>They essentially left the slavery life and entered 'indentured servitude' status which many whites came to America by at one time or another (it's estimated that 1/2 to 2/3rds of all Americans arrived as such). The practice had been in place for years before and after. The difference though, is that those who were victims never enjoyed the true civil rights or even the appearance of equality (other than social class status which hung on and still exists in some circles today) among the public which every white person enjoyed. They worked side by side in the fields and in the factories. Often they were released if they converted to christianity.

>snip Virginia quote

>I'm not dimishing their experience, but rather pointing out that the same or nearly same treatment of non-christian or non-social status class whites was common at the time.
>

It really wasn't the same as indentured servitude. Those people mostly had an enforceable contract. These, once taken, could pretty much expect to spend the rest of their lives (which were often very short because of the conditions in which they were made to live and work) in slavery.

>I am curious though, did the book mention a negro named Anthony Johnson of Virginia?

I don't think so. While the whole South was covered, the main focus was on Alabama.

I think you really need to read the book (or at least listen to one of his interviews) to understand how truly awful this was.

Tamar