# Were The Slaves "Lucky"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 23, 2009, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-slaves-lucky/514818 "2009-10-23T02:47:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![hamhawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ee7513/32.png) [@hamhawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hamhawk)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-slaves-lucky/514818/101 "2009-11-02T05:25:54Z")
> [@Gotterfunken](#): > > I don’t think the Russian czars had to worry about 110 F heat very often. And besides, when the seasons did become uncomfortable, royals could simply head off to their summer palace. Personally, if I could choose between spending my summers here in Memphis (with the interior AC at my office cranked up so it’s freezing cold, while it’s baking hot outdoors), or spending them at Balmoral Castle in the fresh air of the Scottish Highlands, there’d no contest–off to Balmoral right away! I just don’t have the kind of financial resources that royalty would have for travel, nor do I have a huge household staff to take care of my “principal” home while I’m away. > > 1. No (but judging by palace exhibitions, royal beds look fairly comfy). 2. [Kind of](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_low-temperature_technology), esp. in the 19th century (and ice harvesting had been in use long before mechanical refrigeration was an option). 3. Yes, to some extent–beginning in the 15th century, royalty (and even wealthy commoners) in northern Europe regularly imported citrus fruits from warmer climates. Poorer citizens didn’t have the same kind of access, needless to say. > > Why drive when you can stay at home and receive them as guests at your palace? And in the 19th century, if you did feel like leaving the manor, train travel was an option–and [very pampered train travel](http://mikes.railhistory.railfan.net/r147.html), too. You have to ask yourself, which is preferable–fighting with all the other commoners in gridlocked car traffic, or sitting back and enjoying the ride while someone else takes care of you? And as for communication, you underestimate the speed and availability of telegraphs in the 19th century.We don’t have gridlocked traffic here in Sacramento.And yes I think it’d be better to drive yourself in 20 min than a 3 hour train ride,EACH WAY.Why don’t you try taking a roundabout train to work, see how preferable it is to driving there. > > Of course royalty could have a bath drawn at the desired temperature–your servants would heat it up for you and let you know when it’s cooled down enough for your comfort. And many people would willingly forgo the pleasures of carbonated soda and bland, processed burger meat in favor of having the finest wines and cuisine at your beck and call, all hours of the day. So you’d have to wait,not have it instantly…hmmm..again i seriously doubt the "finest cuisine"back then could touch our finest fast food cuisine of today. > > Your last remark about how women “look better now because of hair/makeup etc.” is either spoken in ignorance of pre-21st century fashion and cosmetics (which royalty and the aristocracy have always indulged in, far more than we do today), or it’s such a subjective and culturally-based opinion that it’s impossible to consider seriously. You may have a different conception of feminine beauty today than someone from the 18th century would have had, but in their day, women like [Sarah Siddons](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Thomas_Gainsborough_015.jpg) (as portrayed by Gainsborough) or [Madame Rimsky-Korsakov](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/Winterhalter%2C_Franz_Xaver_-_Barbara_Dmitrievna_Mergassov_Rimsky-Korsakova_-_1864_.jpg) (as portrayed by Winterhalter) were gorgeous–and in my eyes, still gorgeous today. When she was young, [Queen Victoria](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/Winterhalter_-_Queen_Victoria_1843.jpg) was pretty cute, too, in my 21st-century opinion–far different from the dumpy old widow that people usually think of when they hear her name. > > This question of whether or not a pre-modern royal would prefer living as a modern commoner comes up often on the SDMB, and many posters automatically assume that, since they themselves couldn’t imagine giving up their electronic resources and on-demand entertainment, that no one time-travelling from the past would want to live without them, either. We forget about how culturally rich past periods of history were in their own way. I really doubt that a pre-modern royal would really prefer to live as a modern commoner, no matter how glitzy our consumer goods would seem, instead of living as an exceptionally wealthy and privileged royal–UNLESS that royal were a sickly sort that would benefit from modern medical care. I would concede that people from any walk of life (and any time period) would give up their customary privileges in exchange for a longer and a pain-free life. But if we’re talking about a royal who is generally in good health and not suffering from, say, a congenital disease, then I’d still maintain that such a royal would prefer their times and privileges to ours as 21st-century common folk. You sound like your not a happy person,and long for “the good old days of yesteryear”.Sorry,but I seriously think you misjudge the extent that technology has improved our lives.Do you really think they could import fruits and vegetables from halfway across the world in a timely enough manner to still be fresh?I know they couldnt.Be real.I think being able to brush your teeth with a mint flavored toothpaste,drink your coffee with w/e flavored creamer you prefer,quad blade razor,the list goes on and on from the minute we wake up till we go to bed our daily lives are far superior to our ancestors. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-slaves-lucky/514818/102 "2009-11-02T05:37:38Z")
> [@hamhawk](#): > > Sorry,but I seriously think you misjudge the extent that technology has improved our lives. I thought it fairly obvious that he wasn’t talking about “our” lives in comparison with the “our” of yesteryear (i.e. average schmoes), but the lives of the top one precent of one percent of one percent of the social order; upper royalty. Sure, with modern efficiency, a million can live luxuriously where one did a century before, but, y’know… duh. Anyway, don’t call people dorks. ---
**Author:** ![wmfellows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@wmfellows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wmfellows)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-slaves-lucky/514818/103 "2009-11-02T10:26:48Z")
First, Hamhawk, young lad, I’d take a moment to read the rules, in particular those around comportment and doubtless electronic foot accessories. Otherwise, it remains useful as an observation that if you’re going to participate in Great Debates, serially making tripe up and hand waving about “statistics” isn’t going to lead to great success. > [@even\_sven](#): > > You guys are VASTLY over estimating the value of consumer goods. To each his own, or in the ancient observation: De gustibus non est disputandum. However, given the degree to which a majority of any given(\*) population strives after better material living, and goods, regardless of the philosophical or personal tastes that might be invoked, it would appear rather a fundamental urge and need. Material comforts have a lot to be said for them, saving labour on boring chores, enabling cleaner and thus healthier living standards. There is much to be said, from the individual human’s narrow point of view in living to 70 versus 40. > [@](#): > > I spent two years in Cameroon, and am now spending two years in China. Although I have way more consumer goods here in China, I would go back to Cameroon in a heartbeat. In Cameroon I was a beloved and respected leader in the community. In China, I am treated as a second class human. Ah the ancient primate desire to be a top monkey. Runs deep. Often correlates quite well with better access to material living and in our cousin primates, generally better health expectations. Pity the Chinese are less impressed by whitey, but c’est la vie. > [@](#): > > So think about which life you’d rather have. In my experience, all of the running water, gadgets, reliable electricity, etc. in the world cannot make up for the real meat of life- friendship and respect. Sorry, it rather sounds as if you’re pining for status, a status largely due to your being une blanche. I’m afraid that’s not terribly enlightening as to the question around the OP. (\*: Yes, I am sure someone can cite a small exceptional population or two, old believer Mennonites, etc, but I refer to national aggregates) ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-slaves-lucky/514818/104 "2009-11-02T11:34:11Z")
It’s entirely relevent to the OP, in that it illustrates: [ol] [li]Being a low-status person (like many blacks through American history) sucks, even if you have lots of consumer goods. (note this also ties into the “king then or welfare now” hijack.)[/li][li]Life in Africa has it’s upsides, and there are plenty of people who would enjoy living there even with less access to consumer goods.[/li][/ol] Believe it or not, I’ve known plenty of African in Africa who have lived abroad in more developed countries and yet have chosen to return to their home villages to live a life surrounded by their family, friends and culture. Really, you sound like one of those New Yorkers that is convinced that everyone wants to move to New York and is somehow in the process of moving there. (Anyway, it’s true that in Cameroon people first liked me because I was white. But then they learned to like me because I hug their kids, share my food, have a great sense of Africa-style fashion, can dance to Ivorian pop all night and spent my spare time getting libraries and youth centers started. My humanity quickly became more important than my skin. That, I’m afraid, will probably never happen in China. Here, I will always be my race first, and then my gender, and probably never my self.) ---
**Author:** ![wmfellows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@wmfellows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wmfellows)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-slaves-lucky/514818/105 "2009-11-02T12:31:14Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > It’s entirely relevent to the OP, in that it illustrates: > > [ol] > [li]Being a low-status person (like many blacks through American history) sucks, even if you have lots of consumer goods. (note this also ties into the “king then or welfare now” hijack.)[/li][li]Life in Africa has it’s upsides, and there are plenty of people who would enjoy living there even with less access to consumer goods.[/li][/ol] If I squint hard and abstract away from your rather “special” position… no I don’t see the relevance. Sorry, a college educated white girl from… California I think?.. who takes a contract visit to Africa, likes the feeling of being VIP in a small pond and feels put upon that the Chinese aren’t as awed by white people, isn’t telling me much about Africans nor African descendants in North America. Anyway, De gustibus non est disputandum. > [@](#): > > Believe it or not, I’ve known plenty of African in Africa who have lived abroad in more developed countries and yet have chosen to return to their home villages to live a life surrounded by their family, friends and culture. Really, you sound like one of those New Yorkers that is convinced that everyone wants to move to New York and is somehow in the process of moving there. Anecdote is not data. The data say that large numbers of Africans (including North Africans) take substantial risk to life and limb to try to get access to better material living conditions, and once there overwhelmingly stick it out. Of course there are some returnees - although they seem to return once they have created a nice little capital cushion for themselves. Whatever I “sound” like, I don’t look at the world through the rose tinted glasses of romantic anecdote. Certainly Sub Saharan Africa is not the hell-hole that many posters in this thread imagine (not all of it at any rate), but to piously abstract away from the real needs and attraction of material well-being that sends literally thousands to trek across the Sahara… That’s bloody deluded in the opposite direction. So spare me the sounds like, the data say a good portion of the population is desperately motivated to seek better material conditions (or the mirage thereof). > [@](#): > > (Anyway, it’s true that in Cameroon people first liked me because I was white. But then they learned to like me because I hug their kids, share my food, have a great sense of Africa-style fashion, can dance to Ivorian pop all night and spent my spare time getting libraries and youth centers started. My humanity quickly became more important than my skin. That, I’m afraid, will probably never happen in China. Here, I will always be my race first, and then my gender, and probably never my self.) Your nostalgia is well noted, sorry you don’t feel special any more. I have a tiny little violin to play on if you desire. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-slaves-lucky/514818/106 "2009-11-02T13:20:53Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Personally, I think it would be more so. Slavery benefits the slaveowners, but is a drag on society as a whole. And look at the aftereffects; the South is still lagging behind in many ways. Slavery is both an economic drag, and causes persistent moral and intellectual corruption. And then there’s the Civil War; no slavery means no War, nor the aftereffects of that war. > > Slavery wasn’t just horribly immoral; it was a bad idea all around. QFT ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-slaves-lucky/514818/107 "2009-11-02T14:32:40Z")
> [@wmfellows](#): > > Leaving aside the dubious proposition that you have done college coursework (if so, you are owed a reimbursement), I’d rather you invoke the Stop Making Up Tripe skills. > [@hamhawk](#): > > I’m invoking the “STFU DORK” reimbursement upside yo head… Neither accusations of lying nor direct personal insults are permitted in Great Debates. Take it to the Pit or don’t post it. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-slaves-lucky/514818/108 "2009-11-02T14:39:10Z")
> [@wmfellows](#): > > Your nostalgia is well noted, sorry you don’t feel special any more. I have a tiny little violin to play on if you desire. Making personal insults. however thinly veiled, while attacking other posters does not promote the discussion. Dial it back. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Jump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@Jump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jump)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-slaves-lucky/514818/109 "2010-01-03T13:25:47Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > [elides](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elide) Thanks for that, now what do the rest of the words in your post mean? ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-slaves-lucky/514818/110 "2010-01-03T22:13:04Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > It’s entirely relevent to the OP, in that it illustrates: > > [ol] > [li]Being a low-status person (like many blacks through American history) sucks, even if you have lots of consumer goods. (note this also ties into the “king then or welfare now” hijack.)[/li][li]Life in Africa has it’s upsides, and there are plenty of people who would enjoy living there even with less access to consumer goods.[/li][/ol] Then why don’t we see many people, black or white, move to Africa or other third world nations and live as the benevolent rich man in town? Some expatriates do it, showing that the cultural transition is not impossible if you’re motivated, yet few folks do. Theorizing is all well and good, but it’s what people _really choose_ to do that reveals their preferences. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-slaves-lucky/514818/111 "2010-01-04T02:43:39Z")
> [@athelas](#): > > Then why don’t we see many people, black or white, move to Africa or other third world nations and live as the benevolent rich man in town? Some expatriates do it, showing that the cultural transition is not impossible if you’re motivated, yet few folks do. If you look at places like Thailand, you’ll see TONS of foreigners settling down and making a comfortable life for themselves. And it’s pretty common for people to retire to Mexico or other Central American countries. I know quite a few people riding out the recession here in China. Of course, plenty of people are more comfortable around their own friends, family and culture and would prefer not to leave their home countries. Why isn’t Africa hot with ex pats? One (and I’ll be honest here) is that many westerners do not see Africans as appealing romantic partners- one of the big draws of Asia. Another is that quality health care is often inaccessible and foreign travel can be extremely expensive (my last-minute ticket to Cameroon cost $5,000). Also, there are few ex pat friendly facilities (supermarkets, English-language cinemas, etc.) outside of the capital cities, but the capital cities can be dangerous and unpleasant. Finally, there is a lot of ignorance about Africa that makes people not even consider it as an option. However, of the 30 people I went to Cameroon with (who were pretty much randomly assigned- these were not people with any special interest in Africa) around 8 of them stayed in Cameroon for an additional year- a few are still there two years later. Another 6 or so found US based jobs that require heavy African travel. So, if more people were willing to give it a shot and see for themselves, they might be surprised to find that they like it. ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-slaves-lucky/514818/112 "2010-01-04T04:32:13Z")
But if people were as status-driven as you claim, and love to be the big fish of a small pond, you’d see a torrent of expats, not a trickle. I mean, look at immigrants to the US: that’s a much bigger hurdle to jump with fewer educational resources available, yet plenty of people know a good thing when they see it and come here, getting lower social status but better material wealth. You do not see a comparable exodus of people, which your theory would require. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-slaves-lucky/514818/113 "2010-01-04T07:30:36Z")
> [@athelas](#): > > But if people were as status-driven as you claim, and love to be the big fish of a small pond, you’d see a torrent of expats, not a trickle. I mean, look at immigrants to the US: that’s a much bigger hurdle to jump with fewer educational resources available, yet plenty of people know a good thing when they see it and come here, getting lower social status but better material wealth. You do not see a comparable exodus of people, which your theory would require. Obviously the ex pat life is not appealing to most people, almost certainly because it usually means leaving your family, friends, language and culture. For most people, the lure of increased status does not make up for that. We are not all robots with one and only one motivation, you know. In general, high-status people do not immigrate to America without having secured a high status job. Doctors and IT specialists usually continue to be doctors and IT specialists. Often they are rich enough to maintain close times to their homelands. The exception would be people fleeing political instability, who often do take a status hit and generally are not very happy about it. Your standard economic migrants are another story. But even they often are only in America because their work supports their entire family back home. And no small number of immigrants find that once they get to America, it’s not really what they thought it would be. You’d be surprised at how many people you meet in Mexico who have spent some time in the United States, made some money, and returned to Mexico. It seemed like half the people I met in Mexico had spent some time in California. At first I was confused- isn’t our country the best and doesn’t everyone want to go there forever? But then I realized, no. It’s not so straightforward as “America is the awesome promised land everyone wishes they were in!” ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-slaves-lucky/514818/114 "2010-01-04T08:04:54Z")
> [@athelas](#): > > Then why don’t we see many people, black or white, move to Africa or other third world nations and live as the benevolent rich man in town? Some expatriates do it, showing that the cultural transition is not impossible if you’re motivated, yet few folks do. > > Theorizing is all well and good, but it’s what people _really choose_ to do that reveals their preferences. You can’t talk about the state of Africa without also considering how badly the Europeans screwed it up, using the same kind of philosophy that supported slavery. I did live in the Congo, right after independence. You might not be aware that King Leopold made the place his private domain in the 19th century, enslaved many, and worked them to their deaths in the mines. This was so bad that even the Europe of 1900 saw it as evil. When I lived there many of the senior government leaders consisted of the handful of Congolese college graduates. Despite the fact that a modern campus of Louvanium University was located right out side of what was then still Leopoldville, the Belgians did not allow any Congolese to attend until right before independence. What the continent would be like without colonialism we don’t know. I suspect a lot better. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-slaves-lucky/514818/115 "2010-01-04T08:09:32Z")
> [@hamhawk](#): > > You sound like your not a happy person,and long for “the good old days of yesteryear”.Sorry,but I seriously think you misjudge the extent that technology has improved our lives.Do you really think they could import fruits and vegetables from halfway across the world in a timely enough manner to still be fresh?I know they couldnt.Be real.I think being able to brush your teeth with a mint flavored toothpaste,drink your coffee with w/e flavored creamer you prefer,quad blade razor,the list goes on and on from the minute we wake up till we go to bed our daily lives are far superior to our ancestors. I grew up in the 1950s without the internet, VCRs, UHF, cable, DVDs, microwaves, cellphones, etc. etc. I did have seven whole channels to watch, being from New York which I think had about the most. It was just fine. When my father came home he was home, and didn’t have to check his email the way I do. Of course we did not have the massive benefit of being able to see dancing cats on YouTube. I hope you don’t feel too underprivileged because you don’t have 3D TV in your living room, which people 20 years from now will have, no doubt. Please try to hold on despite living in such primitive conditions. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-slaves-lucky/514818/116 "2010-01-07T00:57:08Z")
It’s purely relative and experiential, and I wouldn’t have the point of reference… I suppose the only ones who could answer with perspective are those African Americans who have lived in and/or repatriated to West Africa, and West Africans who have emigrated to America. Would they have been better off living through, and possibly not surviving the Western Imperialism and Tribalism/Civil Wars of Africa during the last 400 years? …and are they smart enough to realize their own cultural bias? Can you say that American racism is worse than the racism of the tribal and caste systems that are enforced in Africa? ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-slaves-lucky/514818/117 "2010-01-07T02:39:50Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > …and are they smart enough to realize their own cultural bias? Can you say that American racism is worse than the racism of the tribal, [add:] **religous** [/add:], and caste systems that are enforced in Africa? I would like to edit my responce with the understood, yet not explicitly stated. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-slaves-lucky/514818/118 "2010-01-07T03:45:18Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > …and are they smart enough to realize their own cultural bias? Can you say that American racism is worse than the racism of the tribal and caste systems that are enforced in Africa? Well, possibly. It’s easy to look at ethnic cleansing such as in Rwanda and assume that the cause is African prejudices about other Africans, but the root of most such wars is really scarcity. They’re competing for arable land, water and housing - and nowadays for oil and diamonds too. The ethnic and religious hatred just makes it easier for them to fight the wars they’d be fighting anyway. In America we don’t really have to worry about famine or drought. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-slaves-lucky/514818/119 "2010-01-07T04:01:07Z")
The Country with the greatest natural resources in the world can’t organize for social, religous, and ideological figgerences. I agree. Until they decide, we are left indecisive. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-slaves-lucky/514818/120 "2010-01-07T04:27:53Z")
I don’t think the word “lucky” could be applied to the descendants of slaves. They may or may not have benefited from the migration and even that is hard to measure. Is someone who lives in a stick hut less happy than someone in a house? At best the descendants of slaves have a more stable environment with a greater number of opportunities to pursue. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-slaves-lucky/514818.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-slaves-lucky/514818.md?page=7)