Slavery and the Constitution

Dr. Finkleman answered a lot of questions I didn't even know I had about slavery. It is a topic that we think we have heard all there is to know about. The move from slavery being an economic issue to a racial one was something I never thought about. He really made clear the fact that the Africans didn't see slavery as a racial thing or putting a neighbor in slavery. They really saw others as enemies. I think I will be able to explain the evolution of slavery much better to my students.

I was shocked to hear that the story of Noah was once offered as justification for slavery. I had never been taught this, but I can see how people could really be influenced by such a notion.