Specifically, he would probably point out that the slave states really had an awfully small economy compared to the free states,
Both things can be true though. The money from black slaves flowed into the pockets of white slaveowners AND it was economically a very dumb move.
If I steal a thousand bucks, and lose nine hundred and fifty while running away, I haven’t benefited much, but that doesn’t change the damage inflicted.
My point is that saying I am rich because my grandfather snatched your grandmonther’s purse 70 years ago isn’t true if that purse had $0.70 and an empty snickers wrapper in it. Yes, the damage to the other is real, but not the supposed benefits afterward.
Both things can be true though. The money from black slaves flowed into the pockets of white slaveowners AND it was economically a very dumb move.
If I steal a thousand bucks, and lose nine hundred and fifty while running away, I haven’t benefited much, but that doesn’t change the damage inflicted.
I completely agree.
My point is that saying I am rich because my grandfather snatched your grandmonther’s purse 70 years ago isn’t true if that purse had $0.70 and an empty snickers wrapper in it. Yes, the damage to the other is real, but not the supposed benefits afterward.