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HISTORY + EDUCATION
Why Some Make The False Claim “Slave Owners” Were “Victims”
Justifying the chattel slavery system is their obvious goal
Despite the vast sea of resources available on the experiences of enslaved people, the myth that “slave owners” were the real victims lives on. Of course, it’s a ridiculous position to hold since White people held Black people against their will in a system of hereditary, race-based bondage. Nevertheless, we should be careful about dismissing their banter as harmless white noise. Indeed, this pro-slavery perspective has become more mainstream in recent years.
For instance, PragerU, a far-right, published various pro-slavery educational videos for children. Kevin Kruse, an American history professor at Princeton, noted that their goal is to “replace American history with propaganda and indoctrination.” Florida has approved their pro-slavery curriculum, and Ryan Walters, the state superintendent of Oklahoma schools, noted that he wants to bring PragerU into his state’s public school curriculum. So, while some may gasp at the caucasity of White people trying to pitch a pro-slavery perspective to students, we should realize this debate isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
