Comments by "Jack Haveman" (@JackHaveman52) on "'The View' Host's Rant Backfires When She Accidentally Minimizes Slavery | DM CLIPS | Rubin Report" video.

Ana Navarro should learn about William Ellison, a black slave owner in South Carolina. When Ellison was 10 years old, his master apprenticed him to a cotton gin maker. Ellison used those skills to make enough money to buy his freedom and later his wife's and children's freedom. He bought a farm and raised cotton and became very successful, expanding his plantation and buying slaves to the point that in 1860, the census showed that he was the largest slave owner in South Carolina, out of total of 171 black slave owners in that state. Ellison died just before the Civil War started but his sons carried on, giving large amounts of money to the Confederate cause. All this from the skills he learned as a cotton gin maker when he was a slave. Skills that benefited him and his family. Seems as if the claim that black slaves learned skills that could benefit them is true. It benefited Ellison enough to enslave his fellow black Americans.
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@wahoo8238 It might surprise you to know that Ellison wasn't the only one who went from slave to slave owner in the United States. It wasn't an everyday occurrence but it did happen.
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@wahoo8238 I think that 3000 black slave owners sounds a little high but maybe not. In 1860, there the census showed that there were 171 black slave owners in South Carolina so it could well be true, especially if the number was low in that state. Ellison's grandson fought for the south. The story of slavery is a lot more complex that they would have us believe.
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@wahoo8238 If your source is Thomas Sowell, then it's probably correct. He's one of the most brilliant Americans that the US has ever produced and I'm a great admirer.
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@monkeygraborange "was one of the most revered men of his time" Notice the end? "of HIS time". Chernow wasn't born till 150 years later. You found a reference by one person and you think that this proves your point and invalidates his. I've never heard of Billy Lee, until I read your comment. I'd say that I'm typical of most people if asked about the guy. I'd bet 95%, or even more, Americans have never heard of him. Your google search for a reference isn't as convincing as you think it is.
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