myths and facts about slavery

This History News Network article has some eye-opening facts about slavery.

Myth One: The majority of African captives came to what became the United States.

Truth: Only a little more than 300,000 captives, or 4-6 percent, came to the United States. The majority of enslaved Africans went to Brazil, followed by the Caribbean.

Myth Three: All Southerners owned slaves.

Truth: Roughly 25 percent of all Southerners owned slaves.

Myth Four: Slavery was a long time ago. Truth: African-Americans have been free in this country for less time than they were enslaved.

Do the math: Blacks have been free for 152 years, which means that most Americans are only two to three generations away from slavery. This is not that long ago.

It’s good to open our eyes. Slavery was a couple generations ago. Segregation was one generation ago. Overt housing discrimination is 0-1 generation ago. Subprime and payday lending is still going on, but hopefully on the decline. Mass incarceration is peaking now (maybe).

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