes ................................................253

  Bibliography ..........................................269

  Index ................................................275

  Foreword

  I met the author of this book, Walter D. ("Donnie") Kennedy, at the first annual Southern Party convention in Charleston, South Carolina. I was profoundly impressed by his knowledge of the facts of Southern history and the War of Northern Aggression. Even more so, he immediately gained my respect and admiration as a man willing to give anyone an opportunity to debate his views as stated in his books. Donnie and his twin brother Ron had already gained fame with their book, The South Was Right!, and subsequent titles, Why Not Freedom!, and Was Jefferson Davis Right? (a copy of which remains on my desk at work). His fiery spirit, a twin to my own, comes through in his speeches and writing and always manages to evoke thoughts, both pro and con, in those who hear or read his words.

  When Donnie informed me of his decision to write a book on the truth about American slavery, I was immediately intrigued. After reading his manuscript, I guarantee that all who read this book will find evoked in them feelings regarding this issue that will still generate controversy and anger. As a first sergeant of Company B, Thirty-Seventh Texas Cavalry, C.S.A. (a historical reenactment unit), a Southern Party staff writer, a descendant of two Virginia slave families, a history scholar, and a modern black Confederate, I already possessed many of the same feelings and much of the same knowledge that Donnie displays in this book. However, since reading this well-written and well-documented work, I have been greatly inspired to look even deeper into the minds and experiences of the slaves (of all color and ethnicity) who endured that "peculiar institution." As a historian with a strong wealth of knowledge about Confederates of color, I already knew that much of what is being taught as "gospel" regarding slavery is highly suspect at best. The information provided in this book fills in many of the gaps that the "official texts" leave empty.

  The introduction to this book is thought provoking and sure to "get under the skin" of mainstream liberal black leaders and members of civil-rights organizations. In the introduction, the author makes a strong and logical argument against slave reparations. He explains that, while injustices did occur throughout the history of American slavery, (1) slavery was never a regional issue confined to the South, (2) slavery was not condemned by the early Church, and (3) through the institution of slavery, blacks were given real freedom-freedom from the harsh realities of slavery and the slave trade which still exist in Africa to this very day! I am certain there will be those who will attempt to label Walter Kennedy's fine work as a document laden with racist diatribes. I am certain there will be those who will choose to ignore his acknowledgment of the horrible acts committed during the history of American slavery. Regardless of what they read, some people will choose to believe that he is saying that these horrible acts never occurred. The author makes it abundantly clear that these things did happen. However, those with the courage and the fortitude to allow themselves to ingest all of this book will discover that what they think they know about slavery and the "truth about the institution of slavery" are not one and the same. The author, my personal friend and Confederate brother, has put together a work drenched in true historical fact that will not only evoke emotion, but will also clearly indicate that the way this tender subject is taught must change immediately. I dare say, he is right yet again!

  Bob Harrison

  Southern Party Staff Writer

  First Sergeant, Company B

  Thirty-Seventh Texas Cavalry, C.S.A.

  Introduction

  No subject [slavery] has been more generall'c misunderstood or more persistently

  Jefferson Davis

  The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government

  Few if any Americans would consider slavery as anything other than a curse on mankind. From the beginning to the end of this work, this author maintains that slavery in its various manifestations is nothing less than that very curse. Yet, understanding the "curse" of slavery and having a through understanding of that institution in American life is not one and the same.

  In the history of these United States no subject has been more discussed, debated, and fought over than the issue of slavery. To modern minds, the idea of slavery is incomprehensible. Nothing appears more "self-evident" to modern Americans than the fact of individual freedom. This "self-evident" notion of freedom is so ensconced in the American psyche that even those who attempt to fairly discuss the subject of the institution of slavery are subjected to ridicule, being characterized as "defenders of slavery." Therefore, the point must be established that, telling the whole story (i.e., the complete truth) about the institution of slavery is not the same as defending the institution of slavery. Rather, it is those who refuse to make an unbiased study of the institution of slavery who are defending a lie, a myth, or at best, a half-truth; and, therefore, defending an evil institution. If the truth can make one free, then condemning those who are searching for the whole truth is an attack upon intellectual freedom.

  As has been noted, the issue of slavery in America has deep historical roots. Since the end of the War for Southern Independence, the "party line" from the victors in Washington has asserted that the blame for all problems arising from the issue of slavery should reside preeminently in the South. An open-minded individual should notice that Northern heroes and symbols are seldom condemned for racist comments or for being involved with the African slave trade or even slavery itself. The brunt of condemnation for slavery is reserved for Southern heroes and Southern symbols. The victors assert that in the so-called Civil War,2 the North fought for human freedom and equality while the South fought to maintain the institution of slavery, even if it meant the destruction of the United States. The party line, repeated by virtually every agent of information (that is, the media, academia, and theologians) is systematically enforced with the tyrannical effectiveness of George Orwell's Big Brother. Therefore, the average American today has only a superficial knowledge about the subject of slavery. For most modern Americans, slavery was (and is) a "Southern" problem.

  In fostering this official view of the institution of slavery in America, the victors have subverted the truth into a myth. Unfortunately, this subversion has consequences far beyond academic discourse. Today, because of the acceptance of the myth of slavery, virtually everything Sout
hern is under attack. The petty prejudice of the sycophants of the myth (those who flatter to gain favor) respects no limits when attacking those who hold views that differ from the accepted view of the institution of slavery. Even, as will be demonstrated, the lives of those who love the South have been placed at risk due to this slavery myth.

  If you are intellectually courageous enough to be open-minded, you will come away from this work with a more complete understanding of the institution of slavery in America. Be assured that you will not be transformed into a defender of slavery. As will be demonstrated, you will join the ranks of some of America's most prominent leaders who advocated the end of slavery while defending the truth about American and Southern history. Yes indeed, the truth will set you free.

  In the following text, we will look at the myths surrounding slavery in America. The myths of slavery, as maintained by the established order (i.e., the victors of the War for Southern Independence), are composed of several false allegations. Among the more prominent allegations are: (1) Slavery was an institution operated by white people for the oppression of black people; (2) Slavery was a system organized by Christians; (3) Slavery was a Southern institution; (4) Slavery was a self-evident sin and so recognized by the Christian Church; (5) Slavery only existed in the North for a very short time and had little economic effect; (6) The North ended slavery because it was offensive to the moral character of Northerners; (7) The North offered the black man equality and brotherhood; and, (8) Racial discrimination and/or segregation is a legacy of Southern slavery. These mythical allegations that support the currently held view of slavery in America will be investigated. In investigating these allegations, the author intends to demonstrate not only that these myths are predicated upon a false premise, but also that in most cases the very opposite of what is stated is true.

  If all this book does is to expose the myths of slavery to be a pernicious lie, that alone will distinguish it as a most unusual work. But more must be said about how the issue of slavery has been politicized, both in the past and in the present. As one Southern writer has noted, for far too long the issue of slavery has been used by unscrupulous politicians "led by fanatical hate and armed by all uncharitableness," to rally voters to their ticket. With little regard for the truth or the consequences of their rabblerousing politicking, demagogues have taught several generations of black Americans that they are suffering today because of the legacy of past slavery. This then is the myth that must be dispelled. The questions that must be answered are: Is the legacy of antebellum slavery the cause of undue suffering for the present generation of African-Americans? Would they have fared better if their ancestors had never been forced out of Africa? Is there a land in Africa or any place upon terra firma where America's black population would fare better than here? Like driving a wooden stake into the heart of a vampire, dispelling this myth will destroy the demand for innumerous government-funded programs, multitudinous schemes for reparations, and countless calls for apologies from the descendants of the presumably offending class. After a long and hard look at the facts surrounding slavery and the African experience in Africa, the United States, and the western hemisphere today, the author is convinced that rather than charging all white Americans reparations for slavery, black Americans should focus on building with everyone together the kind of country that any American would be proud to live in. As will be demonstrated, nowhere in the world are black people better served and treated than here in the United States. Rather than demanding reparations, black Americans should be grateful to their ancestors for surviving the hideous passage to America; a passage that freed modern African-Americans from the ongoing slavery that still exists in Africa today; a passage that brought today's African-Americans to a higher standard of living than any Africans in the world; and a passage that eventually brought them real, lasting freedom. This is not to minimize the injustice done to any individual or group of Africans brought to America involuntarily. Injustice has been done, but it is here in America that injustice has been challenged and, more often than not, defeated. As will be demonstrated, no blacks in Africa have a longer life span, a higher literacy rate, a lower infant death rate, a higher per capita income, or more personal and civic security than black people in the United States. And even more shocking, even when compared to life in Mississippi (one of the poorest states in the Union since the close of the War for Southern Independence), the blacks of Africa are still far behind their African brothers in Mississippi! So the questions that must be asked are these: Are black Americans worse off because of slavery, or are they better off than any other black people in the world? Has American slavery been a curse or a blessing to AfricanAmericans?

  The time has come to look at the issue of slavery in America with composure and an open mind. Emotionalism and preconceived notions about slavery and its consequences must be set aside. This book is not a defense of slavery; it is a defense of the truth about the complete nature of slavery in America. In a free society, no one should be expected to examine only one side of an issue. How fair would a court proceeding be if only the prosecutor was allowed to present testimony in a case? This treatise sets before the reader a viewpoint that has heretofore been denied a hearing or has merely been scoffed at and gone unheard. In the market place of ideas, no one must ever be so sure of himself as to refuse to investigate ideas that may, on the surface, seem disagreeable. To investigate is not necessarily to embrace, but to refuse to investigate is to guarantee the death of truth and the birth of ignorance. Freedom will not survive a generation that allows the bliss of ignorance to obviate the search for and the acceptance of the truth.

  CHAPTER 1

  Slavery: A Worldwide Phenomenon

  THE ANCIENT WORLD

  The idea of slavery was so deeply ingrained that no one questioned its propriety. All nations either endured or enjoyed it. I

  For most Americans the term "slavery" evokes mental images of the antebellum South and hundreds of African-Americans toiling away in fields of cotton. Yet, slavery existed long before the American South was settled by Europeans. It should also be understood that slavery knows no racial or ethnic boundaries. Long before the advent of modern Western Civilization, various forms of slavery existed. There are few ancient cultures where slavery did not exist in some form. Historically, whenever one society conquered another society, any captives that were not slain were then considered trophies of war and disposed of as slaves. Ancient civilizations, like Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Greece, and Rome, all practiced some form of slavery. Historians have noted that the foundational cultures of our present Western European civilization were the slaveholding cultures of Greece and Rome.2 The ownership of slaves during this time was not restricted to the wealthy alone, for many common and even poor people owned slaves.3 The ancient system of slavery, like its more modern American form, was based upon the economic necessity of providing a dependable and uniform system of labor. Ancient Athens, the cradle of our modern "democracy," had more than twenty thousand slaves by Some historians have estimated the ratio of slave to free in Athens to be three to one at various times in its history. This ratio is even higher for Sparta.4 As cruel as enslavement might have been, its benefits to the people of Athens and future generations of mankind cannot be overestimated. Then, in after centuries of warfare, Rome conquered Greece and took tens of thousands of better educated, more sophisticated, and highly cultured Greek citizens as slaves. Through them, Rome experienced great advancements in art, science, literature, architecture, medicine, drama, and government. Even laudatory intellectuals such as Plato and Aristotle spoke favorably of the institution of slavery:

  people who differ from one another by as much as the soul differs from the body or man from a wild beast ... these people are slaves by nature.... For a man who is able to belong to another person is by nature a slaves

  Plato often spoke of the necessity in an advanced society of having a "subject people" for the flowering of civilization. As noted by 0. A. Sherrard in h
is work on slaves, the idea of slavery was indeed deeply ingrained into the fabric of the ancient world.

  Two important changes have been noted in the nature of slavery in ancient times and in modern times. In the earliest days of slavery, one nation would go to war with another and capture part or all of its population. These conquered peoples would then be made slaves of the victorious nation. Therefore, slaves were more likely to be owned by the state rather than by an individual. Slave labor was used for public works projects such as the building of temples, roads, and aqueducts and for other services deemed good for the victorious nation. As time progressed, this system of public ownership of slaves changed to the more common modern system of private ownership.6 Another important change in the nature of slavery in ancient times was religious in nature. In the early days of slavery, slaves had their own religion but were seldom encouraged to become participants in the religion of their masters. Eventually, slaves were given back their "souls," that is, they were encouraged to adopt the religion of their masters. This was true both in Ancient Israel and later in Christian nations. Thus, slaves became the subjects of an even higher power than their masters; therefore, they were under the protection of the same higher power as those who owned them. Many scholars believe this change marked the beginning of the abolition of both the slave trade and slavery itself.?

  By the middle of the second century B.C., it is believed that the number of slaves in Italy was twelve million, while the number of free citizens numbered only five million." At the time of Christ, the Roman Empire dominated the known world. While Jesus lived and taught, 30 to 40 percent of the population of Italy were slaves. The percent of slaves in Italy at the time of Christ was equal to the number of slaves in the Old South during the time of the War for Southern Independence. This slavery existed not only in Rome and Italy but was a ubiquitous force throughout the empire; it even existed in Palestine, the land of Christ.`